The Shelter of God's Promises DVD-Based Bible Study

Excellent series on God's promises
We are finishing up the 10-week series and I would highly recommend it to any women's group wanting to go deeper in their understanding of God's promises. This study started in response to going through difficult times and has been of great encouragement and a blessing as our group has walked through this together. The DVD had us laughing and crying; and smiling again as we learned how God has the answer, again and again, and this was so encouraging.

The participants guide has additional material that can be done through the week, to go deeper in your study. The questions for discussion were so popular it was a hard to end each lesson and end for the night. And I was blessed by how much this helped old and recent hurts and the healing that happened. Already I'm being asked when Sheila's next series is. The response to this study has been wonderful.

God's promises are not broken
One of the things that really struck me about this book was how Sheila was able to present each of the promises in such a way that I could see how they fit in perfectly with my life. This helped to reminded me that no matter what, God has made certain promises that are shared with us through the Bible. And unlike humans, God does not break his promises.

Sheila Walsh shares these promises through stories and Bible references in a way that will change the way you look at life.

This is a must watch for everyone one.

There is also a book that can be purchased separately. I love the fact that she includes a Bible study with the book. That way you can learn through using your own personal Bible how these promises can be linked to your life.

In conjunction with the Wakela's World Disclosure Statement, I received a product in order to enable my review. No other compensation has been received. My statements are an honest account of my experience with...

Good Bible Study Material
I received " The Shelter of God's Promises: DVD Based Bible Study " by Sheila Walsh in e-galley format from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley for review purposes. (Note: I did not receive the DVD for review, just the participant's guide.)

This bible study package includes a participant's guide, leader's guide and other materials, making this a wonderful way to host a home bible study at a reasonable price. Walsh discusses God's Promises to us. God promised us: Jesus, Provision, Peace, Confidence, Love, Grace, Hope, Strength, More and Home. Sheila Walsh presents God's Promises to you in a way that leaves you with peace. Through a home group setting participants are able to bring their own experiences to share with other group members and together all can share in the realization that God's promises are faithful. I enjoyed this study. I recommend this bible study to any church or home bible study group.

I received a copy of this title for review...

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Ultimate Jordan (Four-Disc Deluxe Limited Edition) [Blu-ray]

This BluRay is in Low Definition Picture Quality
When you buy a BluRay, you expect HD Quality, and not VHS Quality.
Unfortunately, the source material used in this BluRay was probably from VHS and so the quality suffers.
The resolution looks worse than DVD quality (appears more blurry than 720x480) even though the technical
specs on the packaging says 1080p (1920x1080). This makes sense as the source data is low resolution.
You can re-master VHS a million times and the resolution won't get any higher. As far as content is
concerned, another reviewer correctly stated that this BluRay has less material than the 3-Disc Anniversary
Edition DVD. The only reason to buy this is if you can no longer find the DVD version.

VHS Quality
There was a time in my life where I would watch Come Fly With Me almost daily.
I remember all the moves, the dialog, etc. I tried doing all the moves in the playground right after watching the movie.

Needless to say i was so psyched to hear about this collection coming to Bluray.

I preordered it as soon as I could.

I was a bit disappointed that they would release something like this. There was no improvement from the DVD version. There were even times where you'd see some pixelation on the movies. Very disappointing. It's like watching youtube sometimes. Was the source material really that bad that they couldn't improve on it any more?

Michael Jordan (Deluxe Limited Edition) Blu-ray Review
Well, let me begin by stating all the good about this compilation. The good is that if you are a Jordan fan, like obviously I am, then you are considering purchasing the most comprehensive collection of Jordan moments EVER, and at a very fair to affordable price. I have been a Jordan fan for pretty much all of my life. Now in my latter 20's these moments still bring a childlike exuberance for my childhood hero, this legendary athlete. Furthermore, to those fans of "the game" of basketball who will be witnessing MJ for the first time you are especially in for a real treat! Not only is "Air Jordan's" most spectacular moments brought back to life in this collection, the moments have been restored in high definition blu-ray quality. Really! We all know about the hype of movies and sports on blu-ray discs, but these moments actually look better SO MUCH BETTER than when they actually took place. Also, all of you long time fans can finally stop worrying so much about trying to preserve your...

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Doctor Who: The Mutants (Story 63)

Very underrated 6-parter, on the evils of empires
Upon seeing the old bearded man running towards the screen through the mist and bushes at the onset of the story, no, it isn't the "It's..." man from Monty Python's first season. Rather, it's a mutant native of Solos, derogatorily called "Mutts" by the Marshal of Solos.

The appearance of a small sphere resembling a cross between a basketball and a coconut is a three-line whip from the Time Lords to the Doctor, a task that's an emergency. The TARDIS takes the Doctor and Jo to a Skybase hovering over Solos in the 30th century Earth Empire. "Once [Earth] sacked the solar system, they moved on to pastures new. Solos is one of them, one of the last [to gain independence]. Did you ever read Gibbons' Decline and Fall?... Empires rise and empires fall."

They instantly fall in trouble. The Marshal, the blustering, stout colonial ruler of Solos with piggish eyes and expression, is stunned to hear that Earth is finally giving Solos its independence...

"MUUUTT!!!!!!!"
This is one of the Third Doctor's best episodes!

It is an action-packed 6-parter from Pertwee's golden period.

An empire is in decay and a world is left ravaged by the evils of colonialism. The Doctor goes against the ruthless Marshal of the planet Solos and works to uncover the mystery behind the monstrous mutation of the Solonian people. The Marshall rules Solos from his orbiting Skybase and will stop at nothing to prevent the weary Earth Empire from retracting and granting Solos its independence.

Those who liked Colony in Space and Frontier in Space will enjoy this epic Doctor Who socio-political thriller.

Un-people Doing Un-things Un-together
This is an enjoyable story from the middle of the Pertwee era. While it is not highly regarded by many fans, I have always liked this story. The story basics are the Doctor receives an odd object, and tells Jo that it is an important message that must be delivered. Jo follows the Doctor into the TARDIS and they end up on an Earth Sky Base orbiting the planet Solos quite far in the future. The Earth Empire is declining - they can no longer afford to keep far-flung colonies such as Solos going, so control of Solos is being returned to native populations. Mucking things up are warring factions among the native populations, apparent mutations among the native population, the murder of an Earth government official, members of the Earth force that don't want to give up control of Solos, and atmospheric experiments to make the atmosphere breathable by humans.

This was done in the middle of Pertwee's 5-year stay in the role, and it shows. John Pertwee is very comfortable and...

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Gretry: L'Amant Jaloux

Nice music, modest staging
Gretry's comic operas were very popular in France before the revolution. This particular one is quite nice, although not a masterpiece. The music flows easily and there are some very nice arias. The production is modest, even intimate. Quite effective for this opera. The orchestra and the singers look young and they perform beautiful. As long as you don't expect a masterpiece sung and played by the best in the world, this DVD is very enjoyable. Mozart was staying in Paris when this opera was composed. You can hear some Mozart hints here and there. This is the only recording known to me on DVD, which I recommend for those that want to hear and listen to more than the most famous operas. Musically, Gretry reflects the character and the situation with his melodies without exaggerating much. Simple and delicate arias. Worth watching and listening to.





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Group Marriage

Code Red has done a fabulous job on this Stephanie Rothman drive-in classic
Always been a fan of the drive-in exploitation flicks of the early '70s. Stephanie Rothman was a female director ahead of her time, and besides being in a world where directors were men (this was way before Kathryn Bigelow). This to me is one of my favorites by her. Some may be disturbed that there isn't more t&a with a title like Group Marriage. We do get the drive-in queen Claudia Jennings. Glad to see Code Red releasing Rothman's classics (along with Terminal Island and Working Girls). These are great looking transfers from Rothman's own private collection. Colors aren't washed out like you would think for the film stock from 1973. The only disappointment about these features are the lack of a Stephanie Rothman commentary. Don't know why, I would love to hear about the struggles of being a female director in an all male Hollywood. With this minor quibble, this title (and the other two Code Red releases) are worth the buy. Oh, did I already tell ya, this ones got Claudia Jennings...

70s california cult film about alternative, er, sex arrangements
This is a comedy that is supposed to make a controversial statement about marriage. At its base is sex: a group gets together and agrees that exchanging partners is fine, so long as the others are willing. They move into a house owned by a bumper-sticker entrepreneur who translates his hostility into money via nasty sayings. For what it's worth, there are a lot of laughs, titillation that never adds up to soft porn, and some pretty good characters. Unfortunately, the acting is ridiculously mediocre, though it is fun to see the old playboy bunny, Claudia Jennings in one of her better roles.

It is fun to view this as a 70s retro thing, where the free-love creed of the 60s is transmogrified into pure libertinism coupled with commercialism. Recommended for nostalgia's sake.

So Bad It's Good
The acting is overdone in some places, underdone in others, the plot is there but predictable...and I love it! I laughed so hard it stopped mattering whether or not I laughed because it is a comedy or just that bad.

The main girl decides to sleep with another man since her boyfriend is distracted with work. (While he is sleeping in the next room!) They talk about it and to even the score, her boyfriend plans to sleep with the other guy's girlfriend. All good? Well, no. First, we have to deal with jealousy in a very funny, obvious way. But it is resolved and moves pass "just sex" to the four of them moving in together and falling in love as a family. Through a few funny twists and turns, yet another couple joins them.

The writer mixes in real issues for those who choose to live this alternative life style (public opinin, "all that glitters isn't gold", working together as "one big family", a person wanting to "divorce" the group, legal issues, etc) but again, it's...

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The Guardian: Complete Series

One of the best series on TV
The Guardian was cancelled too soon. Thought provoking series - when did we last have one of those? A very intriguing DRAMA that explores the progression of a smart young corporate lawyer, Nick (Simon Baker), from heartless, cold corporate lawyer to that of a caring human being with a conscience. Nick loves money and replaces his emotional void with drugs until he is caught and sentenced to community service whose clientele are children. Excellent acting by the entire cast; the child actors are amazing. This series is not a feel good drama - the story lines are very realistic and common sense is second fiddle to the savagery of current laws. All of the characters are flawed and one watches how each struggles to live within their skins; some flounder - some rise to the top. What is right versus what is legal is explored throughout the series. I bring these DVDs to evening "dinner and a movie" gatherings of friends; I usually end up leaving them as friends want to watch more of...

Character, plot, and issue driven. Excellent series.
Other reviews already sum up the features of the show. I loved how the characters deal with issues in their own personal lives. Also, this is not your usual legal drama where the legal issues are either about corporate or individual crime.

More of the legal situations are about legal-aid, family issues. I personally believe there was a lot of realism in these situations rather than corporate or individual crime.

However, a huge part of the drama is about inner character issues with the characters. I believe that the issues are presented very realistically when there are personal or ethical questions that arise. But the issues are always an integral part of interesting plot developments.

Some dramas like to laugh issues off or start focusing too much on a particular romance. I have nothing against romance in dramas with many facets, and this series has been able to balance elements of plot.

The Guardian Complete Series
This was a fabulous series starring Simon Baker and Daphne Coleman. It took a long time for it to be on DVD, but it is now and anyone enjoying Baker in The Mentalist, should snatch this up. You'll enjoy hours of fabulous viewing at a great price!

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Ultimate Jordan (Deluxe Limited Edition)

Excellent Michael Jordan Material
This 7 disc set currently sells for $37 on Amazon. It is really excellent. While it has five good films that focus on Jordan's career, his acceptance speech during his Hall of Fame induction, and some of his greatest moves, I was especially interested in the five games that are shown in their entirety. The only other reviewer of this set, as of the time of my writing this, was disappointed that the producers didn't present the games' highlights instead, but I really liked seeing the whole games. Here are the games that are featured:

Disc 3: 1986 Eastern Conference Playoffs, Chicago vs Boston. Boston has the best record in the conference with 67 wins and 15 loses, while Chicago has the worst record in the conference with 52 loses. Jordan missed