Devotions for Tuesday

After Death, What Then?>>>more
devotion from In Touch Ministries

Now this is one area that many pastors in the church today really do not like to discuss because of losing members, where do you go when you die if you do have Christ Jesus in your life? As the devotion from Dr. Charles Stanley points out you go to a land of torment before judgment by God, then you're cast in the Lake of Fire. If you have giving your life over to Christ Jesus, you go to heaven...no sleep in suspended animation, you go directly to Heaven.

Many people always say, "how could God send someone to hell if he is a loving God ?" And time again and again God doesn't send anyone to hell, we make that choice. I heard someone say this to me because I was on the fence about turning my life over to Christ totally, I wanted to live my life the way I wanted to live it and thinking that God would accept this lifestyle. The brother in Christ said to me, "It's better to be born twice and die once than to be born once and die twice ". It was like a light bulb went off in my head, that was it for me, I was sold out to Him.

I had this notion that I would give my life to Christ once He came back or when the battle began between Good and Evil(Armageddon) began; I would give my life to Him then but that was foolish thinking and I thank God for His mercy and grace because it's so true, tomorrow is not promise to you or I.

Try this exercise: just for one day follow how many deaths occur not in the world, not in other states, but just in your own city(your local news, they love giving us dire situations); and then check out the ages of each person that died...how young, how old and I mean really ponder it...then think about eternity, infinity. We can be dead and gone for 1000 years and those years are just a dot of infinity (I told before, I'm thinking all the time, no wonder I could get my work done when I was in school). Think about how the teenagers thought they would live forever, I know I thought that way as a youth, think about the gentleman or lady who lived to be 80, 90, 100 years old saying again and again, "one day I'm going to get my act together " or "I'll give my life to Christ...but not today ". Eternity is a long time being in torment, unhappiness. Many people have went through painful divorces or we work with someone who is pain in our butt for 7, 8, or 9 hours a day...times that with forever.

Ouch.

If I'm trying to scare you, good. That is something to think about and think about seriously. This is not a game, this is no joke. I thought by me not drinking, smoking, not doing drugs, not out hurting anyone I'm going to Heaven, God couldn't send me to hell but the more I read and read the Bible (I got to know God for myself, it wasn't because of some pastor constantly preaching and yelling about Fire and Brimstone at me and believe me I sat in many of churches hearing that coming up as a child but it went in one ear and out the other). It was about me having a full, fun life he on earth, having the best in life. Not having to feel all alone when I screwed up, because that is how I felt. I thought God was punishing me because of some of the situations I was going through. But once I gave my life over to Him, I grew up and began to realize most of the situations I was in, I made those choices. Didn't want to admit them at the time but that was my own doing. And now that I know that know that when I stumble, God has my back...that is a awesome feeling.

We are all going to go through hardships, people are going to hurt us(read the book of Matthew), situations are going to happen to us that is not our fault(I was a child of molestation) and knowing that God picked me up, put me back together, that brings a smile to my and joy to my heart. I'm so thankful and glad He gave me the chance to be "born twice so now I only have to die once"; I have the chance to have a full life that not only brings me joy but brings my Heavenly Father joy as well...that's a win-win situation.

And most of all knowing that once I die I go straight to God, how can a brotha lose?

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a great Tuesday. :-)

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Boldness

"I pray that my children would fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel of Christ Jesus "

Ephesians 6:19

devotion for your spirit:

• Living on Purpose
• The Bite Heard around the World
• Morning Mercies

tech netcast for this tuesday:

• Daily Giz Wiz 182
• dl.tv 107
• NerdTV - Show 2

netcast for your soul:

• His Purpose - Part 2
• Conc. of: Dealing With The Perfect Storm - Part 1
• The Gospel for Busy People, Part 1

tech news:

• Seagate bakes security into hard-disk drive
• New Windows Media Player Shines
• MySpace to block copyright music

for headline news>>>click here

Mid Day Tech News

A Dot-Com Survivor’s Long Road
story from nytimes.com|tech

When Jim Clark started Shutterfly, the online photo printing service, in December 1999, a 2-megapixel digital camera could set you back $800, investor enthusiasm for e-commerce was soaring and the words-Internet--and--bust--were rarely used in the same sentence. For his part, Mr. Clark had something of a Midas reputation when it came to technology investing, having started Silicon Graphics, Netscape and Healtheon. But what was expected to be a sprint at the peak of the dot-com boom turned into a marathon--one in which Shutterfly, at times, appeared to be faltering. Late last month, the company finally crossed a finish line of sorts when it became one of just a few e-commerce>>>more

Copying own CDs 'should be legal'
story from BBC.co.uk

A think-tank has called for outdated copyright laws to be rewritten to take account of new ways people listen to music, watch films and read books. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is calling for a "private right to copy". It would decriminalise millions of Britons who break the law each year by copying their CDs onto music players. Making copies of CDs and DVDs for personal>>>more



Linux start-up takes path to profits
story from ZDNet.com

Despite abundant rivals, Ubuntu has risen to prominence within the Linux niche, but that's just a means to an end. Canonical plans to become profitable by 2008 by extracting revenue from the same server market that Linux leaders Red Hat and Novell specialize in. Shuttleworth deliberately is taking a different approach from those rivals, though: The free, downloadable version of Ubuntu is the same as the supported, certified version. He hopes to satisfy conservative customers with five-year support plans on versions such as June's Dapper Drake; for the leading-edge crowd, versions such as last week's Edgy Eft come with 18-month support.>>>more

Tech News..Mainframes, LCD-TV, Competition for YouTube

Mainframes making a comeback story from CNN.com|technology Cheap little servers handle so much of the Internet's dirty work that giant computers known as mainframes, which debuted 50 years ago and often cost more than $1 million, are supposed to be passe. When Hoplon Infotainment, a startup video game company in Brazil, let it be known that it uses a mainframe to operate its signature online game, "People would actually take a step back and say, 'What? Did I hear correctly?"' said Tarquinio Teles, Hoplon's CEO.>>>more


LCD-TV reshaping electronics supply chain
story from techweb.com/eetimes.com

t's obvious that the rise of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Digital Televisions (DTVs) is reshaping the global television and display industries — but the phenomenal expansion also is impacting the wider electronics business, affecting diverse areas ranging from semiconductor production, to the overall chip market, to contract manufacturing.

An examination of iSuppli's vast library of research illustrates>>>more


Runner-Up Takes on YouTube
story from Wired.com

YouTube may be the king of online video, but if Arik Czerniak has his way, the king won't stay on the throne for long.

Czerniak is the CEO and co-founder of Metacafe, one of the web's leading independent video-sharing sites. The company is launching a new service Monday called Producer Rewards which will offer cash payouts to video creators who upload the most interesting and entertaining clips.>>>more

for Monday's devotions and my post>>>click here

Monday Devotion & Tech News...Good Morning Everyone

The Cross’ Impact on Death>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

I don't think about death the way I used to, I know I'm getting older, I know I can't do the things I used to and I know I'm going to die someday. What I don't worry about is where I'm going once I die. It's amazing when I was younger how I wondered about other planets, other dimensions, wanting to live forever. I don't want that anymore because of my belief and love for Christ Jesus.

When I finally gave my life over to my Savior I love science but not as much anymore. I know where my soul is going now and it so much of a comfort because there is "what if" going on in my head. Many people think it's a falsehood to believe in God but when you have tried every other method and religion and still have a empty feeling, a piece of the puzzle missing so to speak, that's not a good feeling to have. But praying, reading, studying, a living God's word assures me that I have nothing to fear about death. Now, I not looking forward to it, on the contrary...it pushes me to live everyday out to it fullest because I want to please my God who gave up His precious son, who lived a perfect life, who only loved and received hate back at the end of his life, to give me everlasting life was my body expires from this earth.

I enjoy just learning more and more about Jesus and in return He has giving me a deeper desire to learn more about other things as well (science, technology) because I don't have worry about living for ever, by turning my life over to Christ I have already cheated death and nobody can take that away from me.

Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a Great Work Week :-)

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Gratitude

"Lord, help my children to live lives that overflow with thankfulness, always giving thanks to You".

Ephesians 5:20

devotions for this Monday:

• What's In Your Mouth?
• Osmosis and Inertia
• Be Prepared

tech news for Monday:

• Microsoft Responds To Vista License Concerns
• Taking Wi-Fi power to the people
• Used phones drive Third World wireless boom

netcast for your spirit today:

• His Purpose - Part 1
• The Alternative
• The Gospel for Busy People, Part 1

tech netcast for Monday:

• TWiT 74: Memories
• Engadget Podcast 092
• The Chris Pirillo Show

Headline news>>>click here

Hubble, Google, the Big Tech Apple

Signs promising for Hubble telescope
story from USA Today

Astronomers' hopes are riding on the long-awaited decision by NASA on whether it will repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Signs are promising for a repair of the aging but popular Hubble Space Telescope, once thought doomed because of worries over astronaut safety. NASA set plans for a big announcement Tuesday after top officials met for three hours Friday to consider the value and risks of sending astronauts to repair the Hubble, extending its life for several more years.

The decision rests with NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, who hasn't>>>more

Google Blogger Service
Outages Spark User Firestorm
story from techweb.com

Users of Google's blogging service vented some anger Friday over outages and slow response times that have plagued the service over the last week.

Engineers at Blogger acknowledged the problems on the site's own blog. "It's been a Murphyesque cavalcade of power failures, fileserver trouble, and wonky network hardware, and I hope you'll believe me when I say that the Blogger staff is even more sick of it than you are," engineer Peter Hopkins wrote.

Blogger staff advised users to switch to the new version of the service, which is in beta. However, users publishing team blogs or blogs with more than a couple of thousand posts, wouldn't be able to make the move yet. The same was true for users publishing blogs via FTP to a non-Blogger server.

Users vented their frustration with the service, and some were forced to>>>more


New York Bets on
High-Tech to Aid Upstate
story from nytimes.com

New video game consoles from Sony and Nintendo will soon join Microsoft’s year-old Xbox 360 on store shelves. Most of the microprocessor chips that animate the three machines are being made not in Asia but in a factory here, surrounded by woods, 70 miles north of Midtown Manhattan.

Inside, the factory is filled with hundreds of chip-making tools that are fed by plastic pods, riding on overhead tracks and carrying pristine silicon wafers, in an elaborate symphony of production. Engineers and operators>>>more

for this weekend devotion>>>click here

images: google

Weekend Devotions & Tech News

Wisdom for Good Health>>>more
devotion from In Touch Ministries

I had posed this question last week...why, as Christians when we are in the world, we eat right, exercise, make sure we look good but as soon as we give our life over to the person who made the above things possible we just let ourselves go? Not all Christians but many of my brothers and sisters in Christ begin to look homely, overweight, sluggish, we get the attitude, "if they love me they will just accept me for who I am." Wrong answer. I'm not saying go get yourself in debt just look good, smell good...heck no. There is a balance and we have the greatest blueprint on how to maintain a balance life...the Holy Bible.

Too many of Christians wait on God to do everything for them and we seem to forget it is a partnership, a covenant with God that we have with one another. Abram(before God changed his name to Abraham) told him to leave his pagan society to follow Him(Abram was from a pagan society and God ask him to make the leap of faith, I am so glad he made the choice to follow our Lord and Savior). God told Abram but did not force him to leave because remember God gave you and I free will to obey or disobey Him. The same went for Noah. We have seen great people in the Bible disobey our Father, Jonah, Samson, David, Solomon...the point is we have that choice but there are consequences for our actions as well.

We are in a covenant with God. Not only does he want our spirit to be one with Him but also our health. How can we witness to people if we look a mess? We have to watch we put in our bodies, we have to exercise because we may not want to believe it but we live in a shallow world. I'm not saying that's the only thing to focus on but we have to in the world but not of the world.

We have to be healthy not only for God but for ourselves: being in shape gives you a pep in your step, you spend less on clothing (I'm 6'4" 280lbs, believe me I have a hard time finding clothing now. I can't imagine if I was 325, 425lbs), you're better in the bedroom for your spouse; it's a plus all around to be fit. We have to stay healthy for the people in our lives because you're a inspiration to your spouse, your children. They, we, want you around for a very long time.

Our bodies are our temples, just like our the vehicles we drive; take care of bodies and our bodies will take care of us.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, and have a fantastic weekend. :-)

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Wisdom

"Father, I pray my children would ask and that you would generously give wisdom to them as you promise".

James 1:5

Christian devotions:

• Make Space for Joy
• Good Out Of Evil
• Champions: Boaz

Tech News:

• Diebold Makes Fixes on the QT
• Test your science smarts
• The cell phone costs $1,275. In love yet?

Netcast to help you know:

• TWiT 72: Ready Clench
• NPR: Technology
• dl.tv 107

Christian audio to help you grow:

• With an Attitude of Love ( Part 3 )
• The Priority of Peacemaking
• Thru the Bible Questions & Answers

image: google image

iPhone...Sure It Can Be Done, But Do We Really It?

Apple + new patent = iPhone speculation
story from CNN Money.com

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Apple Computer Inc. won a patent for a speech-recognition technology earlier this week, fueling speculation that the iPod-maker is laying the groundwork for a future "iPhone."

The patent, approved Tuesday by the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office, allows Apple to assign "meanings to spoken utterances in a speech recognition system.">>>more


Week in review: Browser battles
story from CNet News.com

The revamped Firefox includes a new interface theme and security enhancements such as built-in phishing protection. It also has session memory, which, when the browser is re-opened, brings back the set of Web pages that were in use when it was last closed. Changes have also been made in the technology to import RSS feeds, producing a feed list view with title and first lines.

The Firefox 2 launch comes just days after Microsoft released Internet Explorer 7, the first update to its browser in almost five years.>>>more


Clean Install Is the Way to Go with Vista
story from eWeek.com

IT managers have many questions when it comes to Microsoft Vista, whose final release is looming. One of the biggest: Clean install or upgrade?

To gauge the impact of a Vista migration on existing applications, eWEEK Labs upgraded a Windows XP system to Vista Build 5568. We tested using a Lenovo ThinkPad T41 with 1.5GB of RAM, a 1.6GHz Pentium M processor and an ATI Radeon 7500 video card. Each laptop was loaded with one of Ziff Davis Media's standard Windows XP images.>>>more



to read Friday's devotions and post>>>click here

Revenge Of the Nerds...To OuterSpace

'Nerd' outlines space ambitions
from BBC News

A 58-year old billionaire software engineer is set to join the growing but still exclusive club of space tourists.

Hungarian-born Charles Simonyi, who led the development of Microsoft's Word and Excel, will blast off onboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft on 09 March 2007.>>>more

for Friday's devotions and my post>>>click here

image: google image

Has Bill Gates Lost Touch With The Masses(or does he something we do not?)

Microsoft unveils Vista editions>>>more
from BBC News.co.uk

Let's be honest, it's still early to come out to give it thumbs up or thumbs down about Vista. I have learned over the years some products are good coming out of the gate, some products it takes time to build up steam to get going and other products are disasters before they even hit the shelves. How do I feel about Vista personally? I know I will have to use it later down the line, I will go out and purchase books on Vista but I may not begin using Vista until the middle of 2007 or 2008 because to me I think with Microsoft the first year their products hit the shelves is really the "test run".

from the BBC article people are not pleased so far but like I said it's early. One thing I still can't wrap my mind around is:

1. Why is it going to be six(6) versions of this product?
2. Why will it take about 15GB to run this OS(Operating System)?
3. What's the deal with the EULA? (I need to listen to Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott netcast again because I still can't make heads or tails of this thing)

I really hope Steve Jobs is taking notes of this what Microsoft is doing to it's core users. Steve and company can sit back and laugh at Bill or really take a good hard look at what not to do when it comes to your customers. Everyone knows that Microsoft is trying to bully people into Vista, they're not coming out with a Service Pack 3 until 2008 which as Leo puts it..."that means waiting forever because they can come out with Service Pack 3 this year." I have mentioned this in one of my post. I really wonder has Bill Gates lost touch with reality? Or maybe he has something up his sleeve. This year maybe the best year for Microsoft, maybe we should hang in there for the long haul, I hope for their sake because I know next year I'm working my butt off to get a couple of Apple machines and really get into Ubuntu because unless Microsoft pull of what Steve and company did with Apple, it's may take a long time for Microsoft to recover from this decision they have made with this OS. I'm not an expert and I'm learning more about the web, the different OS products and it's fun but I am a consumer that works hard to earn my money and when many consumers gets burned by a product where we have to plopped down $400 it takes a while for the average American to bounce back from that. But like I said in the beginning...it's too early to call.

Prove us all wrong Bill Gates...prove us wrong.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, and Have a Great Day everyone. :-)

other tech news:
Free Wi-Fi Router Promotion Slated For San Francisco
Wi-Fi Exploits Coming to Metasploit
Linux guru warns on security of open-source code

Christian wisdom for Friday:
An Overflowing Cup,
Loving Your Children from a Distance,
Saying I Do to a Financially Strong Marriage

netcast to help us grow:
When Punishment Is Too Severe
The Alternative
Trusting God When What He Does Doesn’t Make Sense

netcast to help us know:
iLifeZone13
The Dave Ramsey Show Podcast
KFI Tech Guy 286

image: google image

Friday Devotions/Tech News...Happy Friday Everyone

**What Took Place at the Cross>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

One thing I really enjoy about reading or watching Dr. Charles Stanley is how God has used Him to teach the word of God and break it down to where even a child could understand the goodness of our Lord and Savior

This devotion I really encourage you to read: the devotion and the passage from Luke 23:32-43 because I believe many men and women in the body have this problem from time to time...really knowing if we are truly forgiving by God for our sins.

Let me say this once and for all...once you have giving your life over to Christ Jesus your sins...past, present, and future are forgiven. Once you have committed a sin and you truly repent of it God remembers it no more. Now does then mean that we can go out live the way we wish, get into all kind of mess and treat our forgiveness from God like a "Get Out Hell Free" card? No it doesn't and if we do live that way that means we were never saved because once you give your life over to Christ Jesus you go above and beyond pleasing our Father.

Now this does not mean that Satan will not tempt us in every way because you are now his enemy no doubt about my friends and we are not to give Satan no toehold in our lives what so ever; like our pastor always tell our congregation, "if let Satan ride, he's going to want to drive". We can't play around with Satan, we can not defeat Satan on our own, He's too powerful for you and I because anyone that has been practicing deceitfulness for over 6000 years has his craft down packed.

But the glorious thing about living for Jesus Christ is that no matter what Satan throws at you and I he can not take our lives, we are not condemned to Hell because we have been bought and paid for by the shedding of Christ blood at the Cross. Now can we speed up our death by living the way we wish to live, yes...just read about Samson(read the book of Judges). We can't treat our body any kind of way, we can't hang and shouldn't be around certain people that we once associated with because of the activity they still wish to pursue; we have to remember by Adam and Eve given in to Satan's temptation he is the "prince of the air" meaning that he is the ruler of this world.

How can that be if God is the creator of everything you may ask. God can not break His own laws, when Adam and Eve were created He gave them dominion over the Earth, it was meant for you and I to be rulers over this world but that was handed over to Satan once our Mother and Father gave in by eating of the fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam and Eve not only cut their oneness, covenant with God off but this is why we have sickness because of the choices they made and if you noticed in the Old Testament they had to constantly sacrifice animals to atone for their sins but when Jesus said, "it was finished" He was the ultimate lamb to atone for our sins but by Satan, still the ruler of this world we will suffer and go through hardship from time to time.

This will not stop Satan from trying to put a guilt trip on you and I when we fall short of God's way word but that is all it is, a "guilt trip". We have the victory, we know who comes out the victors so the next time Satan reminds you of your past...point to the Cross and remind him of his future. Your in God's house now, your in God's loving arms and Jesus is your lawyer and He has never lost a case. Once you give your life over to Christ Satan can not touch your spirit, you are going to heaven but also remember you have switched teams so to speak and there will be trials in your lives (read the book of Matthew, this where Jesus goes into great detail once you become a child of God).

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a Wonderful Day and Weekend. :-)

**a Must Read :-)

DarrenKeith~

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Passion For The Lord

"Lord, I pray my children's souls would pant for you as the deer pants for streams of water".

Psalm 42:1

other devotions for Friday: Just Do It, God Understands, What Now?

tech news: U.S. control of Internet remains touchy, Nabaztag: A conflicted Wi-Fi rabbit, Battery Recall Exacts Steep Toll on Sony

Christian netcast: The Joy of Salvation, Part 1, Who Cares? - Part 3, Behaviors That Bind Us - Part 2

Tech netcast: Security Now 63, Engadget Podcast 092, Robert Scoble and Eric Rice on Podcasting Future

for headline news>>>click here

image: google search

Is Google The Party-Pooper For Purchasing YouTube?

The YouTube party might just be over.
from MSNBC.com|Tech

For about a year we have enjoyed the weird and terribly fun video culture if offers. The ease with which people could post, watch, embed and link to videos created a phenomenon that certainly ranks among the top Internet experiences of all time YouTube was more fun than chat, more creative than Napster, and more energized than just about any Web-based application out there.>>>more

to read Thursday's devotion's and my post click here

Tech Thursday...Is Downloading Songs Good or Bad?

The Day the Music Died
story found on Wired.com

Dozing in my usual semi-vegetative state through another daily Wired News story conference, I thought at first I had misheard him. "... library of 90,000 songs, and iTunes can't handle it." That was Mike Calore, one of our editors, pitching a story about new software designed to help aficionados store their vast troves of music, collections so enormous that, without help, the iTunes library would collapse under the sheer volume.>>>more

to read today's devotion and my post on the devotion>>> click here

image: allposters.com

Thursday Devotion & Tech News

What Happened at the Cross>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

I love God's word, the mind of God. To me this is the only book you and I can read over and over and find new meaning, deeper revelation each and every time. Just when I think I know what happened at the Cross I may read the same passage and receive a better understanding of why Christ died for us. It's amazing of Christ true love for me, for you, for anyone that turns over their life to Jesus.

I am deep thinker, I'm not a brainy or anything but I think about certain situation and really ponder about them like with our Lord and Savior: to know that not only the anguish He was going to face, the friends you were going to make only to know in the end that one will betray you, one will deny you not only once but three times. Twelve men that walked with you for 2-3 years will now run for cover because they were afraid that they would receive the same fate Jesus did. To be riding on a donkey receiving praises one moment and being cursed at, spit upon the next. Knowing that your entire body would be ripped open down to the bone, beating so bad that you would not be recognized. Having to carry your own cross to the place you would hang for hours while people jeered at you, making fun of you. And all of this knowing that down the road that people to this day will say that you were a fake, a fairy tale, that people will think it's foolish to follow someone like yourself...why would Jesus put himself through this? He knew we could not save ourselves and most important His love for you and I.

I hear scholars try and explain the reason why we humans are the way that we are. As a child I was very interested in science and after all I have learned I have come to realize one thing more and more, to me the Holy Bible explains it all for me. It's amazing how I have done things and asked myself, "why in the heck did I do that?" Then I get into God's word and it makes it clear to me plain and simple...I was born into sin. I know I can not do anything without Him and I am so grateful. To me, atheists can call me foolish all they want but I know His goodness, His mercy, His grace for me, His love for me is true. Not because someone made me believe in Him, I grew up in church, walked away from God, tried other ways to feel that void in my life through reading horoscopes, reading Rune cards and stones but none of them performed the major thing that my Lord and Savior performed...He died for my sins so I live today and forever. To have happiness not only in heaven but on this earth as well and spread His Good News.

Thank you Lord for giving me another chance, for not giving up on me...Thank you.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a Great and Productive day everyone (you and yours)

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Patience

God, strengthen my children with all power, so that they may have great endurance and patience.

Galatians 5:22

other devotions: The Power of a Testimony, No Need to Pack, Ask More

tech news: Sports stay the same as technologies change, Security, Networks To Converge, And Move Offshore, Oracle to offer Red Hat Linux support

Christian netcast: Behaviors That Bind Us - Part 1, The Alternative, The 2nd Coming, Millennium and Final Judgment

tech netcast: Futures in Biotech 7: Dr. Ronald Desrosiers, Vickram’s View, KFI Tech Guy 289

for headlines news>>>click here

image: allposters.com

Thursday Tech News & Commentary

Building a Better Battery>>>more
from Wired Magazine

Wouldn't we want the ultimate battery for our PDAs, our mp3 players, and especially our laptops. I go to the Barnes and Noble, Borders, St. Louis Bread Company restaraunts (everywhere else they are called Pantera Bread Company) some people are using their batteries for their laptops but most of us are searching for a free power outlet(admit it, you do...I know I do). Right now I work on some laptops that is considered dinosaurs. The killing part is when I finally do get around and buy new laptops I will still have the same problems...battery life.

Some of the laptops now have pretty good battery life but I don't believe they have reached the "8" hour mark and I understand why; unlike our mp3 players which really has one function, our laptops, PDAs are doing multiple functions at one time. Safety is a factor as well. Thank the Lord that no one has not been injured during these batteries having a melt down and even though it's a small number of batteries that has been defective, this is not good for Sony.

I have a 3rd generation iPod and the battery life in that puppy sucks big time. the longest it can go is maybe 8 hours (it's helps if I have the equalizer set for flat and why would I have it set that way, I want to hear every sound possible in songs because I listen to mostly instrumental tracks), I also have a mini 6GB mini ipod before the Nano was released. I really like that small mp3 player. The battery life is much better than my older iPod because of the technology. The new Nano are really nice because of the flash memory card which needs less energy because there is no hard drive which means no moving part inside. The article from CNet has many researchers trying to come up with the "ultimate" battery, which would be nice.

The laptops battery life I believe has been helped along by faster and better processors but more needs to be done and from this article they are hard at work but as always, there is not quick solution. I thank the Lord that we even have the technology to do what I'm able to do now. Hey if I haven't received my flying car by now I'm patient enough to wait for a better battery.

One thing that has been looked at is larger flash based so not only would it make the laptop lighter but less components moving meaning longer battery life but I believe that's down the road but for right now I will settle for a safer battery so you and I do not have to worry about not being able to carry our laptops on airplanes or having a picture taken of our laptop after exploding. Just give me a safer battery for now and I will be a happy camper.

Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a Great Day

more tech news: Mylo has potential, but it has holes, too, Blind Web surfers sue Target, Phones for That Other System

Christian wisdom: Haunting Sin, Caring for the Care Givers, Yielding

Christian & Tech netcast: The Priority of Peacemaking, dl.tv 103; False Premises of Retirement, Your Calls & Emails; NerdTV - Show 2 - Max Levchin

for headline news>>>click here

image: google image

Adobe Investment Into Web Applications Without Running A Browser

Adobe ponies up for Apollo from CNet.com

Adobe Systems plans to spend $100 million in venture funding to promote its software development platforms, with a particular focus on Apollo, which allows people to run Web applications without a browser.

Company executives at Adobe's Max developer conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday disclosed the plans to fund third-party software start-ups, in allocations over the next three to five years. The software maker also released a preview version of Apollo and other development-related tooling.>>>more



to read Wednesday devotion and my comment>>>click here

Hackers Claim To Have Cracked iPod Music Code

Hacker Unlocks Apple Music from Information Week

SAN FRANCISCO - A hacker who as a teen cracked the encryption on DVDs has found a way to unlock the code that prevents iPod users from playing songs from download music stores other than Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes, his company said Tuesday.

Jon Lech Johansen, a 22-year-old Norway native who lives in San Francisco, cracked Apple's FairPlay copy-protection technology, said Monique Farantzos, managing director at DoubleTwist, the company that plans to license the code to businesses.

"What he did was basically reverse-engineer FairPlay," she said. "This allows other companies to offer content for the iPod.">>>more

to read the devotions & my comments>>>click here

HDTV sales strong-among wealthier
from USA Today

NEW YORK--->Electronics stores are selling lots of HDTV sets, but that doesn't mean the technology has gone mainstream just yet. Well-to-do consumers still dominate buying: 26% of HDTV owners have more than one set--up from 11% last year--according a study out Wednesday from Leichtman Research Group. "That's a dramatic difference," says Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst. "What is developing is an HD divide.>>>more

for today's devotion & my comment>>> click here

Wednesday Devotions & Tech News

Your Body—God’s Temple>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

I'm glad Dr. Stanley brings this subject up about our bodies, what I may write may offend some people but I say this out of love. This is aimed for men and women (especially women) in the body of Christ because even today I believe many churches are not addressing this subject..taking care of our body.

Women and men of Christ, again I say this out of love but we have a crisis on our hands. The divorce rate are just as high as non-Christians. We are not taking are time when it comes to choosing our mates (we spend more time choosing a home, a car, a computer than choosing a mate for life). So many things we have to take into consideration, the mental state of the person we will bring in our lives, their love for the Lord, their discipline, their finances (yes their finances..that is one of the leading causes of divorce) and our appearance. Many churches don't wish to address this because the subject is sensitive, especially toward the sisters in the body of Christ but this must be said...ladies, our queens, we men are PHYSICAL creatures, there I said it but it's true.

This is not the only thing that attracts men to you but it's very important. God wired us to be visual and women to be internal. This does not give us men the right to be dogs and try to sex anything with a hole(hey, we are all grown here and trying to keep this subject as real as possible..this is why many non-Christians look at us and laugh, how can we tell them to keep their relationship intact if we can't). We, men and women have to keep our bodies in tact for our mates once we are married, plain and simple. We are all going to gain weight over the years but this does not mean we just let ourselves go. I have heard so many women over the years say, "he should love me just the way I am". Very true he should and I truly believe he does but I have heard it best put this way (from the Simpsons more or less) Marge told Homer when he was deliberately putting on weight, "I'm still in love with you Homer, but not attracted to you sexually the way I once was."

Many and I do mean many men Christians or non-Christians do want to step out on their spouse "just because", physical attraction plays a very big part of a relationship. Read the book *Song of Solomon. Every time the woman describes him she says, "my lover"...intimately, inwardly; when the man describes his lover he describes her physical beauty. To a man this is not the whole package but I'm not going to lie, it's a pretty big part of the package. Now let me say this to the man, this gives you no right, NO RIGHT to step out on your spouse when she begins to pick up weight or you think she is not keeping up herself the way she used to(she is the mother of your children, a housewife, so don't use the "Eric Benet" syndrome,"I have to have sex or I will die"). I'm tired of men using that as a cop out to have affairs with someone else, she is your best friend, your mate for life. And to my sisters in Christ, don't get upset when the subjects comes up because we have to be open with one another, this is what keeps a marriage strong, (but fellows be tactful when you bring it up please..she's a woman, your queen okay?)

Fellows, this does not mean we let ourselves go as well. How can I tell my spouse I want her a certain size and I'm not pushing away from the kitchen table myself...really do you think your spouse want someone as big as Biggie Small on top of her doing love making, I don't think so (like I said, I'm trying to keep this as real as possible).

To single men and women, keep yourselves together as well, physically, spiritual, and mentally as well. I have come across many of beautiful women in my days and as soon as they open their mouths my interest in them went right out the window.

And to the fellows, pick up good hygiene habits please. Women do not want a man that looks sloppy, don't wash his hands after using the restroom (yes women pay attention to this). God place place men and women on this earth not only to be man and wife but He also wanted you and I to take care of ourselves the best to our ability, to have fun in and out the bedroom. How can we win people to the body of Christ when we look like something the cat dragged in, it's just not possible.

Women, be true to yourselves and believe me, when your husband see that you are taking care of yourselves spiritually, mentally, and physically there is nothing he will not do for you and men, learn to appreciate the tremendous job your wife is trying to do not only by being a mother, a helper but by being a lover as well. The world is watching us, we (men and women) can't look young forever but if we keep our 'Temple' the best way we can we will have a happy, joyful, and strong marriage.

*Please read the books of Song of Solomon

Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a Great, productive Day.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Hope

"God of Hope, grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness bu the power of the Holy Spirit".

Romans 15:13

other devotions for today: Spiritual Cedar, Hurry Sickness, The Antidote to Worry

tech news for today: Florida man charged in botnet, Web watchdog outlines porn battle, Truck You Planet: A New Hummer , Dream Applications

Christian netcast: The Things God Uses - Part 3, Pure Sex Radio, Who Cares? - Part 1

Tech netcast: FLOSS Weekly 14, Engadget Podcast 092, dl.tv 105

Headline news>>>click here

image: google image

Two Good (and fun) Things Coming This Week To The Web

Firefox 2>>>more
from CNet.com

Two good things are being released this month which to me that makes the web fun...Mozilla Firefox and Vox. Firefox 2.0 web browser has improved their browser and this is the reason I will not make IE7(Internet Explorer 7 now released) my main web browser. What make Firefox a cool browser is the features, the plug-ins, the tabbing (without this tabbing, I could not do my blogs as smooth as I do), the themes I can change, but it's the security that has always sold me on this open source product.

By this being open source it's like having a 24 hour security system for your browser. A couple of other things they have added that is cool is the spell checker, this works great for when you're doing blogs and it's has a tool where you can add words to your personal dictionary as well. CNet gives this product 8.3(how they come with the .3 I have no idea) out of 10. My advise to you, load it on your system and use IE7 only for either your updates for Windows or when you truly have to use the "other" web browser.

Firefox is available for the Mac, Windows, and Linux, check it out.

The other good thing that is being released to the public is a blogging tool from Ben and Mena Trott from Six Apart, Vox. This Thursday they are taking of the beta and invite sticker and releasing it to the public. I have been using Vox for a couple of months now and let me tell you, this to me is the "Apple" of blogging for me. It really makes blogging fun again. From the quick, interchangable templates, to uploading audio, video this let's do what you have always wanted to do...write. I like Blogger, my main blog is with Blogger what I like about it is I can tweak it by adding different items to it but sometime you can get bogged down with just doing that...tweaking it. With Vox (which is my personal blog) I can write and keep going. Some people may not like because you can't tweak it like TypePad, WordPress, or Blogger but to my advise..enjoy Vox for what it is...a fun tool to get to writing. A big shout out to Ben, Mena and the entire group from Six Apart for coming out with this wonderful, fun blogging tool, the Macintosh of blogging.

My advise, download the latest Firefox, use Vox, open upten (I know "upten" is not a word but it's a fun word so bear with me, okay?)tabs on Firefox, load audio tracks on Vox and blog to your hearts content. This way you can listen to tracks from other "Voxers" and write at the same time...a win-win situation.

Be Blessed, Be Safe &, never take that special person in your life for granted.

other tech news: Hacker claims to have cracked iPod restrictions, Microsoft Offers Vista Discounts To Holiday Shoppers, World's fastest texter bested by computer

Christian reading for your soul: Commitment, Characteristics Of Great Leaders, How Could Someone So Persecute Jesus!

netcasts for your spirit and tech for your head: Replace a Critical Attitude . . . ( Part 2 ), MacBreak Weekly 12: Smokin', The Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet, NerdTV - Show 1 - Andy Hertzfeld

headline news>>>click here

photo: google image

Tuesday Devotion & Tech News

The Message of the Cross>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

What does the Cross mean to you? This devotion by Dr. Charles Stanley looks at it from different perspectives; from Pilate's view, from the disciples' view, from Mary's view, from the Pharisees and Sadducees' view, even from Judas's view. How about your view?

I remember when I REALLY became saved. The year 2000, my wife and I was sitting in our pastor's office and him asking was I saved. I told him that I raised in church and I had been baptized but in my heart I really did not know if I was. When the pastor showed me the passage in Romans and read it aloud it was like a huge weight had been lifted off of me and I really began to understand who Christ Jesus was and what the Cross meant to me.

It meant no more guessing about my salvation, it meant how much Christ Jesus gave up for me to have internal happiness and joy. The Cross meant to me where Jesus kept himself up for me because He knew what kind of person I was and what kind of person I could be once I gave my life over to Him. The Cross meant to me at was at a crossroads...either I was for Him or against Him, I know longer wanted to be against Him. The Cross meant to me I had to let go my own ways, my so called friends and be an outcast for people who did not understand my new life and ways. It's been a rough road but they is no way I could ever go back to the old life, never.

I have always been a "strange" kid coming up, an outcast. But now I realize if I'm going to be an outcast I might as well be in the best "outcast" camp there is...my Lord and Savior. I thank you Lord that you kept me alive so I can become one of your allies instead of one of your enemies. God is long suffering and does not wish anyone to perish. There is a saying that God watches over babies and fool, thank you Father for watching over me as an baby and given this "ol' fool" time to come to my senses and give my life to you.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, and have a productive day everyone.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

A Servant's Heart

"God, help my children develop servants' hearts, that they may serve wholeheartdly".

Ephesians 6:7

other devotions: The Power of a Changed Life, The World's Patina, Be An Example

other tech news: Sony recalls 3.5 million more batteries, Google raises curtain on customized search engine, Mozilla unleashes Firefox 2

Christian & tech netcast for today: The Things God Uses - Part 2, Antichrist, America and Armageddon, The Alternative, Daily Giz Wiz 177: Pzizz, NPR:Science Friday, *NerdTV - Show 1 - Andy Hertzfeld

for headline news>>>click here

image: allposters.com

Devotions and Tech News for Monday

The Cross>>>**more
from In Touch Ministries

I don't wear a cross around my neck, I don't deserve it and I will not trivialize it because I know what Jesus Christ had to give up for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anyone who wears a cross around their neck is not for real about Christ because each of us has their reason for wearing one...or not.

Just knowing what God had to do from the beginning of time blows me away. Knowing that we were going to sin even before Adam and Eve walked the earth He knew He was going to have to turn away from His only son because of the sins you and I have done and will do in the future. When watching the Passion of the Christ and to see how Christ Jesus stood in my place knowing what he was going to endure makes me grateful and sad.

I had a meltdown today. I have a step son who tried to take my life about 5 years ago because I asked him to wash the dishes. Me and his mother had not been married no more than two years and it ended up with him and I getting into a argument, a scuffle (this is the result of his natural father not stepping up to the plate and not being a man from the beginning..to all the brothers out there, White and Black, if you're not willing to be responsible for a child, don't bring life into this world) and he ended up trying to take my life. I saw him today and a flood of that day came rushing back on me and I was about to do something I know I shouldn't do; I am trying to get past this, like a friend always says to me, "I am a work in progress". I have tried and tried and I say that I have forgiven him but deep down I haven't. Knowing that you treat their mother like a queen and they know I have never disrespected her in anyway you would think I would have a great relationship with them..but I don't. It's very hard to be a step parent and I have come to accept the fact they (her children from a previous marriage) probably will never accept me but there is nothing I would not do for this beautiful woman that is my wife and even though these are not my grandchildren by blood I love them just the same. This has been very hard on her as well because by him being the youngest, that's the baby child. She has not made excuses for his action but she's caught in a dilemma as well.

So to know that I am not a Jew by blood but how Christ gave His life for me to have everlasting life in heaven makes me feel ashamed of my behavior today. But i will ask for forgiveness, not condemn myself and keep going because God's love for me is real and He knew this was going to happen before I even we walked down the isle my wife and I and said "I do."

The cross for me is not just a piece of jewelry to worn around my neck, but it is my beginning, my middle, my end. His(Jesus Christ) broken by body has been my healed soul and spirit, knowing that I will reign with God forever and ever is all I need to know.

I don't need to wear a cross because it is in my heart, spirit, and soul. Keep me lifted up in prayer.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & have a productive work week everyone.

Love you :-)

~Praying For Our Children~
from Christian Embassy Church

Faith

"Lord, help my children to fight the good fight of faith, taking hold of the eternal life to which they were called".

1 Timothy 6:12

other devotions: Ripples, People Are Watching, Temporary . . .

tech news: Security analysts: Mac attacks rare but may rise, PlayStation 3 shines in prelaunch test, *No HDTV for Me

netcast for today: TWiL 1: Hank Barry, KFI Tech Guy 294, NPR: Technology

christian netcast: The Things God Uses - Part 1, Antichrist, America and Armageddon, Trust Him - Part 3

*Article is from January 2006 but a good article
**Must read devotion

headline news>>>click here

Devotions & Tech News for Sunday

Done!>>>more
from RBC Ministries

Three words...three words our Lord and Savior said before giving up His spirit has changed my life forever, and I do mean forever. What an awesome feeling knowing what Jesus Christ gave up for me to have eternal oneness with God.

It's amazing how we can read long passages in the Holy Bible and get deep meaning out of it but sometime just reading one verse can have a very deep impact on your life. When Jesus hung on that cross and said, "it is finished" that was it, everything Satan thought he ownership over had Jesus Christ took it back and much more. Jesus Christ has connect anybody who confess in their heart that Christ is our Savior and believe in their heart that God rose him from the dead will be forever connect with the heavenly Father.

This is what I love about the Holy Bible, this is the only book we can read over and over again, read a passage you don't understand, ask God to open your heart, mind, and soul for understanding and we may get it right then and there, or time will have passed by and you're in a situation and He will bring understanding to you at that time. It just blows my mind the way my Lord and Savior works.

I may have mentioned this before but try this for a couple of months (I read this is what Billy Graham does), read a chapter of Proverbs each and everyday. This book alone will give you better understanding when it comes to coping with the world in general. To me this is one of my favorite, FAVORITE books in the Bible...it gives us a blueprint of how we should live our lives and that is just ONE book. Now imagine reading and taking in the whole book. Just makes me smile just thinking of it.

Down the road I may begin putting audio passages of the Bible in my personal blog, techmusicgospel.vox.com God has given me an opportunity to share not only my joy for tech and music, finding free software for people but more over, spreading His gospel via internet is and will be my main focus. His word is so awesome and has brought so much joy into my live I just can't keep this just to myself. Some people help God spread His word in so many different ways; some with song, some dance, some with rap, some with poetry, some through the information highway but we're all working together for Him because Satan is coming at you and I, our youth full force and we have to fight him head on with Christ by our side. There are so many battles in front of us we do not tackle and we must bring out in the forefront.

Sure we talk about the issues of homosexuality, abortion..these are important issues true enough; but what how divorce is rampant in our Christian community, what about Christians(my brothers and sisters in Christ) living together and not married, what about how we're (Christian & non-Christians) constantly having children out of wedlock, and my biggest pet peeve...division in the church because of race. How can get the world in order if we can't get our own camp in order?. I mentioned this before by the late Adrian Rogers, "we're the only army that shoot our own wounded."

When I lived in Sanford, Florida one pastor hit the nail on the head when teaching God's word, pastor Marvin Jackson said, "how come we have such a division when it comes to race in the church, why are we so divided when Sunday comes around, why?" We haven't achieved that ultimate, agape love as Christ wants you and I to achieve. I love my brothers and sisters in Christ, ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. Our leaders in churches, on the radio don't really want to address this matter, why? Maybe if we did I truly believe we would be a very strong force against Satan and his demons. Since being on the web I have met so many wonderful Christians from around the world, Black, White, Hispanic, Asians...just learning from one another, just trying to do one thing, share the gospel with people.

We may not agree on every topic, Peter, Paul and the many other apostles may not have agreed on everything on a personal level but they did agree the main thing...getting the gospel, the TRUE gospel out there to masses. We have to do this, get our act together, we must stop analyzing one another and just practice the two commands Christ put before us..

**Matthew 22:34-40 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)

34Now when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced ([a]muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered together.

35And one of their number, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him.

36Teacher, which [b]kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light--which are heavy?]

37And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).(A)

38This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.

39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.(B)

40These two commandments [c]sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

I love you all, I appreciate you all my brothers an sisters in Christ, no matter what the race, we all are important and effective in the body of Christ, the world is watching us. :-)

Be Blessed,
Be Safe, & Have a Great Day.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Contentment

"Father, teach my children the secret of being content in every situation, through Him who gives them strength".

Philippians 4:12-13

more devotions: God Knows Your Ways, Reaction or Response, Dare to Obey

tech news: Sony shows off PS3's online chops, Study of IBM Deaths Links Chip Manufacturing To Cancer, ***Wireless USB poised to cut the cable

netcast for your spirit: When Jesus Touched the Leper, The Alternative, It’s All About Relationship, 1

tech netcast: Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott 3, PodTech.net, KFI Tech Guy 291

Handling Criticism Wisely>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

This past Wednesday I posted a link to Dr. Charles Stanley's devotion on "Handling Criticism Unwisely", this devotion he describes how to handle criticism. Everything Dr. Stanley describes has been a work in progress for me. I have always been very sensitive because of my upbringing, how I was treated when I was young, the things I had to encounter. When I was young I thought it was cruel what I had to encounter but in fact those hurdles I endured God has made me a instrument to help others the best way I know how today.

God has taught me and continues to teach me when a conflict comes up how to not be so defensive, listen, and ask Him for guidance while in the middle of the situation at hand. He are some things I like to share with you.

1. When someone is being critical...listen. This will give you time to collect your thoughts, ask the Lord for guidance because when they are trying to speak and you're trying to speak many times the situation gets escalated and both people end up saying things there will regret.
2. Keep your voice down, keep it low. I have learned over the years when you speak low and slow, your thoughts are clearer, your words, your speech will come out much better and believe it our not many times it catches the other person off guard because in their minds they know your coming back at them the same way as they came at you.
3. Always ask the Lord what to say. Going back to number one, I have learned that listening and allowing the other person to finish there gripe because this gives you the chance to receive guidance from our Father, it gives you and I time to chose our words very wisely because one word, the tone in our voice can make a world of difference.
4. Reflect on yourself. This is a process that takes a while to master because as Dr. Stanley says, we really have to ask ourselves is there truth to what this person is saying to me. I have come to realize that when I am truly honest with myself I am less defensive when I am being criticized.
   
5. Stick to the subject at hand. This is one of my biggest, BIGGEST pet peeves. I don't know how many times when in a debate, receiving criticism or being critical how people either try to blame someone else, give an excuse why they did it...if I am wrong I am wrong, period.
6. Give them your undivided attention no matter how big or small the problem may be. Sometimes it's hard to do because let's face it, sometimes someone critical on a constant basis is...well...petty. But it's big to them and it's important to them to voice their opinion.

Now going back to what I said Wednesday, this does not mean that the person is always right and it does not mean that we suppose to be doormats, let me make that clear. If they are talking to you in a very disrespectful way, wait until they have aired their gripe, pull them to the side and let them know you understand they're upset and you appreciate what they have said but that does NOT give them the right to speak down to you, talk to you like child, or use profanity toward you. One thing I have learned over the years about myself, by me being God's child, I am royalty and that means I will treat people with the utmost respect and I will receive respect as well.

By allowing myself to be used by God I have learned I can work with someone that I know I will never be friends with, get invited over to their home for a "get together" (I'm being real here because we work with some people we do not care for and we know they do not like us) and I have had to come out and say to someone, "I know we do not get along, we do not have talk with one another, but I can work with you because this is a business and I will only come to you when it's work related and I will respect you as a person and I expect the same courtesy". Because the bottom is we are human, we are going to make mistakes, we are never going to please everybody we come into contact with at work, on the street or even in our home. We have to learn how to receive criticism, give criticism in a constructive way because that is how we learn.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & have great weekend.

DarrenKeith~

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Responsibility

"Lord grant my children would learn ot be responsible, for each other should carry is own load".

Galatians 6:5

other devotions: Champions: Dorcas, Adjust Your Conscience, Obeying God

tech articles: Making the web accessible for all, A Student’s Video Résumé Gets Attention (Some of It Unwanted), Intel shows off sweet 16 server

christian netcast: Antichrist, America and Armageddon, Conclusion of: Trust Him - Part 2, Thru the Bible Questions & Answers

tech netcast: TWiM 24: Technology vs. Hollywood, NerdTV - Show 13, dl.tv 103, BuzzCast

headline news>>>click here

image: google image

We Made Through Another Week...Happy Friday Everyone

Responding to God’s Holiness>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

I must be getting old. I remember being in church when I was a child how I used to see older Christians cry when certain hymns were sung or when hearing the pastor preach how they would just break down and cry for joy and I could not understand why. I used to think, "it doesn't take all that to worship and praise God". I used to hear people say, "I thank God for my health" and similar quotes to that effect. Why did Christians have to be so dramatic...my have times changed.

The older I become and the things I witness, I have become one of those, "Jesus Freaks" The best way to win people to Christ is not quoting scripture after scripture, it's being real with people, letting them know what He has done in your life, living your life before Him. I try everyday to respond to God's holiness by not only living the way He wants me to but by just knowing what He has brought me through, where He is taking me, how He has carried me through life even by me not acknowledging Him, ignoring what He had for my life, how he has loved me still, just because.

It's so weird for me now because everything I see, everything I do...I see Him. Being able to do the smallest task in life I give Him honor and praise because I can truly say without Him...I am nothing, truly nothing. I was listening to one of my netcast yesterday and hearing this biologist, Richard Dawkins that is an atheist go on and on about how about how teaching children about Christianity, any religion, is some how a form of "child abuse" in a way, this just made me shake my head. The same way he feels about my Lord and Savior is the same way I feel on how people cannot see the wonders of God. but hey, this is why I love the Lord so much because He has giving us free will to believe in Him or not.

I can understand how people become angry with God sometimes and I can see how many people think many of us Christians are hypocrites because believe it or not, I think we are the most divided group in the nation. The Adrian Rogers summed it best to me, "we're the only army that shoot our wounded." But over all there is no place I would rather be than in God's loving arms. Whenever I get discouraged about how things are going or when I come across other Christians that say one thing and do another I always think of what an older Christian gentleman (Mr. Cleo Horton) taught me when I first gave my life over to the Lord, "you got to get in that book (the Holy Bible) and get to know that Man (the Lord) for yourself"; and that is what I have been doing since. There a great local pastors in your area and great pastors nationwide that teach the truth but what is important is to get to know Him for yourself.

Now I know why the older Christians shout for joy now. To know that He loves me just the way I am makes me smile and tear up with joy.

Thank you Father for loving me just because, thank you.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, and have a Great Day.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Compassion

"Holy Father, I pray that You would clothe my children with the virtue of compassion".

Colossians 3:12

other devotions for today: A Better Idea, Peace In The Storm, Our Will or God's Will?

tech news: Wal-Mart Limits Prepaid Cell Phones to 2, Microsoft Set to Tap Non-Pro Tools Market,The best reason yet to use Ubuntu

netcast for your spirit and mind: Mark 4, MacBreak Weekly 11, The Alternative, KFI Tech Guy 290

headline news>>>click here

image: allposters.com

Devotions for Thursday

Abundantly Above>>>more
from Harvest Online

God's love and His timing is impeccable. When we ask and pray at times and He doesn't answer you and I we get upset and ask, "Why didn't you come when I needed you?" Just when we think it's hopeless or He didn't come through for us He comes another way and it's better than we would have ever dreamed of because "His ways are not are ways". What's so incredible is that many times we feel what we want or think we need, we really do not need in our lives. Aren't you glad He is the 'Author and Finisher' of things? I know I am.

There has been situations before I was married that I was searching for that special someone (or who I thought was that 'special' someone) that I knew was meant for me. I would pray, I would try and strike a deal with the Lord, make promises to the Lord(never, never do that...you may have to do something you may regret) the Lord would close the door and I would become down or upset with Him (oh it's ok to get upset with Him, He created you and I so He knows our emotions) because I thought I was pursuing the right young lady.

Sometimes this is God's way of preparing us or preparing the situation so it will fit like a glove for you and I. We think we are ready but sometimes God's has to shape us just a little bit more, it may be painful, it may seems like a lifetime to us but when He has taken you and I out of the furnace that deal you thought you lost...another one has come along twice as better. That Romeo you thought should have been yours, turned out to be one of the biggest jerks on this earth and the person that God has in your life you could have NEVER imagined.

There is a saying...run as hard as you can toward Jesus Christ and while you're racing to Him you happen to see another person running just as hard toward Jesus Christ...that's the one for you.

We think that God doesn't hear our prayers when we cry out to Him. He does and when He answers the way He choses to it beyond our wildest dreams.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a Productive Day. :-)

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Humility

"God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all".

Titus 3:2

other readings for today: The Holiness of God, A Gratitude Visit, Early Warnings

tech news: Microsoft releases new Internet Explorer, HP Passes Dell, Zombies try to blend in with the crowd

netcast for the spirit & mind: Two Fearless, Future Witnesses, Security Now 61: ISP Privacy, Is the End of the World Near?, NPR: Technology

headline news>>>click here

Tech News for Thursday

Turning social network traffic
into dollars>>>more
from CNet.com|News

Is it just me or does it seem that advertisers are invading every nook and cranny of our lives? I know commercials has been on the uprise and this is how most internet companies make their money, I have no problem with that, even on one of my favorite sites (Vox) you see banner ads and on my blog you see banner ads so why I am even writing this? It seems to me now advertisers are trying to really know everything and I do mean EVERYTHING about you and I.

I guess over the years of me using the web that I have come to block out the ads I see on Yahoo, Google, MSN. Maybe it's my age but I search the web the same way I go into a Target, Wal Mart or our local grocery stores...I know what I want...I go in, get my product(s) and come out. Maybe that's just me or maybe that's because lack of money who knows but the longer people are on the web I believe many of us became "smart consumers".

Years ago when I worked at a Pet food company we had a two day orientation and they taught the new employees how they target customers that come into grocery stores, discount stores on where to place their merchandise; which part of the store to shelve their items, it was pretty interesting. By placing a certain product in the back of store, that would make you and I walk through the store hoping to pick up "items" we really do not need...impulse purchases (this is why as parents we try our best not to take our children when it comes to shopping or just be stern and buy everything they pick up...grandparents on the other hand, that's another story).

These advertisements from the link above are targeted now more toward community groups, teenagers on the web and now even when you and I IM one another. I don't see them quite as often but when I would chat in Yahoo IM sometimes I would have ad bots just 'pop' up out of know where, if I was chatting about posters or even using some 'smiley' icon a ad would pop up about getting more emotional icons for your email or for your IM-ing. In open community sites I see this going on but not when I'm chatting private with someone.

The bottom line I guess comes back to choice, our choice. Just because we see advertisement does not mean we have go out and buy or 'click' the ad. Advertisers, love them or hate them, they are here to stay.

more tech news: Microsoft hopes 7 is lucky number for IE, Some iPods infected with virus, Internet Addictive, Study Says

christian thoughts: 20 Questions for Guiding Opposite-Sex Friendships in Marriage, Answers to Tough Questions, The Universal Thump

netcast for knowledge & wisdom: Let Me Hear You Say "Shibboleth", Engadget Podcast 91, With an Attitude of Contentment ( Part 1 )

image: allposters.com

Wednesday Devotions & Tech News

Handling Criticism Unwisely>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

Dealing with a critical person is not easy, when someone at work, at school or in home just does it just because. What do you do? Coming up I was very sensitive...okay I was a cry baby. In my entry from this past Saturday I felt I was not loved, not wanted, desired. Some of it was people being cruel, some of it was brought on by myself, I felt I could do nothing right. But my what a difference growing up makes...

My Lord has taught me that no matter what, people are going to be people. I used to hear all the time that 'you can not control what people think of you, but you can control what you think of yourself'; and it's true. It took me years to come to that conclusion because when you didn't receive that encouragement coming up as a child it takes you a little longer to realize that God made us for His purpose, not to be a 'people pleaser'. Now that I know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and what He had to endure, what the apostle Paul had to endure, many Christians before you and I had to live through I can keep going.

Now this does not mean you and I are doormats for anyone. What I do now is first and foremost look inward to see is there something I could have done different, better; could I have worked the problem or the situation a little different. Once I go through those step and I am truly honest with myself and the criticism still persists I pull them to the side and ask them what's the problem. I don't raise my voice, I do not get disrespectful with them...I just want to know because many times it's their problem not yours.

I have learned over the years that many people are not happy with themselves and just your presence makes them angry because of the peace you have within. Some people are not going to like you 'just because', plain and simple.

Some criticism is needed when you and I know we are not doing our best and some people have our best interest at heart, we have to learn how to deal with constructive criticism; and some people may have a legitimate reason to criticize but do not have 'people skills' but then there are people that criticize just because they can and that is when we have to call on our Lord and Savior to give us the right way to respond. We are all human and some days are better than others when dealing with critical people. Read this passage before going to bed and before leaving the home for work/school...

**Ephesians 6:10-17(Amplified Bible)

The Armor of God

10In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

11Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.(B)

16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.

This reminds you and I at all times, we can't help what people think of us but it helps you and I prepare for battle on a daily basis.

Have a Blessed, Safe and Peaceful day.

Praying For Our Children
by Christian Embassy Church

Perseverance

"Lord, teach my children to persevere in all they do, and help them run with perseverance the race set before them".

Hebrews 12:1

other devotions for today: Whatever the Circumstances, Sin and Suffering, God Put You In My Way

tech news: Building a Better Voting Machine, Is the sansa e280 an iPod nano killer?, Do We Really Need Bigger Hard Disks?

netcast to know/netcast to grow: Happiness Is . . ., Inside the Net 38: Mozilla 2.0, He Keeps His Word - Part 3, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Headline News: click here

image: Allposters.com

No Days Off>>>more
from Harvest Online

Yesterday I did not blog. I was tired, I needed the rest but I can't make a habit of it because I have a obligation to God. He gives us a day of rest and I need to follow His principles, because it worked for Jesus and I know it works for my life as well. I thank God doesn't take a day (or two) off like we do. He is always with us no matter what situation we are going through, what task is ahead of us, what trial we are going through.

I thank our Lord and Savior that He has granted you and I a day of rest because this gives us time to be truly be thankful for what we have in our lives and to work toward what our Savior's needs. I can't imagine what this world would be like if God took a hour off from watching over you and I. I am truly thankful that even when we take a day (or two, or three) away from God that He has not taking a day away from His children. When thinking of His love for me makes me want to work for Him, to spread His gospel through the web, through my life, through worship and praise.

Take time to think about His precious love and what would happen if He took a day off...on second thought, that's okay.

Have a Blessed, Safe, and productive day.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Joy

"Heavenly Father, grant that my children would be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit".

1 Thessalonians 1:6

other devotions for today: Mars?, Tapping The Treasure, Invisible Bridges

tech news: Apple Mecca Posting Provokes Reaction, Microsoft's Vista Changes Could Backfire On Disgruntled Rivals, Microsoft limits Vista transfers, Install Vista, Buy Graphics Card

netcast for today: He Keeps His Word - Part 2, TWiT 73: Hello Armenia, PodTech.net, Trust Him - Part 1

headline news>>>click here

painting: allposters.com

Weekend Devotions & Tech News

Why Does God Allow Trials?>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

This devotion digs deeper into why our Lord and Savior have you and I, Christians and non-Christians to suffer hardship and go through trials in our lives. He (God) does not get a kick out of seeing people suffer but to draw us closer to Him.

I remember when I wasn't saved and when I used to go through situations in my life and how Iwould try and bargain with God, plead to Him, cry out to Him, get angry with Him because He would allow so many things to happen to me because He did not come when I wanted Him to come. Now that I'm a Follow of Jesus Christ I know why I went through those hardships.

When growing up I stuttered really terrible...I mean terrible. I would dread when the teacher would call on me to read out loud knowing how I would do and how the children would taunt me. I was not a handsome little guy, I really never had a girlfriend while in school (I think I had a crush on some girl every other month) and this went on all the way through high school. I thought God was punishing me, I had a really low image of myself thinking how I would never find anyone. When as a child I was molested and I thought I was damaged goods. Even though I would get angry with God I know deep down that He had his hand on me, that I was someone "special".

I am a only child so many times I would be to myself and work on my humor because at the time my looks was shot to hell (or so I thought) and that would get me through. I would read many Sci-Fi books, The Hardy Boys books, Peanuts comic strips, watch old movies (Charlie Chan...I like the Sydney Toler character better than the other guy), Sherlock Holmes, The Three Stooges...those were my escape from reality at that time. Some of the programs I would watch (Monty Python, The Goodies) and the music I would listen to I would have to conceal because growing up in a small community, all African-American, you did not tell people you listened to Frank Zappa, Rush, Aerosmith, Queen, Boston, and so many other Rock groups and if you mentioned Classical or Easy Listening you were dead in the water. I use to read the album credits, what musician played on what track, who produced what song, where they recorded the album; that was important to me. I did this because it kept me going, made me feel important because when you grow up in a small community you did not talk about molestation. I never told anyone because of course as a child you think it was "your" fault.

One of the most devastating blows to me was when I used to hang out with a childhood friend. He and I was cool, his mother and family was really nice to me and I used to go to his house all the time and sometimes my mother would get upset. Now I love my mother, we have never been the closest because she has never been a person that showed affection to me, she loved me the only way she knew how because she was a single mother so this is not a knock against her.

I was headed to over to my friend's house and she just exploded. I know now what she was trying to do because sometimes you can wear out your welcome when go over to the same house every single day, and maybe if she would have broke it down to me that way I may have understood but she said is how it came out;

Mother: Why do you always go over to Doug (not his real name) house?

Me: Because that's my friend, his my best friend

Mother: People don't want you coming over to there house all the time. I know his family is
sick of you

Me: No they don't Mama

Mother: Why do you hang around Doug so much

Me: I told you Mama, he's my best friend

Mother: You two must be screwing(but she used the 'F' word) one another

I just stood there...I could not believe that they came out of her mouth. I was 12 years old at the time. Now saying this to me, knowing how I stuttered so bad I could barely get words out, how my hormones would go off the scale whenever I saw a girl, wanting a girlfriend so bad and being shot down all the time, being violated as a child would have sent some children down another path. But deep down once again I knew God had something in plan for me.

When I was in high school things did not get better. I was never in the 'in' crowd. I thought maybe if I played sports that would make me a 'babe magnet' but nope..never did. Didn't go to my Junior or Senior prom because number one...no girlfriend and number two...no car. But again I knew He had something better for me, even though I wasn't a Christian and I didn't understand His ways.

Fast forward to today. Happily married, don't stutter anymore, I have peace of mind. I know why I went through what I did now. I call it "my thorn in my side". When I see someone stutter...I have empathy, when I know someone has been molested...I have empathy (now don't get me wrong, no one and I do mean NO ONE has the right to violate a child and to use the excuse I was a victim so that's why I made someone a victim, to me that's a cop out). When someone doesn't understand computers I do not get upset because coming up I was called stupid, dumb, retarded and I wish someone would have told me when I was young that 'just because I don't get the first time that does not mean I'm stupid, the things that interest you that's what you gravitate to in your life.'

My love for music...now I get to share with the world and not feel ashamed of the artists I listened to growing up as a child. I can say this now, Thank you Jesus for what you put me through because in my trials and troubles you have made me a caring husband, a person who knows how to listen when people are hurting, loving myself, loving others, sharing with others, having empathy with others. Thank you Lord for keeping me from relationships that would have had dire consequences (having a child out of wedlock, not knowing how to treat a woman because of my hardships coming up). Thank you for not answering all my prayers God. Thank you. :-)

I am not boasting that I'm better than anyone, this is just a part of me sharing my story with people who do not understand why our Lord and Savior has us go through months or even years of torment, abuse, neglect. I love the Lord with all my heart and soul and that will never change. What He put me through has made me the man/husband/person that I am today.

Hang in there people, God REALLY and TRULY loves you.

Have a Blessed, Fun and Joyful weekend.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Kindness

"Father, I pray that my children would be kind to each other and to everyone else."

1 Thessalonians 5:15

other devotions for today: Champions: Peter, Careless Preachers, Insight for Living

tech news for you today: Why Internet Explorer 7 Will Break the Web, cool tech coming this fall, Is Windows Near End of Its Run?

netcast for wisdom & knowledge: Thru the Bible Questions & Answers, Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott, The Alternative, NPR: Books

Headline News:

BUFFALO — Tree limbs filled with autumn colors lay broken on a carpet of white. Kids got to throw snowballs nearly three weeks before they go trick-or-treating. Boats on Lake Erie were encrusted in ice a day before many people in the area had planned to go picking pumpkins and apples.>>>more

WASHINGTON – Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R) of Pennsylvania once looked like a top-tier target for Democrats in their drive to take over the House. He's a freshman, which in a typical election year would make him more vulnerable to defeat than longer-serving members. And his district, north of Philadelphia, has an increasingly Democratic tilt to it.>>>more

other headlines news>>>click here

photo: all posters.com

Devotion for Friday...Happy Friday Everyone :-)

Wisdom for the
Trials of Life>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

This is a 'right on' word because many times we do not know where or who to turn to when storms arise. I mentioned in a earlier entry how difficult times will come and in the end it will make us stronger and wiser. Sometimes the shortest verses or passages in the bible give us more insight on certain situations.

One thing many people fell to realize and hate to talk about is the grief we bring in our own lives. True, they are many times that situations, hardship comes up in our lives that we have no control over but if we are honest with ourselves there are times that we allow unnecessary troubles in our "circle" of life. Whether we participate in gossip that we know we should just turn the other way, getting into relationships with someone that we know deep down that he or she are not what we're looking for or signing a contract because we have to have it "right now".

We have all been there and sometimes the outcomes are devastating. I always tell people that, "there are problems in life and then there are unnecessary problems in life". We must learn how to be strong in the Lord and no when not to go down those roads because of peer pressure, keeping up with the Jones' because believe me that impulse of "must have it right now" will pass.

Troubles and trials will come in our lives, can't get around it but what we can get around is how we will respond to them and having the wisdom not to put ourselves in certain situations to begin with so we won't suffer that, "shoulda, coulda, woulda" sydrome (yes I know those are not real words but we say those three words from time to time..admit it).

I love God because he is not trying to keep anything from me...He's trying to keep me safe from unnecessary heartache down the road.

Have a Blessed, Safe, and Fun Weekend everyone. :-)

DarrenKeith~

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Purity

"Create in my children pure hearts, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their lives".

Psalm 51:10

other devotions for today: Good Friday, Looking Forward, The Universe Is God's

tech news: Will YouTube Lose It's Edge?, Enterprise-class desktop computing, HP hires new ethics officer

podcast for knowledge & wisdom: Thru the Bible, The Chris Pirillo Show, In Touch, Buzz Out Loud from CNET

photo: google image

And Here I Thought It Was A Slow Tech Week...

Security expert: User
education is pointless>>>more
from CNet News.com

Tuesday I wrote a "help" guide on how to protect yourself when surfing the web. But from the sounds of this article most users are "idiots" in so many words. From what he's saying we should just throw our hands up and let your systems get infected, throw most computer users to the wolves.

I have to admit sometimes it can be a challenge but what he fails to realize is that all of us have been naive from one time or another. I look at this matter in some ways like telling people about Christ Jesus...either you will listen or you won't. But I have learned over time is that all of us have free will.

You can't make people do something if they do not wish to do it...plain and simple. Example, I ask my wife to use Mozilla Firefox to search the web, most of the time she doesn't; does that make her a moron, no....hard headed, yes (but she's still my SugarBaby) Does she pay for in the end..yes. She is a grown woman and computer user will or will not heed computer experts warning. And to be fair most computer users shouldn't have to IT Specialist to surf the web but the times we live in we have to be cautious.

But let me give Mr. Gorling and the other tech experts a little advise...don't belittle people. This is why nerds and geeks have such a bad rep for thinking we're superior and everyone else is inferior (remember Nick the Computer Guy from Saturday Night Live?). I like how Leo Laporte addresses the matter, "we all were novice at one time or another...", I know I don't have all the answers and I learn something new everyday...like not be like this guy...but the point is Mr. Gorling, lighten up. It's not your system that's effected and if everyone was experts, what would you be doing? It's tiresome sometimes, frustrating at times but the bottom line, people will learn to surf the web smarter or they won't.

More tech news: Wisconsin library joins Google book project, , Florida judge gets tough on 'Bully'
Palm Launches Treo 680

Christian wisdom: 12 Questions To Ask Before Making A Decision, Harnessed Strength, Insight for Living

netcast for your mind & heart: NerdTV, Living on the Edge, KFI Tech Guy 290

For Headline News>>>click here

photo: google image

Devotions for Thursday...4 Down/1 To Go

Perfect Timing>>>more
from Harvest Online

I am so happy I am a Christian. I have had my share of trials and storms and I will go through others, not because I want to but because "that's life". Why I'm happy I'm a Christian is because I have Christ Jesus on my side through it all.

No matter how short or long the period of troubles we go through (doesn't it seems like all of them are long?) for me they stretch me, pain me, wear me out sometimes but in the end...I am wise, stronger. Some trials God allows to test our faith (Job), some trials Satan attacks us (because we are his enemy) and some troubles we bring upon ourselves. I just thankful that I have a Heavenly Father that no matter what He never leaves my side.

When I watch the news and see some of tragedies that come over people, I can see why they take matters into their own hands. I see why I some people have turned away from marriage, I why people sometimes do not trust others in government, I see why some say many leaders in the church are hypercritical. But I always remember what a older Christian told me years back when I first gave my life to the Lord, *"That is why you have to get to know that Man for yourself". Those words are so true. If I did not know the goodness of my Lord and Savior I may have turned away from Him by now. He has taught me that by the Fall of Adam and Eve we are going to have hypercritical people in the workplace, we are going to have friends that will let us down from time to time, we will have things that happen to us no fault of our own, and yes...there are going to be hypercritical people in the congregation as well. Remember Jesus chose his twelve disciples knowing one was going to deny him not once but three times, another will betray him for pieces of silver and all would flee when He was arrested. But the wonderful news is that he took the 11 disciples back in His fold and would have taking Judas back if he would just repented of his sins.

Sometimes our Lord has to break us all the way down to build us back up (Peter) to make us realize where all strength comes from and He doesn't break us down to get joy out of it but to show that know matter what, He's there to comfort us always.

When we are going threw the storm, it does not feel good, not by a long shot and I would never trivialize anybodies suffering...but it will get better...trust Him, it will.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, and have a productive Thursday.

*Mr Cleo Horton

**My heart and prayers to the family of New York Yankees Pitcher Cory Lidle's family and friends.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Courage

"Lord, may my children always be strong and courageous in their character and their actions".

Deuteronomy 31:6

other devotions for today: The Misery of Sin, God Is Good to All, Affirmation and Appreciation

tech news: Keeping your inbox in shape, U.S. Court Order Could Boost Spam By 50 Billion Daily,Dell Web site snubs Intel's Viiv

netcast for knowledge & peace of mind: Conc. of: A Word To Those Who've Had Enough - Pt 2, TWiM 21: Live from the PME, From Alienation To Reconciliation - Part 1, dl.tv

for headline news>>>click here

photo: google image

Wednesday Devotions...We're At The Half Way Mark

Empire Building>>>more
from RBC Ministries

This devotion is really good, it speaks of how churches and we as Christians need to remember the most important reason why we were put on this earth...to invest in other people. This also implies to our homes as well. In this day and age we get so busy with work, trying to make sure our bills get paid, pleasing our spouse, making sure that there needs are met for our children (I didn't say 'wants'...some of those are good for children but in this day and age we have went overboard. I will save that for another topic) which are things that we need to do day in and day out but do we sometime just sometime pull our wife or husband aside and spend that 'quiet' time with them. Do you spend time in the Bible with them, pray together. I have been guilty of this and I have to do better.

Sometimes it is good just have that one-on-one time with a person, mentor them, really find out what is going on in their lives. You never know how much of a impact that might have on he or she. Our God is so awesome that He can deal with the entire world and also give us that individual quality time, it's incredible. Jesus Christ gave us a blueprint on how to master this task by spending time with the multitudes, His disciples, and alone time with God.

We have a lot on our plate at this day and age I know, but let's not forget that sometimes building up that one person in your life is just as important as 'feeding the multitudes' as well.

Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a great Wednesday.

Praying For Our Children
by Christian Embassy Church

Faithfulness

"Let faithfulness never leave my children, but bind this virtue around their necks."

Proverbs 3:3

other Christian readings for today: Parenting in a Godless Age, Good for Evil, Head vs. Heart

tech news for this morning: Microsoft releases 6 patches for flaws, Copy never: DRM 'glitch',Vista Mythbusters #7: How much DRM is too much?, Cruising along the EVDO superhighway

netcast for your heart and soul: Living With Regret, MacBreak Weekly 10, 60 Minutes Podcast: Bob Woodward, The Alternative

photo: google image

Tight Security For Vista

Microsoft promises Vista security>>>more
from BBC News website

I for one really hope Microsoft will have better security for Vista as they say in the article. But one thing Jean-Philippe Courtois said that is very important...internet users must be smarter when surfing the web. I have mentioned this before but I will mention it again because I want you to have a better experience when it comes to surfing the web, using your computer.

1. First and foremost, use Mozilla Firefox as your browser not IE.

Internet Explorer is not a good browser period. Not only because of Microsoft but because their OS is used by most of us here in the US and abroad. When you have that market share you're going to have you stupid hackers, adware/spyware people trying to crack the software, find holes and flaws in the system plain and simple.

2. Have a good Anti Virus software installed on your system.

Most people use Norton or Mcafee which to me, my geeks brothers in crime, Luis & Javier, Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, Robert Heron and many other are 'bloat ware'...software that bog down your computer. You need something that is light and goes to the heart of the matter. I have been using AVG (they have a free download from their site), Leo Laporte recommends Nod32 and believe or not Microsoft has their software package for about 50 bucks and from what I hear it's pretty good. Make sure you check for update, I'm pretty sure most of these software has a automatic update alert. I like AVG because I have it set to check for update everyday and it does like clockwork.

3. Have more than one Anti-Spyware/Adware software on you system.

I have Microsoft's Defender, Webroot Spy Sweeper, and Lavasoft's Ad-Aware on my system. I have them set to run every night. I like Webroot's and Microsoft's sofware, it lets you know when you have updates and like your previous Anti-Virus software, it doesn't bog down my system.

4. Watch what you click on when surfing the web....period

If you see a flashing alert saying, "YOUR SYSTEM HAS BEEN AFFECTED" do not click on it because if you do, that's it...most likely you're infected. And with most spyware it's really hard to get rid of and most likely, not all the time, you may have to reformat your hard drive and that's a pain. When you get your system the way you want it, make a image of your system. Most computers now have DVD burner, I recommend buying Norton's Ghost. Use this software to burn a image of your system before you do any major web surfing. this way if you get infected you can just pop your DVDs in your system and it will put your image back on your system and you're good as new. (what do I mean by image? Norton Ghost makes a image of your Operating System, Applications, everything you have on your system...better than the restore point we set for our system. Most likely it will take a 2-3 DVDs to burn so just be prepared but it's worth it.)

5. Set up a limited user account.

I hear with Vista it will have the feature that Linux, Unix, Apple's OS systems has had in place for a long time which is sweet. If you try and install any software it will ask for the password. But what I'm explaining goes for people who are still using XP and 2000. This is a pain in the you know what but it's best to surf the web, watch DVD movies in a limited user account. This stops anything or anybody for the most part of adding any type of software on your system. When in limited user mode you can do just about anything except run software. If you need to run software just right click the software you're wish to install, click on "run as" and put in the password and for the most part you are good to go. It's a pain at times because sometimes the software doesn't install properly. This is why Vista (from what I hear) the new feature that will let you do just about anything but when it comes to install software, it will ask for your password...which is much better.

And one more thing....make sure you run Microsoft's update to install the latest update (this you will have to use Internet Explorer). That is a must.

I hope this helps you and just be careful what you click on when surfing the web, do not open any attachments, don't click on links in your email messages, copy and paste the link in a new window.

The web shouldn't be this difficult but we live in diffirent times but over all the web, computers are so cool.

Happy surfing

other tech news: Device helps navigate daily life, With YouTube, Google puts its competitors in a jam, Ballmer on PC's role in Web services world, Africa dust may hamper hurricanes

christian reading: Unloading the Baggage, Caring for the Care Givers, Fruit and Faith

netcast to listen to tonight: dl.tv, Turning The Rat Race Into A Pilgrimage, Trials Can Be Your Teacher, part 2

photo: google image

Devotions for Tuesday

Dreams Come True>>>more
from Turning Point

I wish to do this devotion/tech web blog full time from home, I really do. To interview the movers and shakers in the tech world, to interview men and women of the Lord, to interview musicians(Jazz, Gospel, World Fusion..the whole gambit). It's amazing how I can get up at 5am and by the grace of God He gives me the strength to do this day and and day out...this is my dream. It has taking me years to finally find something that truly brings me joy. I have started my projects...first excited about it them and then it dwindled away. But with this, I have pressed on even when I felt no one was reading my blog. This started as a dream as well.

I have always had a love for music. I have always enjoy tech gadgets. I enjoy spreading the Good News. Now I have all three in one. A couple of months back I saw how Kevin Rose was worth $60 million by him starting Digg.com (later to find out from listening to Kevin on TWiT that the number was greatly exaggerated...he said he can't even afford a that time for his apartment.) But the idea stuck with me to try and do something different, something that matter and this is the results. God is working with me to bring my dream to light. Their are some days I don't feel like I have something to say but day after day I'm in front of this computer typing away. God is so good.

I may have said this in an earlier blog entry but I will say it again...don't give up on the plan that God has put in your heart. Do you know that 80% (I'm included) are working at jobs we do not like? that's truly sad. Some of have had detours, some of us were afraid of what people may think, some of never had someone in our corner encouraging us to move forward. But let me tell you something...when it's from God, He will find the funds, line up the people in our lives to push that dream forward. We may come across some bumps in the road but keep pressing on people.

Now we can't just sit back on our behind and expect for us to fall into our laps...this is a covenant we have with our Heavenly Father, we must obey and do our part as well. Too many times we pray and pray and do not put forth the effort to pursue. We already know, by giving our lives over to God by believing in His Son who died for our sins has giving us eternal life in heaven is wonderful. But He also died for us to spread His word and to have happiness here on earth as well.

Go for it!!!

Be blessed, Be Safe and Have a Wonderful Day

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Self-Esteem

"God, help my children develop a strong self-esteem rooted in the realization that they are Your workmanship".

Ephesians 2:10

other devotions for today: Moving Targets, The Privilege of Knowing God, Suffering: How Do We Respond?

other tech news: Carly Fiorina Tells Her Story, Retailers pressure studios on Web deals, Chief Resigns at Monster.com

netcast for your mind & your soul: What’s Your Story?, Conc. of: A Word To Those Who've Had Enough - Pt 1, Podtech.network, KFI Tech Guy 290

photo: google image

Bloggers Link Another Story That Is On The Mark

Google makes video
play with YouTube buy>>>more
from CNet.com website

It finally happened...Google purchased YouTube. I think what really blows me away is not the purchase of YouTube (it was rumored that pretty soon YouTube might have went under do to the bandwidth cost to the company) but the fact that once again, a blogger broke the story.

Remember when we were in the grocery store and we saw magazines like the National Enquirer and other magazines that we would just walk right past them because they were 90-95% crap and the rest may and I say a small may have been true. Now these 'throw' away newspapers (can't believe I just called them newspapers) have more truth and break more stories it seems than People, Time, Newsweek and other legit news organizations.

I think some of it now comes from the fact of, you guessed it...technology. Ted Turner started it all with CNN to be honest. People thought he was nuts to start a 24hour, around the coverage news organization. Yep, he was crazy..crazy like a multi-billionaire fox. Now we have the Weather Channel, ESPN, the Golf Channel, Speed Channel. Yep Ted, you were the innovator.

It was the blogs that told on Mark Foley and this leak with the Google purchase of YouTube. Most blogs you have to take it with a grain of salt but rather the big news organization want to recognize this or not, bloggers are making there mark when it comes to delivering news. Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq, the news is getting out to the masses..the good and the bad. Even now when you go to websites (CNN, MSNBC, CNet) they have 'blog" sections on their site.

I listened to my TWiT podcast today and they were kind of scoffing about the Google/YouTube story. John C. Dvorak (you're still my hero) did not think this was legit...sorry John.

Yes, blogs are here to stay and that gives me hope that maybe I can do this full time one day soon.

other tech articles: MySpace organizes Sudan fundraiser, Ray Noorda, The CEO Who Led Novell Dies, In the home stretch toward Vista, Firefox 2.0 RC2 Is a Step … Backward?

Christian readings: insight for living, Coping with Loss, God's Curriculum

netcast for your mind & soul: Futures in Biotecha>, dl.tv: Episode 101, Chosen by God, Part 3

photo: google image

Just A Reminder....

from my techmusicgospel blog...


I don't know why this has been on my mind but I should share this with you. If you have an iPod (and I'm sure many of you have) there are a couple of great programs that's only $21-$22. They are Tune Transfer & Tune Tools for iPod from ValueSoft (you can find this software at Office Depot, OfficeMax, Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, Staples). There may be some freeware programs out there I'm sure but for this price you can't be this little program that will save you much grieve down the road.

I recently lost about 200 songs from a hard drive that died on me and the hard drive wasn't a year old. The hard drive was under warranty but the songs I download from Apple are gone and dumb me, who tell people all the time, "back up your data" didn't backup mine (...i know practice what you preach). I heard that Wil Wheaton got in contact with Apple because he lost his songs and they allowed him to download his songs again (but he starred on Star Trek: TNG) do you think if I tell them I was Worf in Star Trek:TNG they will let me get my songs back? anyway...

This little program will allow you to backup your iTunes or any mp3s you have on your iPod to another folder or another drive. The software is very simple to use and it's worth it. One more piece of advise...burn them to a CD or DVD...soon. I say this because it's always and I do mean ALWAYS good to have a hard copy of your data. This tip you probably have heard before but I implore you to do so...soon because you never know.

Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a Great and Productive Day. :-)

Devotions for Monday

Keep Running!>>>more
from Harvest Online

Here it is another Monday morning, going into a job that is something I really don't care for, speaking with people that I not really grateful, working with some people that I don't get along with from time to time. I want to call in, I want to take this day and rest from the long weekend dealing with 4 beautiful grandchildren and our wonderful niece. I could take off, I have some PTO available but I have to keep pressing on because I have an obligation to my God, myself, to my wife, to my job.

It's the same for our Lord and Savior, He did not have to go to calvary for us but He did so we can have a covenant with God again. There are going to be times when we get tired of the persucutions of others, dealing with the rejection from co-workers, family members, friends who don't understand your way of living for the Lord...you have to keep pressing on not only for ourselves but for Jesus Christ. We have to reach as many people as possible not only by our words but by our actions, the way we live our lives.

Everyday before I sit in front of the computer I get nervous on what to type, what to say, I go blank. And every time my Heavenly Father gives me the words and wisdom to say what needs to be shared with you, the readers. Satan attacks me every morning, "why are doing this? This is a waste of time. You're not reaching anyone. You're never going to be able to do this full-time." But he's a liar because whenever you're close to your mark that is when it becomes the roughest to keep going. It's worth the pain to keep pushing forward.

Whatever God has put in your heart to pursue, being a doctor, being a writer, being a stay home mother (which is a full time job in itself...what would we do without you), your children will try you, test and exams may get tough, not getting the reconition you deserve...keep pushing on because your hard work is not in vain. Your Father is putting people in your path that one day when you least expect it your hard work will all pay off. I remember what Dr. Charles Stanley once said and I hold on to it..." when we are waiting, God is working."

Hold on to the faith.

Have a Blessed and Productive Monday.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Respect

"Lord, help my children to show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands".

1Peter 2:17

other devotion readings: The Greatness of God, Choosing and Using Time, The Scrabble Syndrome

tech articles: Is Google buying YouTube?, MySpace Attracting An Older Internet Crowd, Dunn, Fiorina lash out at HP board

netcast for today: Thru the Bible Questions & Answers, A Word To Those Who've Had Enough - Part 1, TWiT 72: Ready Clench

photo: google image

Devotions for Saturday...Good Morning Everyone

Defending Against Temptation>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

Temptation, we can not escape from it plain and simple; but this devotion from Dr. Charles Stanley gives us very good advise on how to be proactive and not reactive. In this day and time with so much that has happen not just this year but just in the last month, we as Followers of Jesus Christ have to be out there on the front lines of this spiritual war that is raging in these last days.

One thing I have learned from temptation is that Satan never shows us the end results of our choices, it's always "in the moment". This is how he has tricked the world for over thousands of years. Think about it, when Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3), Satan told Eve once she ate of the forbbiden fruit, her eyes would be open and she would see would be like God. What he could say to Eve is that, "once you do this, you will know good and evil but your covenant you had with God will be cut off forever". Don't you think if Satan would have showed her that picture she would not have taken part of the eating of the fruit? Probably not.

Satan ways has always been and will continue to be "in the moment". When we see beer commercials, we see the nice parties, the beautiful sexy ladies, the nice homes, the nice cars. But what you don't see is the throwing up in toliet at the parties, the sexy ladies who really don't want you in there faces because your breath, your skin, clothes reek of alcohol, the foreclose sign on some of the homes because some people would rather drink than provide for their family or themselves. The cars that is wrapped around a tree or cut short a life of another (ever wonder why the drunk drivers are not killed or hurt but the person who he or she has hit is not so fortunate?)

Satan's methods has not changed, just the way his lies come packaged. Temptation is never going away but our Lord and Savior has given us a way to handle temptation and to be the victors and not the victims. Our Father wants you and I to have a radiant future not a regretful past.

Everyone have a Blessed, Fun, & Safe Weekend

DarrenKeith~

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Justice

"God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do."

Psalm 11:7 & Micah 6:8

other devotions & wisdom: 20 Questions for Guiding Opposite-Sex Friendships in Marriage, Champions: Elisha, Someone is Watching

tech news and articles: Fiorina book: HP board was 'dysfunctional', **Never Assume Text Is Private, **Wired-weary youth seek face time

**Must Read Articles

podcast or "netcast" for today: money matters: weekend, Ehud: When God Strengthens Your Enemy, TWiT 71: Netcast Expo

headline news for today>>>click here

photo: google image

Making Operation Systems Fun Again

Canonical seeks profit
from free Ubuntu>>>more
from CNet.com

A new, leaner open source OS (operating system) has the tech world abuzz..Ubuntu. A Linux based OS, which is free, has some people installing it on the secondary machine to get familiar with it(I have it installed on my old IBM Thinkpad 600E). The cool thing about Ubuntu was how smooth the installation went. I'm having problems getting it to recognize my sound card and I really have to sit and play around with this new OS (I tried to install Flash Player and it's not loading correctly). I know there is a fix for it, I just need to take time out to learn this new OS.

This is my first time using Linux and most hard core Linux user think, and which Ubuntu is, a more watered down version of Linux. Watered down or not, I like it because:

• No worry about spyware, adware, viruses
• It has OpenOffice (an office application suite...similar to Microsoft Office), Firefox (web browser), Gimp and other software built in where you would have buy individual applications when using Microsoft.
• Many, many forums for help and support
• It's free
• Ubuntu makes learning computing fun again (like when I first got my first Mac)
• oh...did I mention it's free

It has a long way to go no doubt but with the problems with Windows and the uncertainty with Vista (can't count out Vista just yet...I have learned over the years that sometime you have to have a little patience) but I hope Ubuntu is around for a while because like Apple, this OS has giving me a thirst for learning something new in the world of OS again.

other tech news: Google 'in talks to buy YouTube', Analysts split over Vista launch date, *Your Mac’s Best List Of Personal Notebooks

news from around the world: Deep in the galaxy, signs of Jupiter-like planets, FIREPROOF Bible Study, Instant-messaging conversations can easily linger for years

podcast for knowledge & wisdom: The Chris Pirillo Show; Crown Financials: Clergy Appreciation,Your Calls, Teach Your Children Well; What is the Gospel?


“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.”- Isaiah 26:4

photo: google image

Devotions for Friday...Happy Friday everyone!!! :-)

The Result of Rejecting God>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

Romans Chapter 1 is a awesome and powerful chapter by the apostle Paul. Here lets you know the rewards and love for God and dangerous results when you are deny our Heavenly Father. Ever wonder why some people end keep indulging in somethings and do not learn from them even though they have had countless times to turn things around? It may be the Lord has turned them over to their ways.

People always asked how can God allow some horrendous things to happen to people. I may not have all the answer but this I have learned...God can not violate His own law. God has given us all free will, that is what so awesome and remarkable about our Lord and Savior. He could have made us love Him, but that's not free will.

Example, I love my wife, I love her dearly. We are one by marriage but she still is a grown woman, she has her own interest. What would it look like that I'm constantly telling her what to do at all times. Or what if I began having an affair with someone else. We're married true, but I'm still a grown person. She can not stop me if that is what I have set in my heart to do. But the consequences are very damaging.

I lose my marriage, my grandchildren, my respect from my family, friends, church congregation...I can do what I wish but is it worth the risk?

God is long suffering, very patient but some believe God does not have a time limit...He does. It's the same when Jesus was teaching the parable of Lazarus and rich man. Once the reach man died and was looking up to Abraham and begging even to send himself to go back and warn his brothers about the terrible place he would be forever, Abraham told him that his brothers has Moses and the prophets and if they do not believe those men of God nothing else would change their hearts.

That is how God is with all of us on this earth, if you wish to keep living together instead of marriage, go right ahead...but what's the saying, "why buy milk when you got the cow at home?" If you wish to keep stepping out on your spouse, it's your choice. We have diseases out here now that medicine can't cure (and it's a drain financially, physically, mentally on you).

The things above I have mention, living outside of God's will you and I have done one time or another. But to know that we have a loving God that will welcome us back if we are truly sorry for what we have done, repent of our sins, and live according by His word, our lives are so much peaceful. Will we have trials? Yes. Will temptation come to us from time to time? Yes. God never promised us that once we give our life over to Him everything "will be coming up roses". But here is what I know personally, for myself. Once I made became a Christian, that empty void is now filled. I never tried drugs but I have ran the streets, stolen, tried to play the field with many women (tried to play the field...it's draining) read and practice other religions and I have always come up still having that empty feeling...that "missing puzzle piece".

Giving my life to Christ Jesus...now the puzzle is complete.

Have a Blessed,
Safe & Fun Weekend.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Love For God's Word

"God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do".

Psalm 11:7 & Micah 6:8

other devotions: Keep on Keeping On, A 19-Mile Fall, The Seeking Instinct

Tech news: Google's Writely mostly hits the mark, eHarmony Finds Own Fulfillment, Former H.P. Chairwoman Makes Court Appearance

Christian & Tech netcast for today: Our Textbook - Part 1, Our Textbook - Part 2, Security Now! 60: Q&A #11

photo: google image

Tech News for Thursday

The Rise And Fall
(And Rise?) Of AOL>>>more
from techWeb.com

This is a pretty interesting article about AOL from it's beginning to now. I think mostly everyone started with AOL, I know I did. It introduced me to the internet from home. As I began to know more and more about the web I found AOL very limiting but I am thankful for using AOL because hey, we have to begin somewhere, right?

I hope AOL does revamp because many people (older people in general) just want to log on the web and get to surfing. I know AOL has some dark spots on their record like it would take 'forever and day' to cancel you subscription with AOL and as other companies made surfing the web cheaper and faster AOL fell way behind the times. I think most of was executives just not getting the hint that why spend over $30 to surf the web via dial-up when you can pay that much to have DSL? I think there was some exploiting of computer novices not knowing the ends and outs of the internet but one thing companies have to realize, you can't keep people in boundage forever.

AOL will be around I believe for a while and they are doing what they can (sorry about the 5,000 that lost their job with reconstruction of the company, my prayers are with you) but it takes time because when you move out the 'innovators' and replace them with greedy 'suits' an implosion is going to happen. Best wishes and many blessing for the future of AOL....you are needed. :-)

other tech articles: Mysterious blog scooped media on Foley messages, Cisco spends millions, Stephen Hawking to write his ‘Grand Design’

Tech Podcasts: KFI Tech Guy 287, Engadget Podcast 090

Christian articles: Words To Remember, Bible tells Christians not to marry non-believers, Males, Females, and Emails

Christian Podcasts: The Alternative, The Who, Where and Why of Evangelism


What Women Need...
* To be loved
* To be understood
* To be appreciated
* To be needed

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." - Ephesians 5:25-28 "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them."-Colossians 3:19

photo: google image

Devotions for Thursday

Breaking Camp>>>more
from Harvest Online

It's good to know that we as Christians that once we depart this earth that our heavenly home awaits us. But they is one other thing I wish to share. So many of my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus still live like paupers here on earth and I don't mean just material wise.

Our pastor once said when we were in the world you and I would not let anyone walk all over us but since we have given our lives to the Lord we become wimps. No, I'm not saying be a Christian bully but just because we have given our lives to our Lord and Savior does not mean we let anyone talk to us any kind of way. Why do you think non Christians still in the world. because when they think of us they think of wimpy, push overs, doormat. Even when thinking of Jesus Christ they think of this puny guy. Let me remind Jesus Christ was a carpenter and they did not have power tools back in their time. Also when He had to carry his cross to calvary for us that piece of wood had to at least weigh 200-300 pounds, and it wasn't varnished.

With His back ripped open, down to the bone, pieces of splinters entered his back whenever he walked to his finish paying for my sins and yours. Christ did not die for you and to have fear of preaching the gospel to the lost. And talk about persucution....

The early Christians were fed to the lions, used as human torches, cut in half(that is how the prophet Isaiah died), and we get upset when the call us "Jesus Freaks" or "Holy Rollers". My family will have what the world has and much more: a stable, very nice home, a loving husband toward my wife, a loving grandfather to my grandkids, a teacher to them, a disciplinary, a comforter to my grandchildren. We are suppose to be in the world and not act like the world. Jesus Christ gave up so much for me and I trying each and everyday to give it my all to please Him. There is so much more I have to do and I will try and accomplished because of my love for Him and for what He has done for me.

Have a Blessed, Safe, & Productive day.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Self-Control

"Father, help my children not be like many others, but to be alert and self-controlled in all they do".

1 Thessalonians 5:6

Words to help you grow: The Privilege Corrupted, Means and Ends, Insight for Living

Words to help you know: Working out of a 'third place', Enterprise-class desktop computing, Singing the Praises of the Non-Nano

Christian & Tech podcast for today: God’s Work-God’s Way, Security Now! 59: Parallels

photo: google image

The Question Still Remains...Why Should We Upgrade To Vista?

Vista to take hard
stand against piracy>>>more
from msnbc.com

A couple of days ago I wrote about how I think Microsoft maybe trying to push Windows & XP users to Vista. Now Microsoft will admit tougher ways from pirating Windows when it begins shipping next January. In the article it mentions how they sort of have this in effect with Windows XP and I have to agree...it is more a nuisance.

I'm running legitimate copies of XP and 2000 and I find myself using 2000 more so than XP and to be honest I won't be using Vista unless it is on a pre-installed machine. I have another question...why should we upgrade to Vista?

I mean Microsoft Office has not really changed, I have Microsoft Office XP Pro and I bumped back to Office 2000 Pro on both of my machines. I use Microsoft Office 2006 (or is it 2007) and I find that more of pain to use than anything (and why does the stupid Clip Board keeps popping up?) I ranted about this in an earlier blog entry talking about OpenOffice VS. Microsoft Office so I won't repeat myself but one thing is clear....Microsoft needs to hit this one out of the ball park.

I'm still holding to the possibility that they may try to bully people into upgrading to Vista and to be honest it would make sense. Apple only has to worry about one OS to make updates, Microsoft has to deal with 3 OS. They are in a pickle, which way do they go? One geek brother explained Windows XP to me this way, "It's Windows 2000 with a WHOLE lot of sugar" and I have heard XP referred to as "Fisher Price Windows 2000".

Leo Laporte has a new podcast aimed only for Vista. I will begin listening to them. Who knows, I may just change my mind and dive right into Vista....Nah.

other tech articles: Microsoft spin-off to take on MySpace, Jobs Knew About Backdating Of Stock Options, A Whole New Meaning for ‘Ego Googling’a>

Christian articles: Business or ministry?, Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall, Bible class draws student support

Christian & Tech Podcast: The Alternative, FLOSS Weekly 13

photo: google image

Wednesday Devotions & Wisdom For Your Soul

Dealing Wisely With Temptation>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

Many times we Christians feel that we have to live a perfect live and that we can do no wrong, let me let you in on a little secret...we can't. Without our Lord and Savior we can't. We were born into sin plain and simple. Ever notice when you put a child in a room full of toys and another child comes in and tries to play with a toy the other child, not playing with that toy will come and try and take the toy away from the other. I watch that time and time again with our grandchildren. The older one (7 years of age) is playing with his basketball and his younger brother, Caleb (which is in his "terrific" twos) will try and take it from Casey...the sin of covenant.

I'm I giving a free ride to sin...no, not at all. Like this devotion says by Dr. Charles Stanley, being enticed is not sin, acting upon it is when we get into trouble. Did you noticed when Christ was in the desert and when Satan tried to enticed Jesus Christ that three scriptures is all Christ used to have Satan go away (from the book of Deuteronomy)? Now think how powerful you and I will be if we get into God's word everyday? Satan would not have a chance.

We all are tempted and we come up short from time to time but our Lord is so forgiving that He says once we repent of our sins, "He remembers them no more". Isn't that a good thing to know.

Have a Blessed, Safe, & Productive Day.

Praying For Our Children
by Christian Embassy Church

Integrity

"Lord, may integrity and uprightness protect my children because their hope is in you".

Psalm 25:21

other Christian reading for today: Learning to Stand, The Heart Of Christ, 5 Principles to “De-Clutter” Your Life

tech news articles for today: What's Teoma, you ask?, Sony to launch battery recall of its own, Amish - they are grieving, but not angry

photo: google image

Leo..The Tech Guru (Sorry Luis..you're still my hero LOL)

Podcasting's Reluctant
Evangelist>>>more
from Wired.com

Leo Laporte....this man can do no wrong. I have called in twice to the show, KFI Tech Guy and let me tell you, this guy is so nice, so humble. He does not mind helping you out at anytime, if he has the answer, he gives it to you; if he doesn't have the answer, he will let you know and will throw the question out to the listeners for the answer. For a gentleman who is known really around the tech world this guy is so down to earth it makes you wander, "why can't all geeks be this way?" Leo has made learning computing, learning about tech gadgets, fun, entertaining, educational all at the same time.

I remember first hearing and seeing him on TechTV along with Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose, Roger Chang, Chris Pirillo and the whole gang. To me this was "smart television". But smart does not roll over to good ratings. After 5 years Paul Allen sold it and the channel became G4 TV and down it went. I had a gut feeling Leo would be gone soon because to me G4 is very low brow. Fast foward to now....

Leo has a much larger following now and it makes me smile because with him and the ex-TechTV group doing their own podcast, video show over the internet it gives me hope that nice guys (especially geeks) sometime finish first. This is why I do what I do and hope one day I can help as many or more people like this true gentleman is doing.

Thank you for taking time out and sharing your knowledge Leo. And by the way, congrads on your award.

other tech news: YouTube Is 'Goin' Down', Dunn gave phone numbers to PIs, Halo universe expands as fans wait

christian news: Mark Foley claims being molested as teen, Ozone hole matches record size, Typhoon toll rises above 150

photo: google image

Tuesday Devotions & Tech News

Shall I Go?>>>more
from Turning Point

I remember a skit on Saturday Night Live with the late Phil Hartman & Sally Field where Mr. Hartman was playing Jesus Chirst and his conversation with Sally in the kitchen. Jesus was telling Sally's character "you don't have to consult me on every little thing you do everyday". In a way he was right. We shouldn't have to ask God, "Lord, should I shower today?" or "Lord, should I get up out of bed and go to work?" We can lay there all day if we wish and don't earn an income...just don't get upset if your electricity or gas get cut off.

I talk to Jesus on a daily basis, I asked Him through out the day about different decisions, I thank Him for leading me the right directions in life or sometime which way to turn when trying to find some place (some people call it "gut feeling", I call him the Holy Spirit). But there are somethings I know I should and shouldn't do because of just plain common sense.

One of my favorite people in the Bible is Abraham. He always had an ongoing dialoge with God. When Abraham wanted to know something he ask the Heavenly Father, when God was about to send His angels to destroy Sodom and Gohmore, Abraham was so close to God where he could question His action. When I first began reading the Holy Bible and read that passage I thought Abraham was crazy question our Heavenly Father like that until I really understood what was going on, Abraham had that closeness, that covenant with God.

Once you give your life to the Lord, obey His principle set for your life, the sky is the limit.

Have a Blessed, Safe and Wonderful Day. :-)

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Love

"Father, grant that my children would learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who lives in them".

Ephesians 5:2

other readings for today: Coping with Loss, Sports & Humility, The Point of No Return

tech articles: Amazon.com drops search engine features, Just One More Release Before Windows Vista Goes Gold, Is Th-Th-That All, Folks?

podcast for today: Thru The Bible: Exodus 29, Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott

Am I Being Paranoid Or Is Microsoft Trying To Kill 2000 & XP?

Second third-party
fix out for Windows bug>>>more
from ZDNet News

Is it just me or is it that Microsoft just don't care about these serious security flaws that are popping up like wildfire in their OS? This may be a stretch but do you think that since Vista is coming out that they're trying to make people move to their new OS sooner? This is the second time in less than two weeks that Zero Day has come up with a patch for flaw in Windows 2000 & XP and they are not going to release the patch until next Tuesday, October 10th. These guys are acting like FEMA responding to an emergency.

This is why I'm am studying up on Linux at this moment and my next PC and laptop will be Apple. I'm not a tech expert, not by a long shot but Microsoft lag time for getting security patches sounds shady to me at the least. If I had a flat tire today do you think I should wait until next Monday to get it fixed?

And why are people using Microsoft IE..why? I'm not saying Mozilla Firefox is the, "end all of be all" browsers but everyday it's something horrific with this browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer). I don't use it and I'm trying like crazy to get my wife to get in the habit of using the Mozilla browser.

One more thing....why will it take a minimum of 15 Gigabytes to run Vista? I may be just a dumb ol' southern boy from Illinois but Mr. (Chris) Pirillo please explain this to me? I have the utmost respect for you and I have followed you for years (this is not a cheap shot by no means...you're really good with Windows, I would just like to know) I know today's computer hard drive have a minimum of 40, 60, 80 and even 100 GB hard drive but give me a break.

Most people are not going to be splitting atoms or trying to discover the next way to bend time and space, we just want to surf the web, play a few games, some programming, save our mp3s and photos.

I will not be moving to Vista probably until 2008 because to me the first year is really the test run for an OS system and dealing with Microsoft I really don't know.

I may be paranoid but to me I think Microsoft want to shelve Windows 2000 &
XP much sooner so they will only have to concentrate on just one OS system like Apple.

But hey call me crazy.

other tech news: Google buys founders' garage, Netflix Offers $1 Million Prize, Stolen cell phones give thieves ear bashing

christian articles: Supreme Court's new term, Why Darwinism is doomed,The Privilege of Knowing God

Devotion for Monday, October 2nd

Right with God>>>more
from Harvest Online

Three small words...very large impact. I thank the Lord each and everyday for touching me to begin a new day. I thank my wife for Christian Embassy Church and I thank our Pastor, Robert Griffin for his teaching of God's Word, making it simple and helping me truly know my Lord and Savior again. Knowing that God never left me, that I walked away from Him about 10-12 years and that He allowed me time on this earth to come back into His loving arms is truly an act of grace and mercy He had on my soul.

This devotion by Pastor Greg Laurie is very important because when you really think about it, God is not on our time table but when our time is up...it's up, period. I once heard someone say, "what if there is no God and you've lived this 'dull' and when you die that's it...you have wasted you time, don't you think?"

First and foremost, it's not a 'dull' life. Not by a long shot. I don't like going through trials, but it has drawn me closer to Him, when I'm having good days...it draws me closer to Him, thanking Him for blowing breath in my 'nostrils' everyday. When I read the mind of God (the Holy Bible...and isn't that awesome that we can know some of His thoughts?) And if I there's no God...knowing how I how I have tried to live for Him, I have not wasted anytime on this earth.

And know I throw the question back to the non-believers....but what if there is a God? What will you say to Him when you're standing (kneeling before Him?).

Have a great work day and work week everyone. :-)

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

God's Grace

"I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".

2 Peter 3:18

other Christian readings: Devoted for Life, Guided Tour, Why Is Prayer Important?

morning tech articles: Mona Lisa studied in 3D, Best search tool may be a librarian, Justin Frankel Rocks On

podcast for today: Into All The World, KFI Tech Guy 288

photo: google image