Giveaway Reminder | Unplanned, the Documentary

There is less than one week left to enter for a chance to win the DVD Unplanned, the documentary version of Abby Johnson's amazing story.

To enter the giveaway and to read my review of the DVD, click here.

Giveaway | Unplanned, the Documentary

Unplanned, the Documentary

And the winner is: Kate {The Parchment Girl}

Abby Johnson made a courageous decision when she walked away from her job as the director of a key Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas and walked into the office of the Coalition for Life down the street. Yet that turning point was preceded by years of searching -- and a moment of pure awakening.

In Unplanned, the sixty-minute documentary based on the book of the same title, Abby Johnson shares her story, from a child raised in church to a director of one of the largest abortion clinics in America. The story is riveting, marked by moments of loss, struggle, hope, and redemption.


I quickly accepted the challenge to review the documentary version of Unplanned, especially after I had heard about the book. Though I haven't yet read the book, the documentary gives a well-rounded picture of Abby Johnson's journey. I was rather shocked learning about Abby's turn from a child who grew up in a Christian home to a damaged young woman who made the decision to have an abortion. If anything, her story is a reminder that anyone can stumble, and, in the same way, that anyone can be picked up again.

Abby Johnson

Besides the details of Abby's life, the documentary Unplanned also shares information about what abortion really is and what some, like the Coalition for Life, are doing to fight against it and what others, like Abby when she first started volunteering for Planned Parenthood, are doing to fight for it.

The documentary, released by various Christian companies including Focus on the Family and Tyndale Entertainment, seems to be mainly directed towards pro-life viewers, since much more time is spent on abortion than pro-life options. That fact limits the film a bit, since it isn't as likely to be a witnessing tool. But that isn't necessarily a negative; I'm inclined to think that it is better to be just as it is, a film for those who already claim to be pro-life, but perhaps are doing nothing to back that claim. I felt that to be true especially when Abby Johnson's mother aptly reminded viewers that there is no cause to judge a woman entering a Planned Parenthood clinic when we have never been in the same position. I nearly stood from the couch and cheered.

I can only think that a person would have to be completely unfeeling not to be affected by Unplanned. It is a truly amazing story, and I can see this DVD being an informative tool to reach churches and small groups who need to grow their passion for supporting the unborn. As Abby Johnson says in the documentary, how can we, while so many tiny lives are being lost each day, do nothing?

On May 17 at 8:00 p.m. (in all time zones), Abby Johnson will be featured on the Unite for Life webcast at http://www.uniteforlifewebcast.org/. Visit the website to sign up for free to participate. Unplanned the book and documentary will be available for purchase as a package deal, and 33% of each purchase will go to support crisis pregnancy centers like CareNet, the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, and Heartbeat International.

Now, for the very first Blogful of Books giveaway!

I'm happy to say that Tyndale House Publishers has made available, along with my own review copy, a free copy of Unplanned, the documentary, for one of my readers! A big thank you to Tyndale! This free copy comes to you in the form of an award certificate that you can take to a Christian book store near you or mail to Tyndale House Publishers to receive the free DVD.

Enter to win by

• Leaving a comment on this blog post with your email address.

For one extra entry

• Tell others about this giveaway through Facebook, Twitter, or your blog. (This only counts as one extra entry, so you only need to do one of the above suggestions.) Leave a separate comment letting me know that you did one of these.

This giveaway is open until May 16, 2011. The following day a randomly selected winner will be notified by email and announced in this post.

Giveaway | At Reading to Know

In honor of April Fools Day, Carrie at Reading to Know is offering an amazing giveaway of books. There are ten separate giveaways on her site, and they are all open until April 7th. Stop over to see what she has to offer and enter to win.

And after you enter, don't forget to become a follower because Carrie's book reviews are so enjoyable and informative!

Chronicle Books Giveaway

If you haven't heard about it yet, you should know that Chronicle Books is hosting a huge holiday giveaway! Bloggers can create a post showing $500 worth of Chronicle Books and automatically be entered to win their lists. If you don't blog, you can simply comment on someone else's list; if that blogger wins, someone who commented on his or her blog will also win (it could be you!).

I perused Chronicle Books, and I am drooling! They have some great things! Here is what I narrowed it down to:

Chocolate Cakes by Elinor Klivans, photographs by Ann Stratton

Deep Dark Chocolate: Decadent Recipes for the Serious Chocolate Lover 

by Sara Perry, photographs by France Ruffenach

Cake Pops by Bakerella

Michael Chiarello's Bottega

Blue Ribbon USA: Prizewinning Recipes from State and County Fairs 

by George Orcutt and John Margolies

Potpies: Yumminess in a Dish by Elinor Klivans, photographs by Scott Peterson

Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson

The Commonsense Kitchen by Tom Hudgens

Lincoln in 3-D by Bob Zeller and John J. Richter



You Know You're a Writer When . . . by Adair Lara



Hieroglyph Detective: How to Decode the Sacred Language of the Ancient Egyptians by Nigel Strudwick

 

Extreme Encounters by Greg Emmanuel

 

 

The Exquisite Book by Julia Rothman, Jenny Volvovski, and Matt Lamothe




Paper Blossoms: A Book of Beautiful Boquets for the Table by Ray Marshall




The Crimes of Dr. Watson: An Interactive Sherlock Holmes Mystery by John H. Watson, M.D.




Birdscapes: A Pop-Up Celebration of Bird Songs in Stereo Sound by
Miyoko Chu
with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
illustrations by Julia Hargreaves



To Infinity and Beyond! The Story of Pixar Animation Studios

Okay, so my tastes are diverse. The total came to $499.55. Even if I don't win, I have plenty of gift ideas and "splurges." Have fun making your own list!