Commonplace

SOPA and PIPA

2012-01-18T06:29:00.000-05:00

Opposed to SOPA and PIPA.
Who will they try to shut down next?
That is my question.
The internet has been effectively used as a voice for oppressed people.
Once this starts, where will it stop?

Discouragements

2012-01-13T06:52:00.001-05:00

I recently read the biography of Steve Jobs. I thought this was an interesting way of looking at discouragement."He had a deep well of patience when it came to discouragements."- Chrisann BrennanSo draw from the well today and move on, my friend.

Reading

2012-01-12T09:08:00.002-05:00

"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers."
— Harry S. Truman

Doing the Unfamiliar

2011-12-21T06:58:00.001-05:00

"Sometimes we have to do the unfamiliar to obtain the unexpected!" - Rick Godwin

Collective Wisdom

2011-12-18T05:16:00.000-05:00

I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
—Thomas Carlyle

Michael Belk, Photo-Artist

2011-12-12T08:30:00.000-05:00

Just discovered this artist this morning while watching a song video.

Journeys with the Messiah - Lighten the Load

Small Things

2011-12-11T06:22:00.001-05:00

Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.—Bruce Barton

2011-12-10T05:33:00.001-05:00

Interesting thoughts by Seth Godin: Getting the OS right (for the iPhone, the iPad and the Kindle)

PMA

2011-12-09T06:18:00.002-05:00

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
— Michael Hill

Poetry

2011-12-09T06:16:00.003-05:00

The poem is the device through which the ordinary world is seen in a new way—engaging, compelling, even beautiful.
— Ted Kooser

@Clicktoapp

2011-12-04T06:27:00.002-05:00

Just discovered Click.to app yesterday. What a great find! I am now able to copy from anywhere and paste directly into Facebook, Twitter, Word, Tumblr, Blogger (I used Click.to for this post.), Evernote, etc. A little pop-up shows when you select text, and you click on the icon of your choice and the text is posted where you want.

Hope and Fear

2011-12-04T06:01:00.002-05:00

He has no hope that never had a fear.
— William Cowper, Poet

Together

2011-11-18T05:37:00.003-05:00

When a blind man carries a lame man, both go forward.
— Swedish Proverb

Thought

2011-11-18T05:12:00.003-05:00

‎"What thought can think, another thought can mend."
— Robert Southwell

Language

2011-09-14T10:23:00.000-04:00

A linguistics professor was lecturing to her class one day.

"In English," she said, "A double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."

A voice from the back of the room piped up, "Yeah, right."

2011-09-10T07:08:00.002-04:00

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
— Ambrose Redmon

Made any mistakes lately?

2011-07-24T05:45:00.001-04:00

Click here to read, "If You're Not Making Mistakes, then You're Not Doing Anything."

Time Flies

2011-07-15T15:09:00.001-04:00

Life seems to speed up as we get older, because life gets less memorable as we grow older. — Joshua Foer, Moonwalking with Einstein
Which means, if you don't want it to seem like its flying by, keep doing memorable things.

Language Learning

2011-07-12T09:44:00.000-04:00

Click here to read, Set a task every day.

Tyranny

2011-07-11T06:01:00.002-04:00

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive."
— C. S. Lewis

How to Learn Another Language

2011-07-01T14:48:00.000-04:00

Click here to read "Art of Manliness" Article

In a Rut

2011-06-30T10:53:00.003-04:00

A rut is a grave with the ends knocked out.
— Dr. Laurence J. Peter, (1919 – 1990)

Happy Marriage

2011-06-29T17:48:00.001-04:00

“A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”
— Ruth Bell Graham

What is Spirituality?

2011-06-29T10:00:00.003-04:00

Click here to read "Spirituality Isn't Inward"

iPhone 5

2011-06-29T09:55:00.002-04:00

iPhone 5 production to begin in August

Sympathy v. Action

2011-06-29T09:35:00.006-04:00

‎"Sympathy is no substitute for action."
— David Livingstone

Convoy of Hope

2011-05-26T16:46:00.001-04:00

2011-05-25T11:34:00.004-04:00

"If we spend 16 hours a day dealing with tangible things and only 5 minutes a day dealing with God, is it any wonder that tangible things are 200 times more real to us than God?"
— Dr. William R. Inge

2011-05-09T07:15:00.001-04:00

A linguistics professor was lecturing to her class one day. "In English," she said, "A double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."
A voice from the back of the room piped up, "Yeah, right."

2011-04-22T09:03:00.002-04:00

I am still so moved by what He did for me on this day.

2011-04-19T05:31:00.002-04:00

Spiritual disciplines are not chores. They are conduits of grace. Sails to catch the winds of the Spirit.
— John Ortberg

2011-04-09T18:38:00.002-04:00

I have 13 devotions in this quarter's God's Word for Today as the featured Sunday writer. I have really enjoyed doing this over the past several years. One of life's simple satisfactions.

Click here to order yours.

2011-04-07T08:55:00.002-04:00

The delay of your vision is not a denial.
- Bryan Jarrett

2011-04-07T08:54:00.002-04:00

‎"We would worry a lot less of what people thought of us if we realized how little they actually did."
— Unknown

2011-04-07T08:53:00.002-04:00

"Jesus relentlessly undermines all that is not God to make room for the God who has redeemed our hearts."
— Dan B. Allender and Tremper Longman III

2011-04-07T08:52:00.002-04:00

"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
- Mitchell Kapor

Guilty Dog

2011-03-28T09:08:00.008-04:00

On Quitting

2011-02-16T04:54:00.000-05:00

Elisha's servant focused on the armies coming down the driveway and was overwhelmed. Elisha saw the armies of the Lord behind them in the spiritual realm. The king's armies were the servant's reality. The Lord's armies were Elisha's greater reality. The servant just needed to lift his eyes a little higher to see what the Lord was doing instead of focusing on what the king was doing.

I found this quote that just might help you:

Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.
— Harriet Beecher Stowe

Featured Sunday Writer

2011-02-15T07:18:00.001-05:00

I have 13 devos in God's Word for Today (Spring) as the featured Sunday writer. Click on the link to order your copy.

Confusion

2011-02-07T09:31:00.002-05:00

We often attempt to think rather than obey our way out of confusion.
- Oswald Chambers

Quiz!

2011-02-02T13:33:00.002-05:00

Which is correct? Vote under comments.
1. I just snowblew the driveway.
2. I just snowblowed the driveway.
3. I just blew the snow from the driveway.
4. I gave up trying to say it right and just shoveled it.

Chilling Out

2011-02-02T13:10:00.000-05:00

2011-01-27T15:34:00.000-05:00

Great faith, like great strength in general, is revealed by the ease of its workings. Most of what we think we see as the struggle of faith is really the struggle to act as if we had faith when in fact we do not. — Dallas Willard

Are afternoon naps biblical?

2011-01-22T16:44:00.001-05:00

I wonder if this is a statement of fact or a validation for afternoon naps?

2 Samuel 4:5 So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday rest.

Plucking your eye

2011-01-22T11:53:00.002-05:00

Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

The eye is a gateway to the soul. Did Jesus mean the physical eye? Or was he dealing with the gateways to the soul? If we get sidetracked with the gruesomeness of tearing out an eye, we miss his point. He's saying get rid of the gateways that bring bad stuff into your life.

The "tearing out of the eye" is a drastic step that Jesus doesn't recommend unless it is causing a person to stumble. It is a prevention only when there is cause or weakness.

It is not a general command. He doesn't tell everyone to pluck out an eye as a means of preventing all temptation. There is an "if" involved.

The drastic measures are only for those who are stumbling.

So, if you can't watch cable TV without watching destructive things, get rid of it.

If you can't use the internet without going where you shouldn't, get rid of it.

Drastic measures are for drastic weaknesses. The plucked eye is not a symbol of superiority but a badge of weakness.

The Unknowns

2011-01-21T06:24:00.002-05:00

If you have to know everything that might happen before taking on a venture, you will never do anything. You plan the best you know how and then deal with the unknowns as they come.

2011-01-20T08:01:00.003-05:00

2011-01-19T06:56:00.001-05:00

Addiction

2011-01-17T07:13:00.001-05:00

Addiction is a worship disorder. Something/someone wittingly/unwittingly takes the place in my heart reserved for Jesus. -Scotty Ward Smith

Guns

2011-01-17T06:57:00.001-05:00

If guns kill people, then pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk, and spoons make people fat. - Unknown

2011-01-17T06:55:00.001-05:00

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

2011-01-17T06:46:00.000-05:00

Take up your cross!

2011-01-10T07:10:00.001-05:00

For a long time I wondered what Jesus meant by taking up my cross. After thinking about his cross, I determined that taking up my cross is carrying a burden for the benefit of others. I think this is to be distinguished from general inconveniences or struggles that I face. It is particular, focused solely on that which is helpful for someone else.

Light to See

2011-01-04T07:30:00.001-05:00

"What you need in the darkness of despair is not the changing of your circumstances but light to see the face of Jesus." - Dr. George O. Wood

This is funny!

2011-01-03T14:03:00.002-05:00

‎"My body used to be my temple, then I converted it into a shelter for homeless baked goods."
- Rex Huppke

Bonhoeffer

2010-12-29T08:30:00.003-05:00

I finished reading "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy"
by Eric Metaxas.

It was encouraging to read how many good people continued to flourish and stand by principle in spite of the rising tide of evil. Evil does have its limits; and goodness remains forever. But oh, in the meantime, what havoc evil can wreak. That in Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, and Flossenbürg such goodness could grow is a sign, that there is no law against the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Risk and Cost

2010-12-29T08:21:00.001-05:00

There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range costs of comfortable inaction. - J. F. Kennedy

Bonhoeffer

2010-12-18T04:56:00.009-05:00

"The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children."
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Currently reading: "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy"
by Eric Metaxas
Excellent read! Half way through it.

Comma But

2010-12-14T07:28:00.000-05:00

I follow Jon Acuff on Twitter. He has some funny statements. I like this one:

"I don't mean to be ugly," is just fancy talk for "here comes some ugly."

Yup, it's like the person is saying, "I know I should not say this, but I'm going to say it anyway."

Better said: "I shouldn't be critical (Comma - But) I'm gonna criticize you anyway."

"I shouldn't hurt your feelings (Comma - But) I'm going to hurt you anyway."

The second part of the sentence reveals what the person plans on doing or saying.

The first part just makes them feel better, not you.

Unscientific Poll

2010-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

As I sit here eating summer sausage and Münster cheese on crackers, I thought it would be fun to take an unscientific poll.

What type of cracker do you prefer? Saltine, Club, or Ritz?
If you say oyster, I'm going to wonder about you. And I won't be able to get the image out of my head of you eating sausage and cheese stuffed on a tiny cracker.

OK, wild guess. What kind of cracker do you think I'm eating right now?

Digital Reading

2010-12-11T07:48:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know, you love the feel of the book in your hand, the smell of pulp configured into pages mixed with the subtle whiff of ink. That's all well and good, unless you like to read in bed before you go to sleep and you like to read on your side. A good digital reader helps side sleepers tremendously, because you can set your reader for portrait or landscape and just tap to turn a page. And as your drifting off into lala land, you don't have to worry about the book suddenly collapsing and startling you into another half hour of awakened state.

C. S. Lewis

2010-12-11T07:44:00.000-05:00

I just finished the audiobook, "The Four Loves," by C. S. Lewis. It is the only recording of one of his books actually being read by himself. It's not one of his fantasy writings, but once you get caught up in his reading, you're entering another world. Of the four loves, agape love, is the one love we don't naturally desire, because it's the one love we don't feel we deserve. Wow! That's a powerful thought.

I'm about to finish "Mere Christianity." I read it years ago, I think, because it all seems strangely familiar as I read it. Or could it be that I just happen to think like C. S. Lewis? Oh, don't pride yourself, Curt. You read the book before. Anyway, it's a very good read.

Dallas Willard

2010-12-11T07:38:00.000-05:00

I like his books. He really makes me think. You can always tell when a person really makes you think, because you feel like your mind has been to the gym. You feel good and exhausted at the same time. He challenges my thinking and then comes out with these one-liners that make it all so simple.

Here are two examples:

1. You can read books about discipleship, then Mr. Willard comes out with this one: "Discipleship is being with Jesus and learning to be like him."

2. So what is the kingdom? Mr. Willard defines it: "Your kingdom is what you have say over."
So Jesus' kingdom is what He has say over.

Critics

2010-12-11T07:33:00.002-05:00

"A critic is a person who knows the way, but can't drive the car." - Kenneth Tynan

This quote makes me smile.

2010-12-06T05:40:00.004-05:00

The nice thing about growing up skinny is that when you put on your middle age fat you finally look healthy.

When’s the Best Time to Publish Blog Posts?

2010-12-06T04:24:00.000-05:00

When's the Best Time to Publish Blog Posts?

How Twitter made handwriting cool

2010-11-22T07:41:00.002-05:00

How Twitter made handwriting cool

Wisdom

2010-10-22T05:51:00.000-04:00

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook."
- William James

Diversity

2010-10-21T05:55:00.003-04:00

"Diversity: the art of thinking independently together."
- Malcolm Forbes

Learn a Language

2010-10-20T11:32:00.000-04:00

How to Learn a Language in 90 Days or Less

Boredom

2010-10-14T07:09:00.001-04:00

Boredom flourishes when you feel safe. It is a symptom of security.
- Eugene Ionesco

Thomas Edison

2010-10-13T15:08:00.002-04:00

7 Amazing Success Lessons from Thomas Edison

Identify Clutter

2010-10-13T15:06:00.004-04:00

Nine Quick Tips to Identify Clutter

How many things are there which I do not want.
- Socrates

Couple Converts Truck into Giant Radio Flyer Car . . .

2010-10-13T05:56:00.000-04:00

Click here to see the giant wagon!

How to Massively Increase Your Reading Comprehension

2010-10-09T08:06:00.001-04:00

This is interesting, and the video test (short) really makes the point. When they say "watch the video before you go any further," do watch it, because it really makes the point.

How to Massively Increase Your Reading Comprehension

Coolest Pulpit Ever

2010-10-07T00:11:00.002-04:00

Coolest Pulpit Ever

Yes, It's Possible!

2010-10-06T07:46:00.002-04:00

Live with your century, but do not be its creature.
- Schiller

Lebe mit deinem Jahrhundert, aber sei nicht sein Geschöpf.
- Schiller

How to Downsize and Declutter

2010-10-05T13:37:00.000-04:00

How to Downsize and Declutter

10 Time Management Tips

2010-09-29T18:18:00.001-04:00

10 Time Management Tips

Oh, my goodness!

2010-09-29T07:50:00.002-04:00

"The Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."

- C. S. Lewis

7 Secrets of Spectacular Bloggers

2010-09-27T20:38:00.001-04:00

7 Secrets of Spectacular Bloggers

Another Breath

2010-09-25T09:18:00.002-04:00

A favorite American artist living in Germany.

another breath

7 Mindfulness Tips to Energize Your Writing

2010-09-23T20:08:00.001-04:00

7 Mindfulness Tips to Energize Your Writing

Ending Age-Segmented Worship

2010-09-20T18:14:00.001-04:00

Ending Age-Segmented Worship

4 Ways to Use Twitter to Support Your Blog

2010-09-20T18:09:00.000-04:00

4 Ways to Use Twitter to Support Your Blog

Trouble Choosing a Niche? Start a Personal Blog

2010-09-20T18:07:00.000-04:00

Trouble Choosing a Niche? Start a Personal Blog

A valley / Um vale

2010-09-18T14:11:00.001-04:00

A valley / Um vale

Do you use the same password everywhere?

2010-09-16T07:49:00.000-04:00

The Problem with Using the Same Password Everywhere

Oh, deer!

2010-09-16T07:46:00.000-04:00

These guys were out back a few days ago. They're not easily spooked, so I was able to get quite a few shots. I actually had to make a little noise to get a movement shot.