Archive for category Children
EFC Nursery Christmas Video
Posted by Peter in Children, Jesus, Movies/Films, Photos on December 22, 2010
Here is a short message from the EFC nursery kiddos, including The Libster who is holding the “Savior” sign.
Review: What’s in the Bible? Episodes 1 and 2
Posted by Peter in Bible, Book Reviews, Children, Christianity, Genesis, God, Movies/Films, New Testament, Old Testament on March 16, 2010
Thanks to the good folks over at Tyndale House and Phil Vischer (creator of VeggieTales) for the advance review copy of What’s in the Bible? Episodes 1 & 2.
The What’s in the Bible? website describes this new video series as follows:
What’s in the Bible? is a new DVD series from VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer designed to walk kids and families through the entire Bible.
As you can imagine, I was excited to be included among those asked to review the first two episodes in this series, especially since my 20-month old daughter (The Libster) and I are VeggieTales-aholics.
So, here goes. First, What’s in the Bible? with Buck Denver (and friends), is a puppet-human collaboration in the tradition of Sesame Street. The hosts are Phil Vischer (human) and Buck Denver, Man of News, (puppet). The cast of puppet characters includes the gray-haired Sunday School Lady, the piano playing Pastor Paul, explorers Clive & Ian, and other memorable characters. There is also an entertaining meta-character, Michael, who is a puppet child traveling in the backseat of a vehicle that appears at the beginning and between segments asking his mother to change DVDs. He’s quite amusing, really.
Second, each episode, which consists of two half-hour programs, begins with a “Big Question” such as, “What is the Bible?” “Who wrote the Bible?” and “Who picked the books to be in the Bible?” There are also “new words” where Biblical and theological terms and concepts are explained.
Each episode is filled with song, self-deprecating humor, sarcasm, and, of course, Bible stuff. The first episode, “In the Beginning,” explains “What is the Bible?” in the first segment and takes the viewers through the first eleven chapters of Genesis in the second segment. The second episode, “Let My People Go,” takes the viewer from Abraham to Moses and through Exodus.
The theology appears to be traditional Protestant/Evangelical. The humor ranges from slapstick to high-brow and everything in between. The concepts covered are considerably more complex than what can be found in Christian cartoons and Bible-story programs. This is because What’s in the Bible? aims at teaching the Bible and not just Bible stories. It’s a bold move, but one I expect to pay off.
The downside, if there is one, is that the audience might be limited to children over a certain age. On the Libby test, What’s in the Bible? struggled to hold the attention of a 20-month old. She liked the music and the children interviews, but she has yet to make it through a 30 minute segment after three or four attempts (as opposed to similar length VeggieTales episodes, which she can watch and still want more). I doubt, however, the audience is intended to be so young.
I do appreciate the working assumption: that children are capable of learning and appreciating more than simple Bible stories. Buck Denver and his crew take on concepts such as “redemption,” “salvation,” and the Christian “canon,” and they do so quite well. I suspect there are many adults as well who need refresher courses in these concepts.
In short, if you are looking for VeggieTales retold, look elsewhere. What’s in the Bible? is a more grown-up kids series. It is, however, a great way to introduce kids to more complicated Biblical ideas and to go beyond Bible stories. I would recommend for parents and children to watch together if possible. I would also recommend this series for Sunday school classes, vacation Bible school curricula, even as a supplement to grade school and possibly junior high age lessons.
I think you will be surprised by how easily complex matters are handled and explained. Enjoy!
Buy What’s in the Bible from Amazon?
- Buy What’s in the Bible? Episode 1-In the Beginning from Amazon
- Buy What’s in the Bible? Episode 2-Let My People Go from Amazon
Related Websites:
And the winners are…
Posted by Peter in Bible, Children, Christianity, Giveaways, Humor, Movies/Films, New Testament, Old Testament on March 15, 2010
The winners of the What’s in the Bible? Giveaway are:
Chris Rodgers (Disc 1) and Jaci (Disc 2).
Hooray for Chris & Jaci!
Your gift certificates will be on their way directly. A bit of advice (from previous winners), you will have better luck presenting the gift certificates at a Christian bookstore (such as Mardel, for example).
Thanks to everyone who participated.
Stay tuned for my reviews.
Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry-No. 1: I Love My Lips
Posted by Peter in Bible, Children, Christianity, Giveaways, Humor, Movies/Films on March 13, 2010
In honor of my What’s in the Bible? Giveaway, I am counting down the Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry of all time.
- Number 5: Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything
- Number 4: School House Polka
- Number 3: The Hairbrush Song
- Number 2: Dance of the Cucumber
And the Number 1 Silly Song of all time is: I Love My Lips.
Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry-No. 2: Dance of the Cucumber
Posted by Peter in Bible, Children, Christianity, Giveaways, Humor, Movies/Films on March 12, 2010
In honor of my What’s in the Bible? Giveaway, I am counting down the Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry of all time.
Number 2: Dance of the Cucumber.
Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry-No. 3: The Hairbrush Song
Posted by Peter in Bible, Children, Christianity, Giveaways, Humor, Movies/Films on March 11, 2010
In honor of my What’s in the Bible? Giveaway, I am counting down the Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry of all time.
Number 3: The Hairbrush Song.
Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry-No. 4: School House Polka
Posted by Peter in Bible, Children, Christianity, Giveaways, Humor, Movies/Films on March 10, 2010
In honor of my What’s in the Bible? Giveaway, I am counting down the Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry of all time.
Number 4: School House Polka.
Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry-No. 5: Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything
Posted by Peter in Bible, Children, Christianity, Giveaways, Movies/Films on March 9, 2010
In honor of the What’s in the Bible? Giveaway I announced yesterday, I am counting down the Top 5 Silly Songs with Larry (the “Silly Songs” are my favorite VeggieTales skits).
I will be posting one a day for the next five days with a break on Sunday, and on Monday I will announce the winner of the giveaway and post my reviews of the first two DVDs in the What’s in the Bible? series.
I know people are passionate about their favorite Silly Song, so I hope yours made the list. Check back daily to find out.
Number 5: Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything.
Giveaway-What’s in the Bible? DVDs
Posted by Peter in Bible, Children, Christianity, Giveaways, God, Jesus, New Testament, Old Testament on March 8, 2010
VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer and Tyndale have a new project: What’s in the Bible?
As the proud parent of a 20-month old VeggieTales addict (and as a 36-year old “Silly Songs with Larry” addict myself), I can honestly say I was tremendously excited when asked to review What’s in the Bible? It’s a welcome break from the stack of books on Genesis that have been looming, awaiting their review.
What’s in the Bible? is a new DVD series from VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer designed to walk kids and families through the entire Bible. The 13 DVD-series will release beginning March 1, 2010.
I have been asked to review the first two episodes, and I have gift certificates for the first two episodes to giveaway. If you have kids, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or if you are just a kid at heart, you should enter to win these videos.
I will post my reviews on Monday, March 15, 2010.
The rules:
- US residents and mailing addresses only.
- All you have to do to enter is leave your name in the comment section below. I will post the winner on Monday, March 15, 2010 at 5:00 pm (CST). The winner will then contact me with their mailing info and I will ship the gift certificates.
- You can earn extra entries by linking to this contest on facebook, twitter, or in a blog post about this contest – one extra entry per link up to five. Let me know where you have linked to this contest so I can verify it and give you extra entries.
Good Luck!.
God is Bigger than the Boogie Man
Posted by Peter in Children, Christianity, God, Movies/Films, Theology on December 9, 2009
I think we, myself included, do our very best to complicate theology to our detriment. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for precision, but there are times when simple is better.
I was introduced to Veggie Tales a couple of weeks ago – my wife bought The Libster a DVD. And now that we’ve watched it a thousand times, I’m amazed by both the simplicity and profundity of something like the song “God is Bigger (than the Boogie Man)”.
I think this is a notion we give intellectual assent, but rarely employ in practice. We like the idea of having a big God, but we don’t like the responsibility of having a big God.
For example, I like the idea that God is bigger than the Boogie Man, but what happens when I meet the Boogie Man face-to-face (or, insert scary thing of your choice). I can think back to instances where I’ve cowered, forgot how big I thought God was, or simply realized that I didn’t believe what I thought I believed. Thankfully, there is grace for those situations, and, slowly but surely, I’m learning that God really is that big.
I’m not on the lookout for Boogie Men or Women, but I believe my God is bigger.
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