review: what's in the bible?

The creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer, has produced yet another engaging, stimulating, and of course, humorous DVD series entitled What's In The Bible. This DVD series, doesn't resemble Veggie Tales visually, but the humor laced throughout is similar. Phil Vischer does a tremendous job of engaging little ones to find out what's in the Bible. Adorable puppets ask a lot of questions, some of which can be rather complicated. But Phil Vischer is able to bring those hard questions down to a child's level to make it entertaining and understandable. He covers a realm of subjects, such as the meaning of "holy," what the pentateuch is, and why we no longer encounter the harsh punishments of the Old Testament Law.

Anybody that can make Leviticus and Deuteronomy interesting to little kids definitely has talent, and I appreciate his ministry to little souls who can tend to develop their own false ideas about Bible facts and concepts. Phil uses puppets and even a few crazy singers dressed up in 70's style clothing singing silly songs to aid in remembering what was previously covered in the puppet skits.

I have older children, so I won't be using this in my homeschool curriculum. However, What's In The Bible would make a great supplemental material for any Bible curriculum. 

There was nothing in these videos that I strongly disliked. Buck Denver, The Sunday School Lady, and others were very likable. But I did wonder why the Pastor wore a priest's clerical collar, and the dudes in the 70's getup were a little bit too corny for my liking. The songs they sang were adorable and funny, but there mannerisms and clothing didn't seem to really fit the rest of the theme. 

All in all a great DVD set! 

If you'd like more information about What's In The Bible, click here.

Bio (taken from http://www.wikepedia.org/)

Phil Vischer (born June 16, 1966) is a writer, actor, puppeteer, animator and founder of Big Idea Productions with Mike Nawrocki. Although best known for founding Big Idea Productions and VeggieTales, he is also a puppeteer and creator of the popular puppet web series, The Jelly News, which is produced from his new creative shop, Jellyfish Labs, located in Wheaton, Illinois.

Vischer's most notable puppet character is Buck Denver, anchor of The Jelly News, but he also performs Captain Pete, Helen Rosenfiddle, Kid on the Street, and he voices almost every other character that appears in the broadcast.

He is also the founder and creator of JellyTelly, a faith-based website network developed by Jellyfish.

*I received a review copy of the first three DVD's in this series from Tyndale House Publishers.

Prairie Tale

Looks like Melissa Gilbert and I have a little something in common.

Like choosing titles.

Perhaps she's a little more entitled to this title than I am, although I must say, I'm disappointed. I like my blog title, and am not feeling like sharing it.

So sue me.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I do love the show Little House on the Prairie, and I of course live on the Prairie. And I am a little housewife. Hence the title Prairie Tales, True Stories by a Little Housewife on the Prairie.

It's ok. I'm still a Little House fan and always will be. But if Melissa G. were my real sister, there might be a bit o' bonnet tearin', hair pullin', sisterly slappin' goin' on about now.

Good thing I never had a sister, huh?

~Brenda, the foot stompin', fit throwin', little housewife on the Prairie who started telling lots of Prairie Tales first.

First, I tell ya'.

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In all seriousness, I'm going to look into whether or not her book title being the same as my blog title is an issue. Not sure what the copyright laws are where titles are concerned. It wouldn't be too much of a big deal if I had not been (from the start of this blog, a little over a year and a half ago) pondering ways to eventually make this blog into a book someday.

Just one more reason to stay tuned. ;-)

Danny Gokey (Prairie Pebble #5)

That's right. Danny Gokey.

Prairie Pebble #5:

I'm an American Idol watcher.

I wasn't until this season. In fact, I purposely avoided the show because the clips I saw of Simon were always so mean and cruel that I didn't think I could handle it. I only started watching because Jessie practically begged me.

Okay, she didn't beg. But she was quite pathetic. And I relented, as usual.

When I first started watching, it was quite painful. Simon WAS cruel. Could he not be a little more graceful in telling people that they suck?

Anyway, the more I watched, the more intrigued I got. Not because I was ooing and ahhing over anyone. But because I got to watch people under pressure. I got to watch them pursue their dreams ... some failing miserably, some succeeding beyond what they realized they were capable of.

I fell in love with Danny at the beginning.

Maybe I should rephrase that.

I didn't fall in love with him. But I thought he had a really sweet spirit, and I love his raspy voice ... and glasses. I didn't even find out about his wife dying until later, so don't try and tell me I'm just sympathizing. I picked him from the start, and I wanted him to win (insert unattractive foot stomping here).

And I'm not gonna sugar coat this folks. I'm ticked completely bummed! I think Danny has far more talent than that of mister-scream-like-you-are-stuck-in-a-barbed-wire-fence-on-the-prairie-Adam-Lambert.

Don't get me wrong. I think Adam is very talented. He can do his own rendition of any song 'til the cows come home.

But Danny has heart. Danny has spunk. Danny has passion. Danny has rasp.

The good kind of rasp.

And Danny doesn't release any blood curtling screams (remember Adam's rendition of Ring of Fire?)

I dare ya' to click that link and listen. If you are a Johnny Cash fan ... well... you might want to refrain from tuning in.

Why?

Because I'm 100% sure that Mr. Cash rolled over in his grave the night Adam screamed sang Ring of Fire.

Having said all of that ... I also believe the infamous Adam Lambert scream has potential.

No, I'm not being willy nilly. I just think that the scream would come in mighty handy whenever I feel those dreaded lurkers hanging around. Not my Lovely Lurkers, mind you. I love all my Lovely Lurkers.

Cuz they listen to me when I need to vent about trivial things.

Like American Idol contestants.

But those dreaded lurkers need to be scared away, and I am confident that the Adam Lambert scream would do the trick.

As for Danny ... well ... sigh ... farewell, buddy. I wouldn't be surprised if we see you sometime real soon.

As for the rest of the competition ...

Go Kris!!!!

~Brenda