Devotion and Reflections for Wednesday

The Lord Will Reveal His Will>>>more
from In Touch MInistries

"...We always need to be asking, "God, what are You teaching me today, and what would You have me do with that knowledge?"

Sometimes for me it's hard to pray, hard for me to know His will for my life, knowing what to say to Him, what questions to ask but reading today's devotion from Dr. Charles Stanley has helped me. I too am guilty of sometimes treating God like a "information clerk". We have to spend time in His word, talking and listening to Him. Too many times we talk and talk to God and not sitting still and listening to His answer for our lives. We have the television on or the music(that's my confession) and not letting the quietness be our music. Sometimes when I'm driving to work I have nothing turned on...no radio, no CD, nothing. That to me is my time with God, listening to Him to give clarity, give me direction, give me wisdom for that day or situation that I'm facing and just sometimes giving thanks to Him because of what Jesus has done for me.

Sometimes when driving I can look out the window and see someone standing on the bus stop and I give thanks to Him because at one time, I was that person standing, waiting for public transportation. I'm not saying ALL people that are on the bus line need transportation because sometimes it's better to ride the bus because it saves on gas, you do not have to concentrate and you can sit back and relax. But there are people that are on the bus line because they do not have a car and not being able to be on your own schedule can be tough to adjust to sometimes.

I'm finding everyday that learning to communicate with my Heavenly Father gives me peace, give me a much clearer direction for my life and less stress day in day out.

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

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:
The “Mom Box”
Amazing Gift

Devotion and Reflection for Monday

Jesus' Offering of Peace>>>more
devotion from In Touch Ministries

"What gives you peace?"
That is the question asked from the devotion today from Dr. Charles Stanley. Although I am still a baby Christian I seek His true meaning of peace each and everyday. By keeping my faith in Him instead of my surrounding, by talking and listening to Him each and everyday I try and maintain my faith in His word because I have not been let down by God yet. I know they will be times when it feels that nothing is going the way I wish for them to go or that my entire world is crumbling around me, that is when I have to realize that through the blood of Christ Jesus I am protected and that what I am going through is to grow me stronger in God, pull me closer to God so that my walk with Him is so ever close.

I am learning that when you put your trust for peace in the world it will throw you a curve time and time again. I am learning how to "be in the world" but "not of the world" each and every day. Learning to ask God for clarity, direction, to have Him be my guide makes my peace with people, situations that crop up much more stable, I can deal with this in a calmer manner because I'm being taught to be proactive instead of reactive.

When reading this devotion there is always a Bible passage Dr. Stanley suggest to read. One thing I have learned over time with my short walk with God is that when one translation you do not understand, read another to reach your heart, your spirit and the New Living Translation did that for me this morning.

My prayer for you this morning is that you find true peace in His word because in doing this He may not remove your trials that you go through day in/day out but knowing that by trusting in Him, instead of having your day direct your life, God will give you the knowledge, wisdom to learn from today and the days that follow...to appreciate the good and the bad.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a Wonderful Monday.

Praying For Our Children
from 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 your spirit:
The Greatest Gift
Morning Corruption

messages from OnePlace.com
The Way to Heaven – Part 1
Life Lessons From The Christmas Story - Part 2
The Man Who Tried to Stop Christmas

"Spouting off before listening to the facts
is both shameful and foolish."
~proverbs 18:13

{read Proverbs Chapter 18 for wisdom for today}

Reflection and Devotion for Saturday

Living in the Center of God's Will>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

Hello everyone,

I have taking a long hiatus but I'm back ready to begin to share how God truly loves me, how He watches over me, how being obedient to Him gives me strength, courage, and peace in my life.

Right about now I'm coming back in a time of my valley right about now. This is my trying time right about now. I have to show how much I really trust in my Heavenly Father. Things has not been going so well for me in a while but I am really beginning to learn how much He loves me. I am learning how to be obedient to God because in the end it's not worth going against His will. I wonderful friend shared wisdom with me on how to pray. It's so good when you go to God and not only will He give you wisdom but many times God will have people enter your life to give you wisdom as well. She told me that when I pray for direction, understanding, thanksgiving also pray for clarity because God wants our specifics. He wants you and I to talk to Him as if you and I talk to a close dear friend that is right there with you in the flesh.

I remember the first time I read the passages where Abraham and God would have conversation and the one that really blew me away was when Abraham ask our Father to spare Sodom and Gomorrah(Genesis 18:. The conversation was so personal and direct. I had mentioned before in a post a wrote a while back, I could not believe how Abraham spoke with and to God in that manner but then I was taught an important lesson: when you obey God you can come to him like a son or daughter...not like a beggar.

God wants the very best for my life and I have to begin to put my time, my faith, my money where my mouth is because "faith with works is dead".

The devotion from Dr. Charles Stanley is so awesome this morning. He describes the the rewards and chastisement when it comes to living in the center of God's will. His audio messages from Dr. Charles Stanley, God Always Rewards Obedience-Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 is something to give a listen to...you will not regret it.

My prayer for you today is that you learn to trust in God and watch Him work awesome things in your lives.

Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a Wonderful Weekend.

Praying For Our Children

from Christian Embassy Church
Peace Loving

"Father God, help my children make every effort to do what leads to peace."

So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

~Romans 14:19

Other Devotions for today:

• A New Beginning
• Our Daily Bread
• Turning Point

Messages from OnePlace.com

• The Riches of God’s Grace – Part 2
• Con. Life Lessons From The Christmas Story - Pt 1
• Don’t Lose Jesus at Christmas

Tech News for today:

• Adobe Photoshop CS3 beta now available for download
• Gamers gone wild: Wii goes flying
• Playing it safe with Windows Vista

Netcast for today:

• MacBreak Weekly 19: Live via TalkShoe
• TWiT 79: Fifty Plus
• dl.tv 120

Devotion from Dr. Charles Stanley

God's Love Offered to the Hurting

READ | John 4:7-27

Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). His life clearly revealed God's loving character and His compassion for people. The Lord's interaction with the Samaritan woman, for example, was a demonstration of the tender love and care our heavenly Father has for us.

Jesus initiated contact. Much to His disciples' dismay, Jesus deliberately went out of His way to meet the woman from Samaria. In that day, Jews did not associate with Samaritans. In fact, they avoided traveling through their region. But God does not follow man's rules or his prejudices. He reaches out with a message of hope and new life to anyone who will listen and believe.

Jesus knew the Samaritan woman's pain and heartache. She must have felt worthless, abandoned, and unloved after being divorced by five husbands. We all have emotional baggage that weighs us down and causes us pain. Our heavenly Father knows our deepest hurts and secret shame. Jesus offered her forgiveness and love. The Lord drew out the details of her situation in a nonjudgmental way. He wanted her to be receptive to His offer of forgiveness and a relationship with God. Jesus understood what she needed—to feel loved, valued, and accepted. And He knew a relationship with Him would fulfill that need.

God sees us as clearly as He saw the Samaritan woman. He knows our hurts and wants to bring us healing and restoration. Will you accept His love and submit to the Holy Spirit's transforming work in order to be brought to spiritual health?

~from Dr. Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries

John 4:7-27

The Woman of Samaria

7There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."

8For His (A)disciples had gone away into (B)the city to buy food.

9Therefore the (C)Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?" (For (D)Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

10Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you (E)living water."

11She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that (F)living water?

12"You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who (G)gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?"

13Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;

14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him (H)shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to (I)eternal life."

15The woman said to Him, "Sir, (J)give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw."

16He said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here."

17The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have correctly said, 'I have no husband';

18for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly."

19The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are (K)a prophet.

20"(L)Our fathers worshiped in (M)this mountain, and you people say that (N)in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."

21Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, (O)an hour is coming when (P)neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

22"(Q)You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for (R)salvation is from the Jews.

23"But (S)an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father (T)in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

24"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship (U)in spirit and truth."

25The woman said to Him, "I know that (V)Messiah is coming ((W)He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us."

26Jesus said to her, "(X)I who speak to you am He."

27At this point His (Y)disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why do You speak with her?"

footnotes: BibleGateway.com

Under Going Change

I will be back next Thursday. Have to go before my Father.

Be Blessed and Pray for me.

Devotions and Reflections for this Weekend

Emptiness Without God>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

The title of Saturday's devotion from Our Daily Bread says it all. It's amazing how when I didn't have God in my life how I tried so many things feel that void and at the end of my journeys I still came up empty inside. Only when I truly began honoring God, studying His word, being obedient to His will, asking Him to be the leader is of trying to treat Him like a genie in a bottle that I feel complete.

This past week has been a trying week for me, from dealing with family issues, people not caring about you are your possessions you work hard for to obtain them, I have had to ask God to give me strength, patience, calmness and I have slipped up from time to time this week and have lost my cool. But I will tell you this, by the Holy Spirit flowing through me now it would have been much worse for me, the people around me if God was not in my life right about now. When having God in my life He has given me the answering what I need to do, on how to handle my situations for this week. I'm I still angry from this week, a little(am not going to lie, this just happened Thursday and Friday)...am I in a better place, yes.

Having the word of God flow through me let's me know that some people in your life whether they are close friends, relatives, your children, your spouse will let you down from time to time and I will let people down from time to time because you and I are not perfect, we all are flawed. But God has also have given you and I common sense and sometimes we have to put our foot down on certain issues, certain matters. I thank my Lord and Savior for His love for me and by me doing His will He gives me new insight on how to not only put Him first but He allows me to have a peace within, to be able to enjoy my desires that are pleasing to Him.

This year has been an eye opener for me because I am learning why God should come first for when you put Him first in everything you do, He truly gives you the desires of your heart.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & have a Wonderful Weekend.

DarrenKeith~

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Hope

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

Romans 15:13

Patience

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

Galatians 5:22

other devotions for the weekend:

• turning point
• harvest online
• in touch today

Godly messages for today:

• No Condemnation, But Love
• Have You Paid Your Praise Bill?
• The Whole Story

tech news for today:

• Taking the blur out of LCD TVs
• Gear Guide: Musical gadgets
• Ten Thankful Things in IT for 2006

netcast for today:

• Windows Weekly 6
• KFI Tech Guy 283
• Security Now 67

"Don’t demand an audience with the king
or push for a place among the great.

It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table
than to be sent away in public disgrace."

proverbs 25:6-7

Devotion and Reflections for Wednesday

Heartprints>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

This was a neat devotion. I try leave "heartprints" where ever I go. Not to be noticed but because coming up as a youth and going through the things I have went through, I always said to myself I will try and not treat people the way I was treated. Prime example, when first entering high school, I don't know where this tradition came from but juniors and seniors would call "freshman day" where that was some sort of hazing really; they stuff freshman in lockers, beat on them, make the run around the gym in the jockey garment (or as we called them jockey straps). I was blessed in many ways (well one was I was 6'4" and about 245lbs so that helped me a lot) but I said to myself whenever I became a senior I would not do this to incoming freshmen and I didn't.

Leaving "heartprints" is a choice of a individual plain and simple. I remember hearing a pastor talk about you want to leave a good feeling whenever someone mentions your name and I know what he's talking about because it happens in your church, at work, on campus each day. When we here some names it brings a smile to our faces and with other names of individuals mentioned, eyes get the rolling, HUGE sighs come out, smiles drop from our faces and comments like, "or...are you sure you want to have him or her over?"

One good way is just be yourself, I learned this about 15 years ago from a close friend. People would always gravitate around him and I always wandered why. I watched him day in and day out then God brought to me. He has made each and every one of unique to bring something to the table. God has giving us all gifts and that is how I began just being myself, and before I knew as time has passed by I see the same thing happening to me.

It makes me feel good when I'm able to bring a smile to another's face because in this day and time this world has really become superficial. We have a generation, young and older, with a attitude of "give me because I exist" not "help me because we can not be an island all to ourselves". I made it my mission that if someone does not know something and I do, whether it's something about God's word, how to surf the web better, anything...and if they are willing to learn, I will teach them and if I don't have the answer, I will try and direct to a individual who does know the answer.

I try to never make a person feel stupid because some of us learn quicker than others, you and I didn't come out knowing everything but we have come across people in our lives that think and act otherwise. I do not act this way because I wish to get a pat on the back, I do this because people took time out of their lives when I was coming up and showed me that there are people out here that's not always looking to get over on you or try to belittle you in front of others after they have shared knowledge or a skill with you.

Try and be a person today that when you leave your "heartprints" people are not trying to wash them away once you leave their presence.


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

other devotions for reading and meditation:

• turning point
• harvest online
• in touch ministries

audio messages from OnePlace.com

• He Uses Our Suffering - Part 3
• Praise Your Way Through
• Twelve Men Who Shook the World

tech news for wednesday:

• MacBook Core 2 Duo/1.83GHz and 2.0GHz
• Mac fans clamor for 'iPhone'
• Dell profit surges, but investigations cast pall
• Tiny springs keep Wii, PS3 under control

tech podcast for your noggin':

• net@nite 3: She Made Me A Web
• KFI Tech Guy 301
• Ten Ways to Ruin your Hard Drive

headline news:

• Local
• National
• World

Devotion and Reflections for Tuesday

Hearing Aid>>>more
from rbc ministries

I'm learning each day how to be obedient to my Heavenly Father. Being obedient is really simple, but it's not easy. Many things in life are simple but doing them...that's the hard part. Think about it, when we were young and someone wanted you or I to do something we knew was wrong, we could have said no...simple; but hearing the teasing and ridicule that would not have been easy. It goes for the way God wants you and I to live our lives and I'm going to be honest sometimes it's not easy because of my flesh wants what it wants.

By me working this 2nd job now has really opened my eyes on the tithing, on giving God His time through prayer, getting into His word, putting things in perspective. I'm so glad I am growing wiser instead of just growing older, that would be a very wasteful life. I have learned that whenever we try and manipulate our circumstances we're only manipulating ourselves in the end because we do not bend God to our will, we always bend to His, it's up to you and I when we will do it...sooner or later; I am learning to yield to the former because it takes too much out of me to keep trying do things my way.

I witness His grace in my life each and everyday. I'm learning to take responsibility for my choices in life each and everyday because again it's the best way, the less stressful way to go through life. I heard Pastor Paul Shepard say something that was so profound and it hit me like a ton of brinks.."people always say experience is the best teacher and that's not true many times because we do not have to go through everything to figure out if it's wrong or not". Growing up I didn't try drugs or drink for different reasons;

1. I didn't like the taste of liquor
2. Didn't like how liquor made me feel(got drunk and was hugging a toliet...one time is all it took for me.
3. A guy in our neighborhood had his drink "spiked" and the guy was never the same
4. My mother would kill me.

But there was plenty of dumb things I allowed myself to get into knowing the outcome would not be good, would set me back financially, I would have to work twice as hard to get back to where I needed to be and I guess that's what has really hit home with me this year. I am asking God each day for me not only to make wise choices but to follow through with them because I'm not old but I'm not in my late teen/early twenties any more, it's hard to bounce back from a set back, whether it's financially, from relationships we knew we should not have gotten involved in from the beginning, making friendship we know that will end badly.

Living God's way I am truly realizing is not restricting me from life, but freeing me to live a peaceful, thoughtful, very wise life. I have to choice...have trials, storms in my life with Jesus as my guide or toughing it out alone; I'm not a gambling man but my odds go up much to my favor with Christ Jesus. What about you?

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

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Responsibility

"Lord grant that my children would learn to be responsible, for each one should carry his own load."

Galatians 6:5

other devotions to read:
Megafreeway or Narrow Way?
Praise Builds Courage
Back To The Bible

positive messages from OnePlace.com
In Touch
Enduring Truth
A New Beginning

tech news:
Looking For Popular Digital Cameras? Check Out Flickr
Six Notebooks That Don't Burn
Palm CEO brushes off Apple cell phone threat
When Beige Won’t Do

netcast shows & tech information:
KFI Tech Guy 284
FLOSS Weekly 15: Tarus Balog of OpenNMS
dl.tv 112

Devotions & Reflections for Monday

God’s Little Blessings>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

Today's devotion from rbc ministries asked do we see God's blessings everyday? As Christians you would automatically think "yes" but sometimes I think we all look over the tiny blessings that God puts before you and each day. I think I noticed them most of the time because I'm observant for the most part. I can sit, watch, and see the marvels of God when I watch animals, insects, highways, and yes technology. I found out about 6 months ago how our eyes are just like our fingerprints in a way because everybody eyes are different and I just don't mean by color. When I heard that it hit me that's why some places scan our eyes for identification. To know that God to the time out to make every person different on this earth blows me away.

I noticed his tiny blessing sometimes when I am lost or have misplaced something. I look and look and can not find it. Sometimes I call myself backtracking to find it and to no prevail. But when I stop, and say, "Now Lord, I know it's here and you know how much I need this item to complete my task, please direct me to it." Before I know it, He brings it do my mind and I find it. This past weekend I was reformatting my hard drive and I needed the new anti virus software I just received. I usually keep my software in my draw and it was not there. I looked everywhere and couldn't find it. I said a similar pray above and God brought it back to me where I placed my new software.

I noticed His huge blessings but I thank Him for the small blessing, the encounters, the timing of God. Sometimes when we think we may be running behind and we meet up with a person that not can help you and I but sometimes God may add a little something special to that encounter. Like the family in the devotion that met up at the Mexican restaurant in Disney World before the storm rolled in, God is awesome because as always His timing, His blessings when you sit back and think about it can have you smiling all day.

Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a Productive Short Work Week.

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 devotional readings:

• turning point
• in touch ministries
• back to the bible

audio sermons from OnePlace.com:

• In Touch
• Thru the Bible Questions & Answers
• A New Beginning

tech news articles:

• Think Before Pinging Your Ex
• Demand for Apple's new iPod shuffle outstripping supply
• 176 Newspapers to Form a Partnership With Yahoo

tech netcast for info & tips:

• TWiT 77: Kiss My Ring
• KFI Tech Guy 288
• dl.tv 103

Weekend Devotion & Reflections

"Fools have no interest in understanding;
they only want to air their own opinions".
proverbs 18:2

Cleaning Out The Files>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries
messages: A must "listen to":
Dr. Charles Stanley's
How To Handle The Burdens We Bear - Part 1
How To Handle The Burdens We Bear - Part 2

This is one of the reasons why I am so glad I am a Christian, knowing God has forgiven me of my sins...past, present, future. Two of my favorite movies are Ray and Walk the Line. One thing that stands out to me about these movies are regrets, guilt. Ray Charles and Johnny Cash had past demons that kept haunting them, the tragedies that happened in their lives. Even though it was not there fault they could shake the fact they thought it was their burden what happened to their brothers. That is why so many people are on a road of self destruction. No matter how many times you tell how nice they look, how much of you enjoy their company, what joy they bring into your lives, those compliments fall to the wayside because of past memories, past regrets, past guilt. Many Christians do the same thing, my brothers and sisters in Christ say with their mouths that God has forgiven that but they still carry that "yoke" around their necks by themselves.

Once you truly give your life over to Christ Jesus, he is our advocate, he is our attorney, God does not and will bring up our sins no more and that is an awesome feelings. Knowing that Jesus comes along side of us, gives us new life to carry on each and every day gives me a pep in my step and smile to my face. They are things that's happened in my life I wish that never happened to me...some things I brought on myself, somethings I have no control over; things that were once a huge burden around my neck. This is where my moods swings would come into play. One day I would be happy, joyful, fun to be around...other days I would want to be all alone, mad at the world, all because I would dwell on how I was teased in school because of my stuttering, how I was dateless in high school, the names I was called growing up. That was my crutch, my safety place. I was a very unpredictable, miserable person to be around.

Then in year 2000 took a turn for the better. When I found out how much God loved me, what His gave up for me on calvary, the fact that how Christ wronged no one and went to the Cross to have His Father look away from Him for a moment because Christ Jesus took my sins, MY SINS...past, present and future to live a for Him and to have guilt free life? How can I not be a happy person. This does not mean that I'm Ned Flanders (even though he is my favorite character) everyday. Past regrets come to me but they do not stay. I heard pastor Greg Laurie make this statement last night while I was at work, "all Christians should wear a sign around their neck saying, 'Christians..Under Construction...work in progress'". I thought that hit the nail on the head. That is what I am everyday. I'm not perfect, I'm going to make mistakes, I'm going to say the wrong things every now and then but I do not have to hold on to those mistakes I will make in the future because I once I truly repent of my sins, God remembers them no more.

To people who are not saved, give it over to Christ, lay your burdens on Him and He will give you strength you can not believe. To be able to live your life knowing you are covered by the blood of Jesus is the best feeling in the world. Situations will come believe me but the load of past regrets, mistakes you make will not be a hindrance to your life, you repent with all your heart and truly believe that Christ died for your sins, the memories of past regrets will be there but not the weight of your mistakes. And to my brothers and sisters in Christ...for you and I to feel we are not forgiven is an insult to our Father. He would not have sent His son, His ONLY son to suffer the beaten, the humiliation, the suffering on the cross for you and if our sins could not be forgiving. We have made mistakes, we will make many more in our lives because we are a work in progress and it is a process we will go through until we see Him again. Jesus died for you and I to have a wonderful life here on earth, to be a example to others...yes we are flawed, we are sinners, we make mistakes...but those things are badges of honor because we let the world know, without Him...we are nothing; with Him, we are conquerors.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, and Have a Wonder weekend~

Praying For Our Children
from 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

Humility

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

Titus 3:2

other devotions for the weekend:

• In Touch
• Insight for Living
• Back to the Bible

audio messages from OnePlace.com

• The Alternative
• Living on the Edge
• Walk in the Word

tech news for Saturday:

• Wesabe: Personal Finances Made Easy
• 15-inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo/2.16GHz and 2.33GHz
• Tune Tech > A Tune-up for Your iPod
• AMD Slapped with Patent Infringement Lawsuit

tech netcast for Saturday:

• Windows Weekly 5: Shiny Happy Vista
• KFI Tech Guy 288
• dl.tv 112

local/national/world news:

• The St. Louis American
• The Chicago Tribune
• Internation Hearld Tribune
• The New York Times

"People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
and then are angry at the Lord".

proverbs 19:3

Devotions & Reflection for Friday

this piece, was supposed to post yesterday but I revised, revised and revised again because of the subject matter. I apologize for the delay.
The Dead Sea Squirrels>>>more
devotions from rbc ministries
great audio sermons to help you and I as parents:
Pastor Paul Shepard's
Raising Kids Right - Part 1a
Raising Kids Right - Part 1b

The devotion from today was kind of cute but will hit home to many parents. Children are a gift from God and they are amazing and it's very true, at a very young age children are like a sponge and soak up in their developing brain just about everything they hear or see. What you pass on to your children can be a blessing to you or a curse. In this day and age parents really do not believe that but it's true. We tell our children don't use profanity but if they hear you and I swearing all the time, don't be surprise if it's past down to them. As well as smoking, drinking, telling lies...that passes right down to them. Children are very smart, very intelligent, they do what we do many times, not what we say.

I knew at a early age I didn't want children because I knew in my early 20's what it would take to raise children and I could not give them; quality time, quantity time, health insurance, love, love and more love. My prayers are with parents today, especially single parents because you have a much greater challenge today. I am a 1970's child(born in 1965...to many in Vox that makes me as old as Duncan McCloud of the Clan McCloud) to me the last era of most parents really being involved with their children's lives. That was the last era that when a teacher sent a note home with you it wasn't going to very pretty once your parents saw it; it was the last decade when most teachers and parents worked as a team.

When I hear now how some parents jump all over the teachers first then ask questions later it makes me cringe. Some parents have the right to do so because not all teachers are perfect and lets be honest, some teachers should not be in our school system at all but most teachers are dedicated educators and are working on a limited budget as it is and to compound that with some parents who are not teaching their children manners and having respect for authority only makes the matter worse.

My wife and I have been married for over 6 years now and it's been challenging everyday because of the struggle between me and the step children. She was married for 16 years previously and her ex husband and I are like night and day. Where he ran the streets, I'm a home body for the most part. Where I try everyday to put God first...her second...me third, the ex husband always put his needs before her or the children. Their children are grown and out of the house but guess who they gravitate too? Maybe later in life they will realize their father did more harm than good but for now it's a everyday struggle between us because when deep down inside when you have on man figure who tried to be their "buddy" and another that's trying to set Godly principles and values in their lives of course they're going to gravitate to the former, it's human nature. Later in life they will realize I was trying to prepare them for life and not trying to be a dictator...time will tell.

Parents today have a very challenging road ahead, your choices in finances, friends, how you treat and communicate with your spouse is being watch very closely by your children. And with all this from the world teaching children it's okay to live together without marriage, it's okay to sleep around, it's okay to live by your rules and your rules alone, not having respect for authority. We can not shelter our children, have them live in a plastic bubble but when applying the Word of God, letting your children see that you and I are not perfect and seeing you and I apologize when we're wrong, treating people the way we wish to be treated will go a very long way in their lives. Will our children make some mistakes in their lives, yes...will they push against the principles we are trying to teach them...yes; but will they respect and love you and I down the road...YES!! It's better to teach, discipline, correct your children when they are young than try to raise them once their grown and you and I as parents will not have to live with many regrets if they do choice to go down the "wrong" road of life.

The book of proverbs gives a very good blueprint on how we should raise our children. If we go by those principles and our children still choose a path of chaos and destruction for their lives, you will feel less regrets because you have placed within them Godly principles and we must remember God has given all of us free will to choose our path in life. Parents that haven't taught these principles, does this make you terrible parents, of course not. My mother was a God fearing woman but I did not know anything about the book of Proverbs until I became an adult. We as parents do the best with what we know and what tools we have at the time, this is just another tool I am passing on to you because nothing is more hurtful than to have past regrets hanging over our heads and weighing heavy on our hearts.

Like I have written before, I do this out of love and I'm not trying to be popular, I'm trying to live God's way. I grew up on both sides of the fence and let me tell you, I will have to live with some of the choices I have made for the rest of my life and I can not take them back. I'm not perfect, we as parents are not perfect but doing things God's way will bring more joy than pain when raising children and less guilt in our lives.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, &
Have a Great Day

DarrenKeith~

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 devotional readings for Friday:

• Turning Point
• Harvest Online
• In Touch Ministries

audio messages for Friday:

• Conclusion of: Raising Kids Right - Part 1
• How To Handle The Burdens We Bear - Part 2
• Everyday Jesus

tech news for Friday:

• Expectations, tempers rise as PS3 debut nears
• Extended Warranties Unwarranted, Except For Apple's
• Open source, from Apache to Zimbra

tech podcast for the noggin:

• Security Now 66: Vista Security
• TWiL 2: The Blogger in Question
• MacBreak Weekly 15: Jack is a Mac

national & world news:

• Boil-water advisory hits millions in Vancouver
• Military may ask $127B for wars
• Letter from China: Growing Chinese trade with Africa a threat

Wednesday Evening Tech News

Tech News:

Nintendo Wii: Funny name, fun system
story from CNNMoney.com

f nothing else, you have to give Nintendo points for courage. When competitors decided to zig as the next generation of video game systems came along, Nintendo zagged -- and that gutsy decision may well give it an enormous market share boost in the coming years.

The Wii, which goes on sale Sunday, Nov. 19 for $250, is not a graphical tour de force. It doesn't support high-definition graphics. And forget about HD-DVD or Blu-Ray; this thing doesn't even play current generation DVDs (for now at least - a second version will be released next year). But it does make the gaming industry more accessible to those it unintentionally excluded before. Briefly put: The Wii is one of those rare video game machines that's worth trying to pick up during its first holiday season.

That, of course, will be easier said than done. Hardcore gamers will be fighting hard to get one early. But if you do manage to find one, grab it. The price is considerably lower than what Sony (Charts) and Microsoft (Charts) are charging for their new offerings -- and the system is one the entire family will enjoy.>>>more


Two of six airlines say there's no ink on iPod deal
story from appleinsider.com

he Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker, whose announcement coincided precisely with rival Microsoft Corp.'s official launch of Zune, said the in-flight iPod connectivity would be available to passengers beginning in mid 2007.

"It's way too early to confirm any such details," an Air France spokeswoman, referring to the iPod seat connectivity and a mid-2007 availability date, told Reuters.

Similarly, a spokesman for KLM told the media outlet there had only been "informal contacts" between Apple and the airline leading up to the announcement.

"It's very premature what Apple are saying," he said. "We have no idea if this is technically feasible, if it's financially viable, or it customers want it.">>>more


Mozilla Claims Firefox Better At Finding Phishers
story from techweb.com

A study sponsored by Mozilla has claimed that the company's Firefox browser is 18% to 23% better at spotting fraudulent phishing sites than Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7.

The survey, which was done for Mozilla by testing company SmartWare, answers a Microsoft-backed study released in September that put IE 7 at the top of the anti-phishing list.

According to Mozilla's figures, Firefox 2.0 correctly pegged between 78.85% and 81.54% of the 1,040 phony sites culled from a PhishTank list of phishing URLs. IE 7, meanwhile, identified 66.35% of the same sites.

Firefox and IE tackle phishing differently. Mozilla's browser offers two detection options: One is based on a locally-stored blacklist that's updated from Mozilla's servers about every half hour; the other queries Mozilla's partner Google each time a URL is requested to see if the address is in the search engine's phish database. IE, on the other hand, only offers a real-time lookup to match the destination URL with Microsoft's fraud list.>>>more


Hands on with the Mac Pro: Getting started
article from macworld.com

hen I joined Macworld a little more than a year ago, the company offered to buy me a Power Mac G5 for handling my Mac OS X Hints duties. But since I already owned a fairly fast Power Mac—a dual 2GHz G5, actually—it didn’t make much sense to go through the hassle and expense of an upgrade for a slightly faster processor. I decided to wait.

This summer, my wait paid off. Apple replaced the G5 line with the Xeon-powered Mac Pro, a machine with two dual-core processors for a grand total of four individual processing units. The Power Mac G5 has gone back to being my personal machine—the Mac Pro now does my heavy-lifting.

Back when I picked up a Mac mini earlier this year, I wrote an extensive three-part report on my experience of switching over to one of the early Intel-powered Macs. Given that the mini I have is on the low-end of Apple’s desktop offerings while my new Mac Pro is at the other end of the spectrum, I thought it would be interesting to give the Mac Pro the same treatment I>>>more


Former HP chairman pleads not guilty to felonies
story from cnet.com

Patricia Dunn, the former chairman of Hewlett-Packard, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges that stemmed from her role in overseeing a probe into boardroom leaks.

At a brief arraignment hearing here in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Dunn's lawyers entered her plea and she was released on her own recognizance.

Dunn, 53, is at the center of a corporate spying scandal at HP, which the company has acknowledged involved obtaining private phone records belonging to HP board members, employees and at least nine journalists. Among the journalists were three CNET News.com reporters.

California's attorney general has charged Dunn and four other people linked to the spying with four felonies, including identity theft and conspiracy. The charges could bring a prison sentence of up to 12 years.

The criminal case also threatens to drag HP's name back into the headlines for months. Ralph Sivilla, a state deputy attorney>>>more


As Zune Goes on Sale, Microsoft Says iPod Can Be Tamed
story from washingtonpost.com

Microsoft Corp. can break the dominance of Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod in the digital music market with the Zune player that went on sale yesterday, chief executive Steven A. Ballmer said.

"We can beat them, but it's not going to be easy," Ballmer said in an interview.

Zune is Microsoft's first product in the $4 billion U.S. digital music market dominated by the iPod. Microsoft marked the release with free concerts by rapper T.I. and the rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"The market will have two big players for a long time, us and Apple," Ballmer said. "Obviously we're the David in this one; Apple's the Goliath."

Zune sells for $249.99 in the United States, the same price as an iPod with comparable storage space, and will compete>>>more


other news:

Get Out Now? Not So Fast, Experts Say
article from nytimes.com

One of the most resonant arguments in the debate over Iraq holds that the United States can move forward by pulling its troops back, as part of a phased withdrawal. If American troops begin to leave and the remaining forces assume a more limited role, the argument holds, it will galvanize the Iraqi government to assume more responsibility for securing and rebuilding Iraq.

This is the case now being argued by many Democrats, most notably Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who asserts that the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq should begin within four to six months.

But this argument is being challenged by a number of military officers, experts and former generals, including some who have been among the most vehement critics of the Bush administration’s Iraq policies.>>>more


Reid Pledges To Press Bush On Iraq Policy
story from washingtonpost.com

Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who was elected Senate majority leader yesterday, said last night that President Bush still has not grasped the urgent need to change course in Iraq. Reid vowed to press quickly for phased troop withdrawals, a more international approach to Iraq's problems and a rebuilding of the depleted U.S. military.

In his first extensive interview since the Senate Democrats' leadership election, Reid also said members of his party will have to think big on the nation's domestic issues. That includes tackling the budget deficit with strict new rules on spending, exploring an eventual expansion of Medicare to address the uninsured, and examining an increase in tax rates on upper-income Americans.>>>more

Wednesday Devotion & Reflections

Truth That Transforms>>>more
daily devotions from rbc ministries

"Has belief in Jesus’ resurrection changed your life? Are your goals and priorities different than they were? Are you kinder, more patient, more forgiving? Ask God what He wants to do in you, and then cooperate with Him in that change."

That's the last section of the devotion from rbc's devotion for today...Has belief in Jesus changed me...yes, yes it has.

It has made me much more patient when tolerating people, especially at work. Many of work in a work environment that people are constantly gossip, backbite, lie, step over one person to receive recognition from their supervisors. It can get hectic, frustrating, bitter at times but when you have Christ in you live He has you zoom in what's really important...going in, doing your job to the best of your ability, getting the heck out of there because now you are living for Christ, not for approval from your co-workers, your boss. If you are doing what you supposed to either you will get recognized or God will open another door for you to move on, I have witnessed this in my life time and time again.

It has made me much kinder...It's amazing. I have being blessed in the sense where no matter where I have worked God has blessed me to be surrounded by kind people. I have learned that when Christ is the focus in your life, some people will think you are peculiar but for the most part, kind people will gravity to you and let me tell you, it is an awesome feeling to be surrounded by people where you can share how you feel and not worry about your business being circulated around the office as the latest gossip. To be have a close co-worker to talk with in time of need is a true gift from above.

More forgiving? I have grown in this area(but I'm still a work in progress...I can't lie) I have become more forgiving, hold less grudges and I wish I would have learned this concept years back because it is true...it only hurts you not the person that has wronged you. I have spoke many times that it's okay to voice your opinion when you have been wronged. You do forgive them and if they are sincere with their apology, praise God. If they continue to wrong you, you take the matter to them in a loving way and if that doesn't help, you forgive them, you pray for them then you have to deal with them as the old folks say, "with a long handle spoon".

Forgiving someone does not make you weak, does not make you a doormat. Having a unforgiving heart delays you from reaching your goal, it keeps you from God showing and giving you His best because you and I will keep dwelling on he or she that has wronged you and I. It's like driving on the highway and your head is turned looking out the back window you will not move forward.

Has my goals changed? Yes, yes, yes. It's amazing when I ask God what is His goal, His plan for me everyday and I am obedient to His will how it is less stressful because He is in control. When I constantly call upon Him to guide me my day is better. Situations pop up, plans change but I I'm less to get upset, or throw in the towel because in the end it's for His will and His way always turn out to be the best way in the end.

My belief in Him has brought me closer to Him and my eyes are less focus on how the world views me because in the end if I'm doing His will, He will make my enemies respect me, whether they want to or not.

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

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Generosity

"Lord, I pry my children would be rich in good deeds, generous and willing to share".

1 Timothy 6:18

other devotions for you today:

• Insight For Living
• Harvest Online
• In Touch Ministries

messages from OnePlace.com

• A New Beginning
• Enduring Truth
• In Touch

tech news for Wednesday:

• Harmony and discord in open source
• Court Shutters Spyware Outfit, Freezes Assets
• New Sony PS3 not in synch with older games

tech netcast for Wednesday:

• net@nite 2: Bring Out Your Dead
• KFI Tech Guy 299
• NerdTV - Show 13 - Judy Estrin

for headline news>>>click here

Devotions & Reflections for Monday

Fathers--A Loving Fact
or Unbelievable Fairy Tale?
click here to hear broadcast
from FamilyLife Today/Oneplace.com

God's word never grows old, the more you read His Word, the more you get out God's life principle. When I listen to the same teaching from OnePlace.com I get something new out of it each time. I'm listening to FamilyLife Today from an earlier broadcast. Dennis Rainey is interviewing a young man of Christ Jesus, Donald Miller(the author of To Own A Dragon). Donald talks about not having a father and this really hits home with me. I thank the Lord He has always had His hand on me even when I didn't realize it and was being rebellious.

Three times I remember seeing my father, once when he took me on his bus route, once when I went over to his home in St. Louis(he remarried) and I remember being served cabbage and I said I didn't not like cabbage and he hit me in the head with a large spoon(I grew to love cabbage...I told my grandmother, his mother, years later...she was not pleased what my dad did to me). the the last time, seeing him in the casket.

I never really knew him and he never really tried to get to know me, my mother never married again, even though his mother had to pay child support for him because he was not man enough to take responsibility for his action. Some of things Donald got involved in it jolted my memory to some of the mess I got into coming up as a child. Donald recall breaking into people homes taking lose change when he was in junior high, I remember breaking out windows in people's home, breaking into their homes, throwing rocks at people cars, I have been shot at with pistols as a youth, I have been shot by a young and to know how God has had His hand on me and carried me this far and has molded me into the man I am today.

It makes me so angry that even today how men create life and then just walk out of their lives, it's inexcusable. I never had a positive, Christian male roll model until my early 30's (Mr. Cleo Horton). God has brought me through so much and this is why I blog the way that I do...God put me here to be patient, to be kind, to be understanding toward people because that was never given to me coming up. I didn't have a traumatic childhood but it wasn't the best childhood either.

I may not have a physical father to teach me life principles but I had a Heavenly Father that not only taught me about life, but He taught me to keep my heart open to receive and give love. This is why I could never go back into the world, He has giving up so much for me to spread His Word, His love, His message to let people He has your back no matter what.


Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Great Evening

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

devotions for this evening:

• Turning Point
• Harvest Online
• In Touch Ministries

spiritual messages from OnePlace.com

• The Alternative
• A New Beginning
• In Touch

tech news for Monday:

• How quickly will businesses adopt Vista?
• Japanese Queue for PS3
• Microsoft CEO Sees Wireless Zune Challenging iPod

tech netcast for Monday:

• TWiT 76: Too Zune?
• KFI Tech Guy 299
• dl.tv 111

headline news>>>click here