My mind to your mind

The Unlikely Missionary By Dan King.

2011-10-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

I received this book for free from Dan King on the promise of writing a review of the book.
In the United States we live in the richest country in the world. We have welfare programs that pay for more than the basic necessities for citizens of our country. We really don't know about poverty and hunger. We really don't know about disease as we have the most advanced medical facilities close by. We really don't know about community either, because we live in a nation that is geared toward self-centeredness. We are constantly bombarded by advertising everywhere we go as well as in our homes telling us whatever we have is not good enough - we always need more or something else to fulfill our lives and make us happy.
Dan King lives in Florida and while starting a blog online he began to investigate the issue of poverty. That led him to several organizations that exist to combat poverty in the world. That research and blog writing led him to an organization called Five Talents. Through that organization he went on a 2 week trip to Africa as their Chaplain and Teacher. This book is about his experiences and insights into the culture and people of Africa. It is a very powerful book filled with spiritual and cultural surprises and revelations. He describes how the African landscape drew him closer to God and how the people of Africa have one thing that keeps them living from day to day in the face of tremendous poverty - HOPE.
Mr. King also gives practical advise how Christians can start to change the world from where they live.
It does not take long to read this little book. It is filled with pictures from his trip and the pictures themselves are worth the price of the book.
Many churches have started organizing mission trips to places like Russia and Romania and other foreign countries. Mr. King was not on his trip through a church but through the Five Talents organization which helps people around the world with microloans to start their own businesses. These microloans allow the people to make money to pay back the loan (usually less than $100.00) and provide for their families.
As I read Mr. King's book I could not help but think about The Hole in Our Gosepel by Richard Stearns - another book about poverty that I reviewed before.
Jesus said "The poor you will have with you always." I think God puts the poor here so that we, who have much more than we need, can minister to them with our time, talents and money. I know I need to address this issue more than I have. Mr. King also points out how even though these people in Africa have practically nothing, they are always ready to help someone out in need - to do whatever they can.
The issue of child soldiers and Sex exploitation are also mentioned.
This little book will make you think. It will challenge your faith. James said, "Show me your faith without your works and I'll show you my faith by my works" Also "Faith without works is dead."
Christians are called to love all men. This book will encourage you to demonstrate your love by your actions. I highly recommend this book.
[[ASIN:B005UDPQ2O The Unlikely Missionary: From Pew-Warmer to Poverty-Fighter (BibleDude.net)]]

First Time Dad by John Fuller with Paul Batura

2011-06-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

C. Grant and Company graciously sent me 2 copies of this book for reading and reviewing. I'm very glad that they did! This book will not take long to read, but the truths it contains will last for a lifetime.
You, as a new or experienced Dad will find a wealth of information contained within. Studies, quotes and many examples from real life author John Fuller and his 6 children.
It is published by Moody Press and thus has a Christian perspective on life and marriage and child rearing.
No pop culture sayings will be found here.
No Psychology.
Just the pain stark naked facts of life when a child enters your life.
The sleepless nights. The constant demands for your attention and the impulse to run away from your responsibilities as a husband and as a Dad.
Mr. Fuller covers it all from the time when you are expecting your first child through the teenage years and beyond. It is a very frank picture of how your married life gets turned upside down when your bundle of Joy comes along! But this book is not just about raising a child, it is also about maturing as a man and growing as a Christian.
It covers the differences between boys and girls and at the end gives a checklist of different personality types - Lion, Otter, Golden Retriever and Beaver. Most all of us fall into one or more of these personality traits.
The one point that is constantly made throughout the book is the most important for any new or experienced Dad - TIME! Give TIME to your wife. Give TIME to your children! And yes you can even give some TIME to yourself. But most importantly give of your TIME and of YOURSELF to you child!
I heard the song "The Cats in the Cradle" when it was released and it is still true today. I've heard many men who lament the fact that they spent time fishing, hunting, playing golf or working away from their wife and children. They did it for all the right reasons , but it was all wrong. Provide for their family, gain social status. Get a sense of accomplishment. But later in life their children are grown and they never come around and they are lonely having missed the most important time of their lives, the growth of their children and the establishment of their family by just BEING THERE.
This is an excellent book. If you know of someone who is going to have a new baby soon - Father's day is June 19th. This book would be a great gift for a new dad.

The current state of Tablets.

2011-03-13T07:47:00.000-07:00

A Tablet is a mobile computer that runs Applications like a notebook, netbook or desktop computer.
Tablets have been aroud for a long time but never really caught on until the rise of the smartphone.
Essentially a Tablet is a hybrid of smartphone and computer with either a stylus or finger touch screen. It usually has a screen anywhere from 4 to 10 inches or more.
At the present time there are alot of Tablets available. Apple started the Tablet craze with the iPad which just last week was available in its 2nd iteration - the iPad 2. Since that time Archos, View Sonic, Dell, Motorola and an army of other familiar and unfamiliar manufacturers have produced their own Tablets. Blackberry is about to release its own version of a Tablet called the PlayBook.
What is the difference between them?
The OS or Operating System is the main difference.
Apple uses iOS in various versions. When the iPad first arrived it was nothing more than a large iPhone without the phone part. It ran all the iPhone applications, and the iPhone OS. Today all Android OS tablets are running the Google Android OS - the same as all the smartphones use. Therein lies the problem. Except for the Motorola Xoom which runs Android Gingerbread, all other Android OS tablets are running a phone OS. There are only a handful of true Tablet applications available for the Motorola Xoom. It runs Android Smartphone applications but they are not specifically designed to take advantage of the Xoom's features. All the other Android OS tablets are running a version of Android (1.5 to 2.2) that is for smartphones, not for Tablets. They do the job well enough.
If you can run an Android app on your Android smartphone it will run on your Android tablet as well. Larger screen. Larger size. Same applications.
I am hoping that the Blackberry PlayBook will have a Blackberry Tablet OS and applications just for the PlayBook, and not just another large smartphone app tablet.
This is the current state of Tablets today.
Apple has worked all the kinks out and have a Tablet OS and applications since they have had the most time to develop.
Google and Motorola are playing catch up with the Xoom and Gingerbread, but not many Tablet specific apps are available , but probably will be in the next 6 months (if the Xoom sells, which is questionable at this point because of its high price).
Let me just say this - at present there is nothing that can be done on an Android OS Tablet that you don't already have on a smartphone running a version of Android OS (Froyo is the most common).
So, for app execution, ebook readers, GPS, MP3, Web and email Tablets and smartphones do it all. The main difference is the screen size and the price. But Tablets do not make or receive phone calls (they can however use Skype).
I must mention the first Android Tablet is the Samsung Galaxy Tab and it has sold alot of units (however there was a 15% return on it). The Tab was the first Android OS tablet (remember its just the phone OS or Froyo). with TV commercials and was available from Verizon and other cell phone carriers. Eventually I expect the Tab will get Gingerbread and be able to run true Tablet applications like the Xoom.

So there you have it - the present state of Tablets today. Go to Amazon and type TABLET in the search box and you will be presented with a vast array of different Tablets from different manufactures.

A word of caution: The Dell Streak 7 is tied to T-Mobile and must be activated through T-Mobile to be used. Hopefully they will come out with a WiFi only version but not right now. I'm not sure if the Galaxy Tab needs a cell phone carrier data plan or not, but it probably does. Many of the Tablets on Amazon are just running the Android Phone OS and use WiFi for connectivity.
Why get a Tablet? Well, you can - just like on your smartphone - run Kindle and Nook and Aldiko and KOBO ebook readers and not be tied down to one device (KOBO, or NOOK or KINDLE or Sony ebook readers). You can run games just like on your cell phone (but beware the battery life of Tablets is about equal to smartphones. 3 or 4 hours of continuous use on a charge). Web, email, MP3 anything and everything except phone features are possible on a Tablet.

Does it make sense to buy a Tablet instead of an ebook reader like Kindle of Nook? Do you want to carry around a 10 inch Tablet instead of a 3 or 4 inch smartphone? These are the questions you must ask yourself and the choices you need to make.

No matter what you decide to do I do recommend YouVersion for either your Tablet or Smartphone. Multiple reading plans and all different versions of the Bible are available in different languages. It is the BEST app for any Tablet or Smarphone available!
Take the Word with you wherever you go with YouVersion!

Stand alone ebook readers.

2011-02-27T09:22:00.000-08:00

So, you want to buy a stand alone ebook reader device.

Welcome to a minefield!

There are several choices and my best advise is to RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! The 4 main devices available today are the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes and Noble Nook, the KOBO from Borders and the Sony ebook readers. There are several others, but these are the main ones found online and in retail stores. Here is a website with specifications of each of these and a few other stand alone ebook readers: http://ebook-reader-review.toptenreviews.com/ . There are many other websites with comparisons and typing "compare ebook reading devices" in any websearch site should yield other tables of comparison. YouTube is a fount of infomation about the unboxing and use of each ebook reader and you should use it as a resource in your research.

The two main ebook readers that I have been looking at are the Amazon Kindle WiFi and the Barnes and Noble NOOK WiFi. Why WiFi only? Well, they are cheaper. But if you want to spend an extra 50.00 or so you can get the WiFi /3G ones. There is no cost for the 3G as its included in the price - in other words - no monthly subscription fees.
Each of the 2 ebook readers have their own sources for ebooks. The Kindle is from Amazon.com and the Nook is from the Barnes and Noble website as well as support and downloads available in the Barnes and Noble stores.

Now if you have a smartphone, an iPad , iTouch or iPhone or a desktop computer, a laptop computer or a Tablet then there are ebook programs available to download and use. You have the greatest amount of freedom with one or more of these devices because if you buy a stand alone ebook reader you are limited to that devices' creator. You cannot read Kindle books on a Nook or Nook books on a Kindle without going through some kind of translation program (like Calibre on a computer). But there is DRM as well to consider and it is illegal to strip the DRM from a book bought either from Amazon or Barnes and Noble to make the book available on either device. The DRM makes it somewhat like DRM protected music and movies. On my Motorola Droid I have the Kindle app and Barnes and Noble Nook and KOBO and Aldiko ebook readers. Same on my desktop computer with the addition of Calibre.

Here is a comparision of the 2 top stand alone ebook readers. The Kindle has the BEST DISPLAY. It has an awesome display. Crisp, clear, clean. I am talking about the Kindle 3. Price is 139.00 for the WiFi version. The Kindle is very thin - about the thickness of a pencil. The Kindle has real honest to god buttons. All navigation and interaction is preformed through the buttons and d-pad. No touch screen here. Personally I like to browse and buy my ebooks from Barnes and Noble. I just feel more comfortable with it than the Amazon Kindle store, but that is just my personal preference. Only the Kindle has a Text-to- speech option where you can have the book read to you in either male of female voices. The voices are like the the animated insurance commercials on TV. Very robotic sounding.

The drawbacks of the Kindle are these. There is no way to change the battery. To replace the battery entails sending the unit back to Amazon as the unit is sealed. Also there is no memory expansion via SD cards. 4 Gig of ram with 3 Gig available is all you get. When MP3 music and games and other things are added that memory gets eaten up pretty fast from what I understand. ebooks themselves don't take up that much memory, but magazines, newspapers and games and other additions do. So, memory and battery are the 2 main problems on the Kindle WiFi. Games are available on Amazon Kindle store for the Kindle.

Next, the Barnes and Noble Nook or just Nook. The display is not as sharp and crisp as the Kindle. It is slower in turning pages and booting up than the Kindle. Other than the page up and page down buttons and power, everything on the Nook is Touch Screen. The Nook has a color bar at the bottom with book covers and menu items in color, but the main screen is BW and shades of gray. However, the Nook has a compartment in the back to replace the battery and can take up to a 32 Gig SD card. The Nook is much thicker than the Kindle and weighs more. Of course it weighs less than a hardback book and is somewhat thinner.
The Nook includes 2 games - Chess and Sudoku.
Nooks are on display at Wal Mart stores so you can pick one up and try it out. Same with all Barnes and Noble stores and I've even seen them at Books A Million. Target is selling the Kindle. Best Buy has both Nook and Kindle.

A newer Nook just came out for 249.00. The Nook Color has a full color screen. Nice for looking at Magazines and Newspapers and there are some interactive children's books available as well.
If you are very adventurous and want to experiment you can root the Nook Color and make it into an Android Tablet that will run apps and access the Android Market. However there is the possiblity of bricking the Nook Color. Bricking means you have a 250.00 paperweight. So beware.

So, before settling on which you want to spend your hard earned money for, I suggest you go and check them out by holding them in your hand and operating one before you decide to buy.

I am no expert on these devices and within a year I'm sure the present crop will be obsolete as newer and better models are introduced. But, who wants to wait a year. You want an ebook reader now, you want to take it with you on trips.

The thing that bothers me about ebooks and music downloads and all things digital is the there is no PERMANENCE ! A book I can hold in my hand. Put on a shelf and barring flood or fire it exists. But an ebook or downloaded music only exists in a device and when that device malfunctions there is a sense of loss. (I see it with pictures on computers that the hard drive crashes and all the pictures that were so dear are lost and gone for good. It's heartbreaking! Please back up your digital pictures. Put them on something other than your computer because it will CRASH on you. hard drives die and take everything on them with them when they do. I plead with people all the time to back up important data before its too late!).

I mourn the loss of permanence in digital things today. Some people think that when Jesus returns to the earth all electricity will be cut off. Try to imagine a world without electricity. There was no electricity or devices that ran on electricity in Jesus' day. Imagine the world plunged back into darkness without all the motors and wires and all things today that run on electricity. Something to think about.

eBooks and eBook readers and the death of the PC

2011-02-20T09:24:00.001-08:00

I have a smartphone - Motorola A855 (Droid). On my smartphone I have several ebook readers. Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Nobel Nook, Kobo, and Aldiko. On my computer I have all these ebook readers and Calibre (an ebook manager and converter) and Adobe Digital Editions. Like everyone else I've thought of buying a dedicated ebook reader. Most of my ebooks that I have bought are in my Nook reader. A few are on the Kindle reader and one is on Kobo and one on the Adobe Digital Editions reader. Now, if I were to buy an ebook reader, which one would it be? Nook? Kindle? Sony? I'm not sure. Are eBooks and ebook readers any good? I've looked at the reviews and videos of both the Nook and Kindle. Each has specific features. I can see buying an ebook of something that I want to read once, but for reference books I can't see the benefit of the book being in an ebook format (except for search of course). I know the arguments about saving the trees. But to spend 140.00 - 384.00 for a reader then also having to buy the books - does that make economic sense? I know that both Amazon and Barnes and Nobel have many free books and book previews that can be downloaded, and I have previewed a few books then bought the ebook or even the paper book because of the preview. I also know that ebooks are somewhat less expensive than paper books. I am currently reading an ebook that cost 2.99 but the paper book is 19.95. Quite a difference in price. I enjoy going into a bookstore and looking around. I don't really enjoy going to a website and looking at ebooks as much. The browsing experience is quite different. Clicking on a book to read the synopsis then loosing my place in the listing of books is a unnerving experience. I once welcomed the computer age. I have had a computer since the 1980's. I enjoy the diversity that the computer embodies. Once I thought it was ridiculous to watch a movie on a computer. I have a DVD player and TV for that, but now I watch Hulu and catch up on TV show episodes. I enjoy watching TV and Movies on the computer. Some Smartphones have Kickstands so that you can lay the phone on its side and watch a movie on the phone, but in reality battery technology has lagged behind the other components in smartphones, so its not practical to watch a movie on a smartphone unless it is plugged into a charger the whole time. Technical writers are saying the the PC is dead. That people will be using their smartphones for functions that once were the specific realm of the computer, but I don't believe it! My computer as well as my smartphone search the internet, but its a royal pain to use the hyperlinks on a webpage on the phone even with a slide out keyboard. It's much easier to navigate webpages and hyperlinks using my computer. Yes the smartphone runs applications, but its does not have the power or storage capacity of my computer. My smartphone can not play Crysis! And Plants Vs Zombies looks great on my 19 inch monitor - on a small iPhone or DS or PSP screen - not so much! My computer powers my phone through USB. It transfers music and videos to my smartphone and PSP. It converts video formats. There is so much that my computer does that a smartphone or a Tablet cannot do. I think the "death of the PC" quote is hogwash! Sure there are game consoles like XBOX 360 and PS3, but the computer still continues to be the game machine of choice for all lovers of the Keyboard and Mouse. Tablets - like the iPad. What are they? Just larger iTouches and Smartphones. So, back to dedicated ebook readers. Do they have a place or not? For people who are on the go; yes they can be very beneficial. The Kindle has a Text to Speech function where the book can be read to you through earphones which the Nook lacks. America has always been about choice. Yes, we have choices in Smartphones and Tablets and computers. Time will tell which technology will rule out the others. Remember Betamax and VHS? Remember HD DVD and BluRay? Someday we will be talking about iPad and something else with one coming out the Victor. Same with Kindle and Nook and all the other ebook readers. What do you think? Are ebooks a valid replacement for paper books? Are ebook readers worth the expense? Do you think the PC will be DEAD in 2 or 3 years? Technology does move fast. 3D TV's , BluRay players, Smartphones and Tablets give us choices today , but what will tomorrow bring? I like the Best Buy commercial where all the new tech devices are obsolete as soon as they are bought. 3D TV being brought into a house and COMING SOON 4D on the deliver truck. My smartphone has a 500 Mhz CPU. Soon after I bought it the new smartphones had 1 Gig CPU. Now they are producing phones with dual core CPU's, but battery technology is still lagging behind.
I am not down on new technology. I just wish that people would discover the cure for hatred, wars, crime, man's inhumanity to man, neglect and indifference. Technology cannot solve the most basic human need - a new heart. Only Jesus Christ can change the human heart. And in an ever changing world with its fast paced technology and exploding knowledge base its good to know that Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever!

Thoughts on a Sunday Morning 05/16/2010

2010-05-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on a Sunday Morning 05/16/2010

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is anesthetized by the world.
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is dull and lethargic.
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is slumbering.
Sin has permeated the air and acts like a sponge to abosorb the Word of God before it can take root in the heart and mind and soul of the body of Christ.
The world can only be saved by the Church.
The purpose of the Church is to be the Salt and Light of this world. Only through the revival of the Church can the course of human history and action be changed.
Because sin permeates the air everywhere the word SHOUT or CRY is used in the Bible.
The prophets had to SHOUT to be heard over the noise of sin that perpetually hangs in the air in this world and in this life.
If world events and people are going to be changed, the change must first happen to the Church - the Bride and Body of Jesus Christ. As long as the Church is numbed by the world - as long as the Church is insensitive to the sin around it, as long as the Church is unburdened by the millions upon millions who enter into eternity every day and are dropped into the fires of Hell without anyone thinking or caring, then the world will contiune on its course of self destruction.
Only a living, breathing, fully awake and revived Church can change the world by the power of Prayer and Action.
Only a Church that is comitted to love each and every living soul - no matter how lovable or unlovable they may be - as Jesus Christ loves them and gave His life to save them from an eternity apart from God. When the Church is revived then the love of Christ will be seen and felt and known in this world, but not until then.
Ezekiel 9 tells of a vision - Israel was wholly given over to sin. Idolatry, Adultry, lying, murder were common practice because Israel had left their first love - the Lord Jehovah.
Even thought they knew that the Lord had delivered them from Egypt and had worked amazing miracles among the people in their wars with the enemies of God, they soon forgot the Lord and started serving gods made of wood and stone and natural elements.
The Lord tells the angel with an inkhorn (we would call it a Sharpie today). to go out throughout the land of Israel and make a mark on the forehead of everyone who sighs and cries because of the sins of the leaders and the people of Israel.
Then he tells the destroying angel to go behind the angel with the Sharpie and slay everyone who does not have a mark on their forehead.
But note what the Lord says,
Eze 9:5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
Eze 9:6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and
begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Six angels - called men. One had an inkhorn, the other 5 had their destroying weapons. Begin at my Sanctuary! The wrath of God does not begin upon the world or its leaders, but upon the Holiest place on Earth with those who have served God the longest being singled out as the first ones to be killed if they do not have the mark! The elders - truly an example of the last being first and the first being last!
Notice Ezekiel 9:1 "He Cried" - that means SHOUT! Why? Because like now the air is so thick with sin that it absorbs God's Word. You have to SHOUT to be heard over the deafening roar of sin in this world. Spiritually, we can only hear clearly when we transport ourselves into the Throne Room of God because only there can we hear clearly spiritually. No wonder Paul says "Pray without ceasing."
Notice I use the word 'says' here. Its is because the Word of God is Living - the words of the Prophets and Psalms and Jesus and Paul and Peter and all the others in God's Holy Word are ALIVE. So when I refer to the Bible the Word of God SAYS - not SAID! Present tense, not past tense.
Jesus put it this way - Luk 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
I think that this is an important point. When quoting the Bible use the present tense not the past tense! It sets the Bible apart from everything else that is written in the world! The other books of the other religions can use the past tense because they are not Holy, not Living! But the Bible is Alive and Well and it has the power to change the hearts and minds and souls to men, women and children. And it alone has the power to save the eternal soul.
There is a tendency today to relegate the Word of God to just another piece of ancient literature to be studied by scholars and CHANGED.
I thank God that He is able to keep His Word Pure, and that no matter how language scholars may massacre the Bible it still has the power to convict of sin and change the Human Heart and save the Human Soul!
As teachers and preachers we must NEVER let out guard down when it comes to the Word of God - because if we do then truly "The foundations will be destroyed and what can the rightout do?"

Some Things I cannot do as a Christian - When God says NO!

2010-05-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

As a Christian, there are certain things that I cannot do. These are things that others may be allowed or able to do, but the Grace of God upon me prevents me from doing these things:

First is the Obvious - As a Christian I cannot:

1) Sell any alcoholic drink - I cannot partake in the creation, distribution or sale or use of any alcoholic drinks (beer, wine liquor, whiskey, ect). This means I cannot work in a convenience store in any city where alcoholic beverages are sold. I have taken a vow to the Lord. As Jesus said at the Last supper he would not taste of the fruit of the vine until he drinks it anew with his apolstles in the coming Kingdom of God. Good enough for me as well. I will not drink any alcoholic drink - including wine, until I sit at the Lord's table and he serves me in the Kingdom of God.

2) Sell any pornographic material. This means I cannot work in any store that sells pornographic books or magazines or any other media. That means I cannot work in a common bookstore like Barnes and Noble or Books a Million. Also this means I cannot work in any convenience store that sells pornographic magazines.

So those are the obvious restrictions that the Grace of God has placed on me in regard to where I can and cannot work and what I can and cannot sell.

However there are a few things that might surprise you that I cannot do as well:

I am married therefore I am restrained by the Grace of God from having physical sexual relations with another woman. I know that people and Christians do it all the time, but I cannot. However, I can imagine a situation where it may occur, but I belive that the Grace of God keeps me from those situations. I am restrained by Grace.

Also, I am not allowed to have an Apple iTouch.
I had a plan.
When my Blackberry curve 2 year cell phone contract expires in 2011, I was going to go with a simple Track Phone and and iTouch on WiFi. The Track phone would be just a phone, and the iTouch would do everything else that my current smartphone does.
However, I am constrained by Grace.
I cannot have an iTouch or iPhone or any other Apple technological product. Why? Well, I guess its because I see Apple as EVIL. From the first kits that Apple sold mail order for $666.66 - their origional computer (I know that the 2 Steve's started this business in their garage). The symbol for Apple is the Apple from the garden of Eden with a bite taken out of it - the symbol of the Origional Sin of disobedience against God which caused Jesus to have to live among us - die on the cross - be raised from the dead - and redeem a lost and dying mankind from the ravages of sin. The line drawings of the Apple have been Eve giving Adam the fruit (presumably and Apple) in the garden of Eden. Glorifying disobedience and rebellion against God. I know all this, I've seen it and lived through it. So, God will NOT allow me to have an Apple technological product.
I tried.
My son has an iTouch and I used his for awhile- he was going to give it to me, but then my wife developed moderate to severe pancreas attacks and I had to give it back.
However I thought if I buy one myself I would be allowed to keep it. So, I went to eBay and bought a new one. However when I received it I discovered my mistake. My wife became sick again and I had to loan it to a friend at work.
How do I know that the Lord does not want me to have or do something?
I know when things go wrong.
I loose the Blessing of the Lord on myself, my work, my family.

When God says NO, he means it!
The Israelites had to wait 40 years in the desert because of their lack of faith in God as their protector against the people of Cannan. There was no repentence on the part of the Lord. That entire generation had to die in the wilderness and not until a new generation had grown up could the nation of Israel cross the Jordan River and begin the occupancy of Cannan.
Not long after that an act of disobedience on the part of Achan caused 36 men to die and 3000 to flee before the people of Ai. The nation mourned and their hearts melted as water. All day they fasted and prayed and at evening God told Joshua to get up - because the people had sinned in taking the accursed thing in a previous battle against the Lord's strict orders. Achan had to be found out by lot and killed before the people of Israel could go on.
It's the same in the life of every Christian. The Accursed thing must be destroyed out of our lives before the Lord will continue on with us on the Road to Christian growth and fellowship.
So, God has allowed me to have many things that I enjoy - a computer, PSP, DS, Blackberry curve smartphone. These things are allowed, but an iTouch is not allowed.
And no touchy of any other woman than my wife as well.

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World - Dr. David Jeremiah

2009-10-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah
Published by Thomas Nelson

Do we live in a Chaotic world?

Every day the news gets worse. Major industries are laying off emplyees by the thousands. Manufacturing plants are closing. People who bought houses are defaulting on their mortgauges. Each week 7000 people loose their unemployment benefits and find themselves without work and without money to pay their bills and buy their groceries.
These are people, many of whom, have worked hard all their lives and planned to retire only to find their retirement savings disappear literally overnight. The jobs they trusted in to bring
them into retirement just diappeared in the wake of the Global Recession. Banks have gotten their bailout money, but are reluctant to issue loans to businesses.
Terrorism is uppermost on everyone's mind after 9/11. Two wars have been fought for years with no tangible results. The threat of terrorism is still a worldwide concern.

Where is God in all of this?

With plentiful illustrations and skill Dr. Jeremiah tells us how to be Confident in a Chaotic world. He takes the age old truths of God's Word and applies them with skill to the situations we are facing in the world and particualy in America today.
As I read this book I asked myself, "What are you trusting in?" The Govenment, the Military, the Economy, my bank account, my job? The answer is that all these things can and will fail. And with that failure my Trust and security fail with them. Or am I trusting in the Eternal God who has all things under control? The Eternal God who gave His only Son Jesus Christ to a lost and dying and indeed Chaotic world?

God is Eternal. He has no beginning and He has no end. God has given us tremendous promises through His Written Word and through His Living Word - Jesus Christ. God has given us His own Holy Spirit to live and dwell within us and to teach us all things.
How can we have Confidence in a Chaotic world? By trusting in the Living God and the Living Christ.

Using a Series of 10 words that begin with the letter "C" Dr. Jeremiah shows us from both the pages of today's headlines and from God's Eternal Word how to Stay Calm, Compassionate, Constructive, Challenged, Connected, Centered, Confident, Consistant,Committed and Convinced. The main theme of this book is the same theme that has resounded for over 2000 years - Trust in the Lord. Only in the Lord. Only in His Word. The Christian can have peace when the world around him is in Chaos.

How?

Because God in still in control although Atheists are getting bold in their message that God does not exist - putting slogans on busses and billboards. Jesus promised that He is going to prepair a place for us. In His Father's house are many mansions (or rooms as some new translations put it). And Jesus promises that if He goes to prepair a place for us - He will come back to take us to
Himself. The promise of the Return of Jesus Christ to the earth is closer today than it was yesterday. Dr. Jeremiah asks the question - are you ready for Jesus to come back? What will you be doing when He returns. We know that no man knows the day or the hour , so we are to be ready, and we are to be busy about the Lord's work. So that when Jesus comes back He will
find us working.

By applying the truths of God's Word to ourselves. We can be Confident in a world of Chaos. We can be busy doing the Lord's Work when Jesus returns. Dr. Jeremiah brings up the question of what the Church is doing? Is is asleep? How can God's People help the hurting and homeless and destitute today? Dr. Jeremiah speaks about a few men who had all the wealth this world has to offer. They were not hurting for money or family or fame or anything that people work so hard to obtain in this world - but it was not enough and they died either by disease or by suicide. We hear of fathers killing their families today because they lost their jobs or lost their savings. money was their god and money failed them!

What are you trusting in today? Is is total surrender to the Creator of the Universe and His Son Jesus Christ , or is it an idol this world has produced? We are so smart in America. We don't bow down to stone or wood or silver or gold idols.
We bow down to Corporations and Financial Institutions. We bow down to government leaders. They are our saviours.
But they have all failed. Our confidence in them has been destroyed. We bow down to the technology that we have created.
That technology will fail. Everthing not of God will fail. God Himself is our Confidence in a Chaotic world. Jesus with His promise to return is our assurance than this world will be judged and wrongs will be righted. And only God's Word - the Bible holds the truths that we can claim and live and receive Confidence from.
The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most awesome power ever given to mankind. It can turn a Palastinian killer into a man who loves Jews. It can transform ordinary men and women into loving, caring, giving people who know the formula for JOY - Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last. This is how we can be confident in a chaotic world.

I recommend you read Dr. Jeremiah's book. It contains the truth of God's Word applied to the modern world.

The book is a signpost that points you in the right direction for Peace, Safety and Security even when everything around you is failing and everyone around you turns against you.

The world will continue in its state of Chaos until Jesus returns.

In the mean time Christians can keep spreading he Gospel to a lost and dying and chaotic world.

Christians are called to be the Lights and the Salt.
Let the light of Christ shine through you and keep the meat of the world from rotting by your saltiness in Christ.

A Video everyone should see!

2009-10-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

Dustin , a friend of mine posted this on Facebook. Its a Video everyone should see!
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1109188780391

Bible Search Bar

2009-09-29T16:41:00.001-07:00

Verse:
John 3:16; Jn 3:16; John 3

Keyword:
Salvation, Jesus, Gospel

With Operators:
AND, OR, NOT, â€œ â€

Online Bible by Logos

Add this to your site!

Logos Bible Giveaway

2009-09-29T16:32:00.001-07:00

Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.

The Popularity of the New King James Version

2009-09-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

It seems that the New King James Version of the Bible is very popular in many churches and with alot of people. It's advertised as replacing he "Thees and Thous" and archaic words of the King James Authorized Version. However, it goes beyond the simple Thees and Thous. Hell, for example is a reference to the Valley of the sons on Hinnom. It was in this place while the Israelites were taken into captivity that human sacrifices were made and so when the Jews returned they made it a DUMP or Refuse Heap. All the litter and waste of Israel was dumped into the Valley of the sons of Hinnom. It is referred to in the Greek as Gehenna. The NKJV translates Hell into Gehenna. Can you imagine what would have happened if the NKJV preceeded the KVJ Bible? We would be saying
"Go to Gehenna!" or "What the Gehenna is going on here?" or "Gehenna's Bells!" It would certainly change language a bit. However, even more disturbing is the fact that the Old Testament manuscript differs from the KJV Old Testament document, and it has changes in it. Compare Zechariah 13:6 between the various translations. Some say hands (KJV) some say Chest, some say between your arms (NKJV) some even say back. Quite a difference there between the translations! everything but legs. This should be a reference to the nail pierced hands of Jesus from the cross, but NKJV says between your arms! Quite a difference indeed! So, even though the NKJV is popular I ask, is it trustworthy? Is the HCSB, or NIV, or NASV, or NIV or TNIV, or RSV, or NRSV, or The Message, or the Net or any one of dozens of others trustworthy? This is a question we must ask ourselves and ask God. Which does God's Holy Spirit prefer? Which is the English translation God's Spirit has used and uses the most for all English speaking people. Yes the NKJV may be popular, but is it reliable?

Some thoughts on New Bible English Translations.

2009-09-27T18:45:00.001-07:00

Putting schoarship aside in the area of Bible Translations I would simply ask the question, “Does this translation of God’s Holy Word produce better Christians? Does this translation move the reader closer to Jesus Christ and God the Father? Does it make “our hearts burn within us?” Luke 24:32. To me these are the tests of a Bible translation. Does it move us closer to the God who in whom we “live and move and have our being?” Is the Bible translation saturated with prayer and fasting and thanksgiving? We are talking about the foundation of the Christian faith here, not some tranlation of the Illiad or Odyssey. But I think most scholars approach Bible translation as if it were an intellectual exercise – like translating Homer’s books, rather than the Word of God. I belive that God has the power to Preserve His Word throught the ages, no matter what language the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek is translated into. So again I ask “Do these modern translations make better Christians than the KJV which has produced Christians for over 400 years? I like the idea of an English translation. I think that the Koine Greek New Testament books and letters were written in the language of the people. The common language of the people. And any modern English translation should be true to the origional texts and intents. I think a modern translation should be as readable as today’s newspaper, yet at the same time avoid crass language (like preganant and sex) and elevate the reader into the very Throne Room of Heaven. We don’t need a McDonalds fast food Bible, but Bible translations that contain the meat of the Word. Does the ESV and HCSB contain the meat of the Word. I have to ask, “Where’s the Beef?” I would be more interested in hearing about the prayer meetings that were held before the translation commitees meetings than about the results of the meetings. I would be more interested in hearding about the conversion experiences and God at work in the daily lives of the translators than about their scholarly achievements and titles. I am hopeful that the HCSB will meet or exceed my expections. I pray that it does, and I will buy the HCSB Second Edition when it is available. I also pray that my comments will be taken to heart by the Bible Translators.

I blog for Thomas Nelson Publishers

2009-07-05T06:31:00.001-07:00

A bit about me

2009-07-04T21:26:00.000-07:00

I was born in Philadelphia on August 17th, 1951. I went to Catholic school at Holy Name Church and school for grades 1-8. Then I went to Veterans Memorial Junior High School for 9th grade and grades 10-12 at Riverside High School in Riverside, New Jersey from which I graduated in 1969. I went into the Navy while still 17 years old in 1969 on July 10th and left the service with an honorable discharge on July 10th, 1973. I went to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville from 1973 to 1977 and graduated with a B.A. in English and Philosophy in 1977. Then we moved to Van Buren, Arkansas and I started work in 1973 at Guard Tronic, a burglar and fire alarm company in Fort Smith, Arkansas until 1997. After leaving Guard Tronic I began working at D-Best computer center (a local small computer store) as a PC Technician in 1997 and I am still working there now. I started at D-Best October 1997.
As stated before I was a Catholic. My parents sent me to mass although they did not go themselves. My parents divorced when I was 12 or 13, can't remember. Just me and my mom was my family after that, and my mom worked and went to bingo so I stayed at home by myself until I went into the Navy.
Whenever someone talked to me about Jesus and being saved I told them "I'm a Catholic. Leave me alone." But the Christians in the Navy I knew kept on me to get me saved. When I went home on leave August 1972 I went to the pastor's office of the Oak Grove Baptist Church and the pastor Wayne Davis read me the plan of salvation from a white card - like a criminal being read his rights. I said to myself, "Might as well have all the bases covered", so I knelt down in his office and asked Jesus to be my Saviour. I felt a tingling sensation in my head when I was saved and the pathway to heaven was open above my head. I don't know how to describe it otherwise, except one time when I changed my major in college for 2 weeks the pathway was closed. I know it was closed. When I prayed my prayers hit a wall 2 inches above my head. When I realized what was happening and I changed my major back the wall was taken down and has not appeared since.
Also, in that last year of the Navy the Lord started dealing with me about preaching. I attended the Zion Baptist Church with pastor Owen Herndon. Zion, Illinois was a city with every denomination represented so I got into my car on Sunday morning and asked the Holy Spirit to show me where He wanted me to go. I parked across from a church, sat there and decided to go someone else. I pulled into the parking lot of the First Baptist Church and sat on the back pew. The preacher was preaching directly at me, it was like there was no one else there in the church. As soon as the service was over I went home to Waukegan and told my wife, Kathy, I found where the Lord wanted us to go to church. I stayed at the First Baptist Church in Zion until I left the Navy and moved to Fayetteville to go to the University of Arkansas. I lived on campus in married apartments until my wife Kathy was discharged 6 months later and she joined me there.
While in Fayetteville I attended the First Baptist Church for awhile, then went to the Immanual Baptist Church. The Pastor of 1st Church was Page Patterson and the pastor of Immanual was Brother Terrel Gordon. I began preaching the month I was discharged from the Navy at the Oak Grove Baptist Church where I was saved a year after. Then I preached several times at the Immanual Baptist Church and was licensed to preach there. In 1979 I was ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister at the Kibler Baptist Church while working at Guard Tronic. I pastored the Batson Baptist Church for 4 years, then several years later I pastored the Rudy Baptist Church for nearly 4 more years. I have been a Sunday School director and Sunday School Teacher as well as Vacation Bible School director in different Southern Baptist churches in our area.
At the present time I do not reguarly attend church. My wife is disabled and I have been staying home with her when I am not working. In case she needs me.

I am reading "The Hole in our Gospel." by Richard Stearns who is the US President of World Vision. About half way through today.
After the first few chapters which also contain Mr. Stearns' testimony about how a man who had everything in this life gave it up to follow the call of God to become US President and CEO of World Vision. He went from a luxurious office at Lenox to the squalor of the poorest places on earth because thats where the Lord wanted him to go!
The first few chapters are about Discipleship, and reading them lights fire in the soul to follow Christ without reservation and to do whatever God wants us to do without question. I found these chapters to be one of the most striking and convicting pieces on Discipleship that I have read in a long time. After the first few chapters Mr. Stearns goes on to show by statistics and undeniable facts the present state of the world in regards to Hunger and Disease. The book asks and answers the question "What would God have me do?" The answer is God has given us dominion over the earth and we are to be obedient to Jesus when He said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and all you mind, and all your strength and to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF" This is the Law and all the Prophets. These are the commands of Jesus to Israel and to every Christian.
Mr. Stearns also answers the question - Why am I here? The answer I received was in the Baltimore Catecism " To Know, Love and Serve God in the world" That is the reason we are all here and to Glorify God.
Mr. Stearns makes it clear that Poverty, Hunger and Disease are our problems and we must provide the resources to alleviate them in this world right now. He makes it clear that Hunger is a complicated problem. Many times supplies are sent, but diverted by criminals and the people that need them do not get them (Africa for example).
He speaks of meetings with former president Jimmy Carter and past president Bill Clinton as well as Bono of the Rock group U2 who has taken the plight of those in need around the world to heart, even though he does not profess to being a Christian!
As I read "The Hole in our Gospel" I got an inside look into why Jimmy Carter went to the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians. These are people living in poverty and hunger. Mr. Carter is following the commands of Jesus to Love your neighbor as yourself. We live in America, the richest country in the world. We like like KINGS and QUEENS compared to the rest of the world's population
The issues of Food - we have grocery stores, they do not.
Water - we have water readily available, they do NOT but must travel great distances in some cases just to get some water for drinking and washing and other human necessities. Reading about these simple luxuries that we take for granted are a real eye opener, and very convicting to the soul. We hear about refugees, nations torn apart by war and famine and drought and earhquakes and other acts of nature and man placing humanity in the worst possible conditions. These are our neighbors whether they live down the street or across the world.
I admit I got this book for free to blog about it, but I wanted to read it anyway and would have bought it. Every Christian as well as non-Christian should read this book and take its message to heart.
I plan on finish my reading of "The Hole in our Gospel" tomorrow, but the message this book gives will undoubtedly stay with me long after the book is closed. Children are dying. Children are orphaned by AIDS and earthquakes and political uprisings. How can I continue to turn a deaf ear when the cries of these precious souls can be heard on the wind? This book will remove you from your comfort zone and cause you to stare into the eyes of starving, diseased, orphaned, dying men and women and children. If you read one book this year, please make it "The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns published by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Another Easter Miracle

2009-04-11T17:34:00.001-07:00

It was 1973. Kathy, my wife and I met and were married in the US Navy at Great Lakes, Ill. We were married on September 10th, 1971 - we were both 20 years old. So, now we have been married 37 years and have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. While we were in the Navy Kathy contracted Viral Arthritis in her knees just before Easter of 1973. We lived in Waukegan Illinois in an upstairs "utility" apartment (actually some guys attic he rented out). The stairs going up to the apartment were very steep. Just before Easter Kathy was released from the hospital where she was an inpatient. The doctors said she would never have full range of motion in her knees again due to the Arthritis. I had been saved the previous August at her home in Van Buren Arkansas. So, the night before Easter Sunday I was at the hospital on duty - supernumerary which meant I had to be on base in case someone did not show up or could not take their duty I was to work it for them. At that time I was an EMG Technician - the first in the country actually. Only doctors did the EMG. In fact, I started a new job classification in the Navy - Electroneuromylographic Technician. It did not exist before I went in the Navy. I was in my office and that night a terrible storm was in the area. I prayed that on this Easter Sunday no one would die! I asked God for one day without a death in the world. Then I went to sleep on my exam table.
The next morning I came home and Kathy ran down the stairs and said "I bet you thought that you would never see me do that again!" The Lord had restored her range of motion in her knees. She could climb the stairs and come down them. Although today she still has knee trouble, the Lord healed my wif'e's knees that Easter morning. Praise the Lord. I listened to the news the next hoping not to hear that anyone had died. I guess they did. But, in a round about way the Lord heard and granted my prayer after all.

Some supernatural events in my life

2009-03-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

I became a Christian in August 1971. My wife wanted to see her pastor - Brother Davis and I went along. Instead of her talking with the pastor I knelt down in his office after hearing the 3 great truths - #1 I am a sinner and separated from God. #2 Jesus died for me and #3 Jesus will save me and bring me to God. Now, I was raised a Catholic. My mother and father sent me to Catholic school for 8 years (Holy Name Church and School 5th and Vine in Camden, New Jersey). I had my First Communion and Confirmation. I always used that as an excuse whenever someone would try and tell me I was lost and going to Hell when I died because I was separated from God. I believed in God, always. But He seemed so far away. I tried to be a good Catholic. I went to confession and Mass - sometimes. But the truth was in that pastor's office I thought (in my mind full of pride - "I might as well have all the bases covered"). So, I knelt down and prayed the sinners prayer confessing my sins to God (He already knew everything) and asking Jesus to save me and give me the free gift of Eternal Life. ("By grace are ye saved, through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast"). I immediately felt a tingling in my head and I knew that something had happened. I had a personal sensory experience. I know that everyone's conversion experience is different - like a snowflake. That was mine. After that the Holy Spirit became my daily companion. He would talk to me. What I remember distinctly was He said, "Now that your sins are fogiven, you are clean inside, what are you going to fill that space up with now? The lies, immorality, anger, pride - all the things that filled my life before , or something else. So, I chose something else. I'm not perfect. I still sin, but when I do I can confess the sin and and have Jesus wash it away with His Blood. ("If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness")
So, I read Christian related books and went to church. I did not want to miss anything that God had for me.
But i digress. This is supposed to be about some supernatural events in my life so far.
The first event happened while I was going to school at the University of Arkansas. I was playing my guitar and singing "Lord God" a song I wrote and my vision went black and I had a vision of the a face. I know that Bible says that no man has ever seen the face of God at any time and lived. All I can say is I had a vision and saw a face.
The next event happened when I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I had a friend who was a Charismatic Catholic and I sought him out and he laid hands on me and prayed and I had a vision after that. Also I had a tingling sensation in my skin that lasted for quite some time.
The next event happened while I was working at City Hospital and Geriatric Center. I was on the Geriatric ward and a Doctor Herbert Boyer whose mind was gone, all he did was lay in bed with a catheter in. The staff told me when he was first admitted that they would ask him to define medical terms and he could tell them, but when I started working there - no conversation was possible.
A little background. God called me to preach. My first church was the Elkins Community Church which I took after Doctor Alexander Best was unable to be their Baptist Preacher. So, I took his place. After Elkins I took a 'vacation' from the church and the Lord. One night I was draining Dr. Boyer's catheter bag to measure his urinary output and he said "Preacher, have you prayed lately?" I confessed to him and to God, "No sir, I have not prayed as I should" That was the only time that Dr. Boyer said anything the entire time I worked at the hospital - over a year. I think God spoke to me through Dr. Boyer. Maybe I'm wrong.
I have some other events to tell about. But I'll save them for another post.
Since no one is following this blog I guess it won't matter when.

Loaves and Fishes

2009-03-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

The economic news seems to be more depressing everyday. People loosing their jobs and families loosing their homes (which are worth alot less than when they first bought them). Corruption in the finance industry. Billion dollar scams bilking people out of their money. Government bailouts in the billions of dollars. The president is looking for the best financial advisers he can find to get the US, and indeed the world out of the present financial crisis.
But one day on a hill in Israel they had a similar crisis. Over 5000 people to feed and only five loaves of bread and a few little fishes. Jesus took the bread and fishes, gave Thanks to God for them and fed over 5000 people with them.
Our money has "In God we Trust" printed on it. Why don't we look to God and trust Him now? Where has the Fear of the Lord gone in America? Although each town has numerous churches, to look at the way the typical American lives, one would come to the conclusion that this is an atheistic country. We pay lip service to God, but our heart is far from Him.
Only one power can save us from the financial crisis. The Lord of Heaven and Earth. And, to show the Lord that we mean business I would urge everyone who loves the Lord to not shop on Sundays. Not go out to eat on Sunday. That always gets to me. After church everyone goes to the local eating restaurants and gives them the business. These are people that should have been in church worshiping the Lord Sunday morning, not making you lunch! If the real Christians in America would stand up and refuse to go to the Wal Marts and Targets and other retail stores and restaurants on Sunday they would have to close down their business because as we all know they are open for one reason - Money. If the money on Sundays dries up the stores will have to close. I also urge all shop owners to close on Sunday. I remember, not so very long ago - maybe 10 years or less everywhere was closed on Sunday. People honored the Lord and gave their employees a day off to Worship the Lord in Church and spend a day with the family. One day a week Monetary gain was set aside and the Lord was honored - NOT ANYMORE! So, as Jesus was able to feed over 5000 more than once, we must look to the Lord of Heaven and Earth to help us in this time of financial crisis. He can make things right again, but only if this country (you and me) repent and turn to the Lord with our whole heart and soul and Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind and all your strength.

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Understanding. Let's fear the Lord again and worship Him. If not, every civilization that forgot God - God in turn forgot and they are but dust on the pages of history. Can the same thing happen to the USA? Yes it can and it will if we don't repent and do the first works again.

Drugs and Alcohol

2009-03-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

Many years ago drug related songs were banned from the radio because of the destructive force of drugs on the younger generation, but nothing was done about alcohol abuse. Today many country songs sing the praises of Alcohol drink from Beer to Jose Quavo. Why don't they ban the use of alcohol from country music as well? I know its not illegal like drugs (Marijuana, Meth, Heroin etc), but its just a addictive to drink alcoholic beverages as drugs are. In fact AA and NA are interchangable. Each follow the 12 steps to recovery. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are also similar as they are meetings to help the family members of addicts (both Alcohol and Drugs). The teen movies have a habit of portraying drug use as common without consequences. But there are consequences. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Every action has a consequence. And for many that consequence is Drug and Alcohol addiction. Also, we read and hear in the news about some college kid that died from alcohol poisioning due to chugging drinks. Why is the movie and TV industry so blind to the danger that these addictions cause? At one time it was illegal to show anyone on TV drinking an alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, whiskey), now its common to see everyone bellying up the bar in a social setting. Clearly beer labels are seen on the dark glass bottles.
Shame on the media for promoting drinking and drugs. People's lives are being destroyed in the name of entertainment! It's time people realize the danger that drugs and alcohol present to society and do something about it.

The High Price of Technology

2009-03-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

I've been buying technological products for years. (Pocket PC 2002, PSP, Zune MP3 players etc.) I've spent alot of money on these tech toys. 250.00 is what they usually cost. So, I thought I would look into a smartphone that would replace all my other tech toys (MP3 player, Digital Camera, Web Browser, Email and Phone as well as a game machine). So, I ordered a LG Vu CU930 for free (ha ha). The activation fee was 59.00. My first AT&T bill was over 150.00. And on top of that its a 2 year contract to pay off the phone. This really bothered me. A single 400.00 device was going to cost me well over 2400.00 (12 X 2 and then some). So, I sent the phone back and I am waiting to have my AT&T account closed. Most all the smartphones today are about the same. Touch screen or itty bitty keys for a full sized keyboard. Most all have 4 Gig MicroSD slots for more memory to store pictures and music. Most have a 1.5 to 5 Megapixel camera. Most link to a computer with Bluetooth or USB. Most will do all these things, yet the price is outrageous! So, I have a 16.00 tracfone I bought at K-Mart and it came with 110 minutes of airtime (the web browsing is non - existant and just wastes minutes). It has a few little games, but no MP3, No camera, no Bluetooth. Basically, its just a phone. Thats all. Very low tech for a technophile like me, but the cost - 20.00 for 60 minutes. Service expires in July. More sensible and cost effective, yet I miss the LG Vu I had with voice dialing and email and web browsing. I could even watch YouTube videos on it (on a very small screen). But the question is Do I Need It? Of course not! I did not need the Pocket PC, or the Zune or the PSP or the DS. I did not need any of these tech toys. I just wanted them, but after the initial price paid for the device I did buy PSP games and DS games and Zune music and Pocket PC programs. But they are no where near as costly as a 2 year service contract for a smartphone. Ok, so the phone is smart but is the smartphone owner DUMB? Over 2400.00 for a 2 year contract at 60-90 a month plus taxes (117.00 on average). 117 X 24 - you do the math. Thats alot of money. More than a new notebook computer of SLR Digital camera or MP3 player. In fact, you could buy all those several times over for the price on one device with a 2 year contract. Several years ago I bought my daughter a Motorola Razor phone with a 1 year service contract from Alltel. After the year was over the phone was paid off. And, as the phone did not last 2 years (cracked faceplate, sticky keys - she said it was "ghettoed") I cancelled the service. I just cant see a 2 year contract when the device will probably not last that long and in 6 months or less something newer and better will come along. When I sent the phone back and called to cancel my AT&T account the words "Buyers Remorse" came up. Yes, I was remourseful to send the phone back, but I was more remourseful to have to keep a contract for a device that would not last as long as the contract. I enjoyed the phone while I had it, but there was always that doubt. Life has a tendency to throw things at you that are unplanned and unexpected. I could not see paying 150.00 a month for a tech toy. The money would be more useful elsewhere. So. That's my story about my brief excoursion into the cell phone life. I've got another bill posted to pay - another 150.00 by the 21st. Hopefully the account will be closed and I wont have pay 300.00 for a FREE PHONE!

A sad Sunday Morning

2009-03-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

Just the other day I was talking to someone about Paul Harvey. How he had a very unique style in reporting "The rest of the story".
It was always amusing and enlightening at the same time.
But in the news this morning I read that he died in Arizona at 90 years of age.
Surely, its a sad day when one of America's most beloved radio news commentators die.
It seems that alot of irreplacable people that made a major impact on American life have died or about to die.
What a tragic loss for America.
The worse loss is that no one is coming forward to replace them.
The prominent people today are no match for the movie or TV stars of days gone by.
No Red Skelton, no Gilligan's Island, no George Gobel or Three Stooges.
They made us laugh! Where are the good, clean comedians today?
The only one I can think of is Bill Cosby.
Instead we have trash mouthed, unclean, raunchy comedians that keep their jokes below the belt most all the time.
The movies today also leave alot to be desired.

It's a very Sad day in American today.