Review: My Home School Grades
Posted by jlsgrant in Book & Product Reviews on May 22, 2013
My Home School Grades is an innovative new approach to keeping your home school records. Designed and developed by a successful home educating father and a home school graduate with an idea, they have used their intimate knowledge of the needs of the homeschooling family to provide this exciting new app. And it couldn’t be easier!
To use the app, you simply log in, add your student, and begin adding classes and activities. You can select from leading curriculum providers, add your own, or just give a one time grade for each class. If your student is in high school and you need a transcript, it’s literally just a click of the button to generate one from the information you’ve already added!
The website contains “How to” videos for adding students, adding classes, adding activities, and creating your transcript, but honestly, you probably won’t need them. It really is that simple.
In the past, I have tried other software products and found them to be so cumbersome, that I gave up after just a couple months and many hours. I tried making a file in Excel and in Word, but that didn’t quite have the finished appearance I was looking for in a transcript. Then I was asked to review My Home School Grades!
Within the first few minutes, I knew this was what I needed. (So even if you’re not sure this is something you can use, you should definitely take advantage of their 14-day free trial.)
I never considered the benefit of having a mobile app to get the job done. I usually work on my home school record keeping at home, at my desk. But now, if we’re on a field trip or involved in an extra-curricular activity, I can simply add it to my records on the fly. (If I wait until I get home, I will undoubtedly forget!) 
Honestly, this could not be simpler to use. And yet, it has all the features I need to create a record of all our classes and activities and most important for me, with high schools students at home, the ability to create a professional looking transcript. My Home School Grades automatically calculates a GPA based on the grades you’ve entered, and you generate a printable copy with just the click of the mouse or a touch of a finger!
Because this is a brand new product, they have been very open with suggestions based on our needs and have promptly responded to any issues we have had with this ground breaking new app. I look forward to the features they will be adding in the months ahead.
Bottom Line: This was perfect timing for us as we are finishing one high school transcript and beginning another. They definitely live up to their claim. Simple..Robust…Powerful
My Home School Grades can be purchased directly at their website by clicking the image above. Best of all, they offer a 14-day free trial so you can try it before you by it.
Lifetime Membership – $49.99 (includes all future updates)
You don’t have to take my word for it. Several other Mosaic team members where given this product to review too. Please visit the Mosaic Reviews website to read about all their experiences with My Home School Grades.
Disclaimer: Members of the Mosaic Reviews team were given this app in exchange for their honest review. No other compensation of any kind has been received.
The Bible for Every Storm: Literal and Figurative
Posted by jlsgrant in Book & Product Reviews on May 12, 2013
Waterproof Bible, really? I was a bit skeptical at first, not being a serious outdoorsy type person. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love being outside. But for me it’s usually “weather permitting.” So first, I’d like to share a little of the backstory…
From the website: “The Waterproof Bible and THE OUTDOOR BIBLE originate from our desire to take God’s word into all of His creation, regardless of the weather or circumstances. That is why they are completely waterproof, dry quickly, are much stronger than paper, are usable with writing utensils (ball point pen, pencil, or dry highlighter), and adapt well to all extremes or reading environments (on a rainy camp out, in a coffee shop, even in a hot tub!). Just as a frog lives on land and in water, the Waterproof Bible and THE OUTDOOR BIBLE thrive in any situation or climate.”
While it started initially as the “Outdoor Bible”, the publishers quickly found that it’s value does not stop there. Because it’s waterproof and stain and tear resistant, it’s also great for reading in the tub, or if you have a spiller in the house, or even a toddler who loves to tear pages out of books. But to go back outside, who doesn’t love to read on the beach with the wave splashing gently on the shore? Or maybe while relaxing on the boat….(After a long winter, I’m wishing I had a picture to put here! 
)
If you think a little creatively, the Waterproof Bible can go way beyond our personal day-to-day use. Consider this video from the website and pray about how you can use the Waterproof Bible in your community:
Waterproof Bibles For The Homeless Drop from Bardin & Marsee on Vimeo.
Now for my review…
It had been a difficult week. There were a few storms….literally and figuratively!
When I decided with this product, I really needed to “put it to the test”, I meant proving that it is “waterproof” as the publisher claims. So as a storm approached, I thought it was a perfect time to test the product. I set up a chair on the patio. I placed the Waterproof Bible on the chair as if I had just run inside and planned to return and finish my devotions. I waited. (Note: My son, the engineer, the safety officer, the keeper of the rules, told me, “something does not feel right about this.” He knows you should never leave books outside, especially not a Bible! That was right before he suggested that I leave it open to the story of Noah, not knowing it was only the NT, Psalms and Proverbs. He is also a comedian.)
The clouds churned, the sky turned gray, and suddenly there was a deluge. A strong gust blew and collapsed the chair into a heap, water began pouring down from the over-filled gutter! So I thought, Oops! Maybe that was over-doing it! The Bible sat slightly sheltered in the folded up chair, which was rapidly filling with water. It was almost completely submerged!
I dashed out for the rescue, it was all I could take. I wiped it off and literally squeezed it to press out the excess drops…they balled up and rolled right off/out, like water off a duck’s back! Truly! The synthetic pages didn’t tear or wrinkle under the stress of the storm. The binding did NOT fall apart. The cover remained in tact and looked just like new!
But that was last week. As I prepared to add content to this review, I thought it might be nice to add a Bible verse to my post. Maybe something about rain. The first thing that came to mind is that verse about the rain falling on the just and the unjust….So here it is, right from Matthew 5 in my dry and undamaged KJV Waterproof Bible:
Literal or figurative, the storms do come and we need to wipe off the water, show love, and carry on. The Word of God is storm-proof and always provides encouragement and shelter during trying times.
Do you ever find peaceful solitude when you’re out among nature, that place where you can meet with God in a more quiet setting? I, for one, am happy that now I can confidently take His Word along for the journey without fearing that I will ruin its pages.
The Waterproof Bible truly passed the “waterproof” test with flying colors.
Now if I can just get to the beach to put it to further testing there….:-)
Bottom Line: This is an amazing product
Now, you really need to go buy some of these! They would make an awesome gift for the outdoorsy person in your life, or as a fail-safe alternative in a house full of spillers, or as an opportunity to bless active military personnel, or a homeless person in your area, or……
You can purchase your Waterproof Bible directly from the publisher’s website or from many leading Christian book distributors. Visit the Bardin & Marsee website to locate your options for purchasing:
Available in NIV, KJV, ESV, NKJV, NLT
Pricing Options, as of this review:
New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs – $24.95, Complete Bible – $44.95, Store returns/slightly bumped & bruised – from $10.00
Other products available: waterproof journal, waterproof sketch pad, dry highlighters, waterproof Bible covers, etc.
Several other members of the Mosaic Reviews team where asked to review this product too. So don’t just take my word for it! Please visit the website for links to their resourceful reviews.
Disclaimer: Members of the Mosaics Review team were given copies of the Waterproof Bible – New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in exchange for our honest review. No other compensation of any kind has been received.
The Blessed Church by Robert Morris
Posted by jlsgrant in Book & Product Reviews on May 8, 2013
Not every church is, nor should it be, a “mega-church”. But every church should be a healthy church; a God-sized church. Every church should be on mission with Christ, a light to our surrounding world. Every. Church. This book is not about how to build a mega-church reflecting that of the author’s own experience. It is a book about health and purpose. There is a premise here though, “If you pursue health, growth will be a naturally occurring by-product.” (See Psalm 1:1 – 3)
Before the introduction begins, there are several pages of endorsements from many of our nation’s leading pastors. Here’s what just one has to say about The Blessed Church:
“Our world desperately needs healthy, vibrant churches, so I’m so thankful Robert Morris has written The Blessed Church—a book that draws on the Gateway ‘back story’ to describe the qualities of a healthy local church. More than anything, a heart for God and a love of people define the ministry of Pastor Morris and Gateway Church. If you want a growing vitality in your church, you will profit from every page of The Blessed Church.”
—Chris Hodges, senior pastor, Church of the Highlands
The book starts by examining the importance of vision. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” It all starts with vision. That vision pulls you in the direction you’re heading. Just like all successful endeavors, there is first inspiration, the idea of what could be, the driving force…But remember, this is God’s story, not our own. So first and foremost, we must seek Him.
The book is effectively broken into these sections:
- Blessed Vision
- Blessed Shepherds
- Blessed Leaders
- Blessed Government
- Blessed Church Culture
Scattered throughout the book are a myriad of wise nuggets to think about. They are aptly named, Keys to a Blessed Church. Here are a few of my favorites, which can easily be applied to the life of any follower of Christ, not just church leadership:
“When faced with a major decision or challenge, don’t make a move without first getting alone with God and obtaining His counsel.” (Reference Psalm 119:105)
“When you let the Holy Spirit paint a vision upon the canvas of your heart, a picture will emerge that will stagger your imagination and test your faith. If the vision doesn’t seem impossible to accomplish with your natural ability, it’s probably not from God.” (Reference Exodus 3:11)
And how about this one:
“What spiritual injustice bothers you most? Righting a wrong is a key to your vision for ministry.” (Reference: Psalm 39:2-3)
So while the target audience for The Blessed Church is undoubtedly pastors and lay- leaders, I think anyone can walk away with applicable truths to encourage spiritual growth.
The Blessed Church: The Simple Secret to Growing the Church You Love by Robert Morris is currently available from most major book sellers.
If you’d like to read a sample, the first chapter is available on Scribd.
I reviewed this book as part of the Blogging for Books program with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. Please click through from the icon, to see what others are saying about this encouraging and resourceful book and to rate this review.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation has been received.
