Family Guy Season 8

Family Guy - Season 8
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

In all likelihood, those reading this specific review are fans of 'Family Guy' who watch the cartoon's television run, and are wondering the following; "Is 'Family Guy - Season 8', and the other seasons of 'Family Guy', worth buying on DVD?". One answer: yes. In truth, you've never genuinely experienced 'Family Guy''s full impact until you've watched it through DVD. Faithful to the cartoon's spirit, many more expletives surface than its television run allows, and each episode features deleted content the powers that be felt was too shocking to air. Where Stewie Griffin is shown the video of "Two girls, one cup" in "Back to the Woods" for instance, what wasn't shown on television was the fact that Stewie went on to search for "Two men, one cup" - something that, like other instances in past episodes, alludes to Stewie being homosexual. Where a naked Stewie passes through Brian's room while he's talking to his son Dylan, and says "Just passing through... if you see anything you like, speak up", this is further alluded to.

Besides this, other 'Family Guy' mainstays gloriously occur as ever, whether it be the show's vehemently non-PC attitude (for example, Chris Griffin suggesting Brian is as proud as the first cancer suffer to discover the "handkerchief look" in "Play It Again, Brian"), or its random cultural references to the likes of 'Flash Gordon' ("Road to Germany"), and especially 'Back to the Future' ("Road to Germany" and "The Juice Is Loose").

Yet again, Seth MacFarlane and company deliver the goods. 'Family Guy - Season 8' is an essential purchase this Christmas, and is an essential purchase any other time of the year. It's 'Family Guy' - what more can be said really?

Reviewed by Robert Gray

Ted DeKker's Tea With Hezbollah Press Release

Tea With Hezbollah
Ted DeKker & Carl Medearis

Is it really possible to love one’s enemies?

That’s the question that sparked Ted Dekker's fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey into the heart of the Middle East during the summer of 2008. It was a trip that began in Egypt, passed beneath the steel and glass high rises of Saudi Arabia, then wound through the bullet-pocked alleyways of Beirut and dusty streets of Damascus, before ending at the cradle of the world’s three major religions: Jerusalem.

Tea with Hezbollah (Doubleday Religion, January 26, 2010) combines nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background, as readers join novelist Ted Dekker and his co-author and Middle East expert, Carl Medearis, on a hair-raising journey. They are with them in every rocky cab ride, late-night border crossing, and back-room conversation as they sit down one-on-one with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world. These candid discussions with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, with muftis, sheikhs, and ayatollahs, with Osama bin Laden’s brothers, reveal these men to be real people with emotions, fears, and hopes of their own. Along the way, Dekker and Medearis discover surprising answers and even more surprising questions that they could not have anticipated—questions that lead straight to the heart of Middle Eastern conflict.

Through powerful narrative Tea With Hezbollah will draw the West into a completely fresh understanding of those we call our enemies and the teaching that dares us to love them. A must read for all who see the looming threat rising in the Middle East.

About the Author
Ted Dekker is the author of many nationally best-selling novels, including Bone Man’s Daughters, The Circle Series, Thr3e, and House. His unique style of storytelling has captured the attention of millions worldwide. Visit him at TedDekker.com and Facebook.com/TedDekker.

Tinker Bell And the Lost Treasure

Tinker Bell And the Lost Treasure

Blu Ray and DVD Set

Walt Disney Pictures

Peter Pan’s loveable Tink comes back to us in her new direct to DVD movie Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure. This year a shimmering blue moon will arise allowing the fairies to use their moonstone which restores the magical Pixie Dust Tree. However Tinker Bell is asked to build a scepter for this moonstone and accidentally breaks the moonstone thus putting Pixie Hollow in danger of not being able to restore the tree that gives them their powers. So to make matters right Tinker Bell goes in search of a magic mirror that grants wishes. The search leads her out of Never Land and meets a new friend Blaze. Coming along with her on her journey is her friend Terrance and the two meet up with all sorts of mischief along the way. Along the way Tinker Bell learns the power of friendship and working together.

The set contains two discs, one is the Blu Ray version and the second features the DVD version. I do like how Disney offers this option in the packaging because with a family like ours we can take the DVD along with us on the road when we are on trips since we do not have Blu Ray capabilities in our car yet. The Blu Ray and DVD both contain a Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow short with Tink and Terence as your guides. There are deleted scenes, a music video featuring Demi Lovato singing “The Gift Of A Friend” and more.

Overall this movie is geared for girls 10 years or younger (although my 7 and 3 year old thought this one was more tolerable than the first Tinker Bell movie).

Rating 3 out of 5 pops!

Counterfeit Gods

Counterfeit Gods

Timothy Keller
Dutton Books

I picked this book up the other day because I really enjoy Tim Keller as a writer and speaker. Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan which has over 5,000 members. He is also the New York Times Bestselling Author of THE REASON FOR GOD and THE PRODIGAL GOD (both books have made a huge impact in my life and theology and would recommend both books highly).

In his newest book COUNTERFEIT GODS Dr. Keller looks at the root of idolatry in our lives and more specifically the idols of Money, Sex, and Power. For many people in this country attaining the American dream has become the goal of their lives. Men and women pursue money, true love and the life that they’ve always wanted. Most will do whatever it takes to attain these things no matter what the cost. The sad thing is these people have made it such a goal to gain these things that they inevitably put their faith in them. However it is no wonder that when people finally have wealth, true love and the supposed life they’ve always wanted they end up realizing that they aren’t as satisfied as they through they would be. The truth is, we have made these things counterfeit gods and these gods cannot truly give us what we NEED. Only God can satisfy this deep need we all have. Keller writes, “What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you see to give you what only God can give.” So the point of this book is to point out that not all of our idols are derived out of bad things. Many place their families as a higher priority than God (this is an idol), others seek to find a companion to share their lives with and will stop at nothing to find that person (this is an idol), while so many strive for wealth in this world and then either invest it in all kinds of stuff to make them feel happier or hoarding and storing it away for no one else to touch (this is an idol). The reality is money, sex and power are not necessarily bad things but they do have the potential to become an idol quickly and even inadvertently.

COUNTERFEIT GODS is an excellent book and I would recommend it highly to anyone. However do not fall into the trap and think, “I don’t have a problem with money, sex and power being idols in my life so this book isn’t for me.” Trust me I felt the same way when I started reading it but then I found it is more relevant that I could ever imagine.

Rating:  5 out of 5 pops!