Selected by cindyk

• 
  PCMag: Computer Security

• American Express: Strong Credit, Weak Passwords

  American Express's policies for passwords for their customer logins require weak passwords. Why?

• When Does Hacking Become Cyber Warfare?

  There's plenty of evidence to assume that at least some of the recent hacking attempts on U.S. companies originated from China. But are they coordinated? And if so, do we return fire?

• McAfee Total Protection 2010

  With a totally new user interface and tough new technology, the latest McAfee suite is well equipped to protect your computer.

• China Shuts Down Hacker Training Web Site

  China has closed what it claims to be the largest hacker training website in the country and arrested three of its members, domestic media reported on Monday.

• Researcher Details How 'JIT Spray' Exploits Windows

  Dion Blazakis has provided a formal paper on the techniques used to bypass ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) and DEP (Data Execution Prevention) in Windows.

• 
  PCMag: Editor's Choice

• Samsung Freeform SCH-r350 (MetroPCS)

  The Samsung Freeform SCH-r350 offers MetroPCS users the best deal in America for a cheap texting phone.

• Dell Inspiron i570-6939PBK

  The dual-core Dell Inspiron i570-6939PBK desktop PC-with-an-LCD bundle does an admirable job covering the basics at a fair price.

• Sennheiser CX 680 Sports

  Sennheiser's gym-friendly CX 680 Sports earphones offer high-quality audio performance and secure fit in a rugged, waterproof design making them our latest Editors' Choice.

• Sprint 3G/4G USB U301

  Sprint's U301 delivers WiMAX and 3G directly to your laptop with aplomb. Pity the WiMAX.

• Logitech Webcam C600

  The Logitech Webcam C600 offers 2-megapixel still image capture, clear 720p HD video recording (even in lower light), crisp audio, and useful bundled software, all for a very reasonable price.

• 
  PCMag: Wireless Networking

• Samsung Expects Smartphone Sales to Triple

  Samsung Electronics said that it aimed to triple smartphone shipments this year to more than 18 million units as the world's second-biggest cellphone maker scrambles to make a mark in the fast-growing smartphone market.

• Intel Launches New vPro Platforms

  Intel officially launched its latest vPro platform technology in a Webcast on Thursday, which promises to bring better, hardware-based manageability features to PCs used by enterprises and small businesses.

• Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless (Sprint)

  The Overdrive router can connect nearly anything to a WiMAX network. Now Sprint and Clearwire just have to provide a decent network.

• Sprint 3G/4G USB U301

  Sprint's U301 delivers WiMAX and 3G directly to your laptop with aplomb. Pity the WiMAX.

• Hands On: PlayOn for the Nintendo Wii

  Can't wait until spring for Netflix streaming on the Wii? PlayOn is now offering Wii-based streaming for Netflix, Hulu, and more, for a one-time $40 fee, and we took it for a spin.

• 
  Ars Technica

• Hands-on: Microsoft launches child-friendly IE8

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:49 am

  A major European campaign, Safer Internet Day (SID), kicked off today, with the intent of teaching children aged five and up the importance of protecting their online identity and not talking to strangers. Microsoft's Internet Explorer team, in association with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), took the opportunity to launch a new version of IE8 that makes it easy for youngsters to find information about staying safe online. The family-friendly version of the browser gives the user one-click access to reporting tools that allow them to flag inappropriate websites to…

• Ghost Recon returns this year with Future Soldier

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:57 am

  Ubisoft has announced a new entry in its tactical-military shooter franchise. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is currently in development at its internal Paris studio. Ubisoft claims that the game will "go beyond the core Ghost Recon franchise and deliver a fresh gameplay experience." The team responsible for the two previous titles in the series, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2, are currently handling development of Future Soldier. Reports of a new entry in the long-running Tom Clancy franchise first surfaced in April of last year, when…

• Aperture 3 adds Faces, Places, and improved local adjustment

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:23 am

  After a long wait, Apple has released the next major update to its pro-class photo workflow application, Aperture 3. The new version boasts over 200 new features, including the addition of the successful facial recognition and geotagging features, Faces and Places, that were introduced with iPhoto '09. Version 3 also adds edge-detecting adjustment brushes for non-destructive localized editing and touch-ups. Along with numerous UI and performance improvements, Aperture 3 adds full 64-bit support on supported systems running Snow Leopard. Aperture has always had a focus on the workflow of…

• Google makes biggest gain in smartphone market share

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am

  US mobile users are increasingly getting into text messaging, Internet browsing, and social networks as they continue to shift to more capable devices. Additionally, Apple's and Google's share of the smartphone market is inching up while other leaders—namely RIM—are slowly being chipped away, at least according to the latest data from comScore. Nearly two-thirds (63.1 percent) of US mobile subscribers sent a text as of December 2009—a number that is up 2.1 percentage points since just September. Similarly, those who accessed social networking sites or blogs went up 2.1…

• Battle of the Immortals closed beta live (update: keys are gone!)

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:19 am

  Perfect World Entertainment describes Battle of the Immortals as a 2.5D MMORPG that mixes Eastern and Western culture. There are five classes, an auto-navigation system for quests that means you won't be stuck wondering where to go next, and both Player vs. Enemy (PvE) and Player vs. Player (PVP) battle. Interested? Not sure yet? Don't worry! We've been given some beta keys to give away to our readers so you can play in the closed beta, starting today. Getting a key is easy: simply send an e-mail to giveaways@arstechnica.com with the subject line: "The game didn't need that extra .5D anyway."…

• 
  ReadWriteWeb

• Can Google Buzz Succeed Where FriendFeed Couldn't?

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm

  Google just launched Google Buzz, the company's new social networking service which will be tightly integrated with Gmail. There can be little doubt that Google Buzz looks a lot like FriendFeed, the social aggregation service that was acquired by Facebook in August 2009. Today, FriendFeed's developers are Facebook employees and aren't likely to continue to improve the service in any meaningful way, while the active user community on FriendFeed continues to shrink rapidly. Given the similarities between the two services, we can't help but wonder if Google Buzz will be able to succeed where…

• How Google Buzz is Disruptive: Open Data Standards

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:31 am

  Google rolled out a social stream service today called Buzz. It looks on the surface like Facebook, FriendFeed and other stream reading and writing services. It will compete with Facebook and Twitter. Under the covers, though, this major product was built by a team of people taking a radical new approach to online publishing: Buzz is all about open, standardized user data. Google Buzz data can be syndicated out to other services using the standard data formats called Atom, Activity Streams, MediaRSS and PubSubHubbub. That couldn't be more different from Facebook. Google has taken open data…

• Mobile Health: Will Network Applications Help Us Get Healthy?

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am

  Last week, we were at the mHealth initiative conference in Washington D.C. The keynotes were all about the impact mobile health applications are having in shaping the future of the health care system. Nothing demonstrates that more than the iPhone. In the 18 months since it was released, it has been perhaps the biggest thing to happen to health care electronic records, which has seen billions of dollars worth of investment in past decades. Mobile and wireless health applications directly impact the individual's health and have the promise of ensuring that when a patient leaves a doctor visit,…

• Foursquare Partners with Zagat, New York Times

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:17 am

  Foursquare has come out strong in recent weeks with partnership deals that look to put it at the top of the location-based app game. Last week, it announced a partnership with Bravo, the style and fashion-centric television network, and today it has come out with a partnership with Zagat, the restaurant guide, and the New York Times. As we wrote last week, Foursquare is competing in an increasingly crowded space. These partnerships may help it attract a whole new audience and remain competitive against other services like Yelp that are just joining in the location-based arena. Sponsor…

• Live Blogging from Google: Launch of Google Buzz

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:11 am

  This morning, Google is announcing some exciting new features for two of its most popular applications. Team Red, as we affectionately call ourselves, is present at the Googleplex in Mountain View, and we'll be live blogging the event, giving you, dear reader, a fascinating play-by-play. Stay tuned for updates! The event will begin at 10 a.m. Pacific (UTC -8). Just refresh this post to see new content as events unfold. Additional on-the-fly research and images from RWW journalist Frederic Lardinois. Sponsor 11:11: The event is over! Time to chase people down and ask some more pointed…

• 
  Gizmodo

• Best Buy E-Cycle Billboard: Where Old Gadgets Go to Shill [Ads]

  Brian Barrett

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm

  If you happen to be in Times Square any time soon, you may notice this billboard for Best Buy's electronics recycling program. Make sure you take a close look! It's composed entirely of outmoded...

• Your Future Morning View Will Make You Vomit [Augmented Reality]

  Jesus Diaz

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:40 am

  newVideoPlayer(...

• 25 New Ads to Introduce Xfinity to the Masses [PhotoshopContest]

  Adam Frucci

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  Have you heard the exciting news?! Comcast is rebranding as Xfinity! We decided to help them out by calling on our lovely readers to create the first Xfinity ads, and I think they did a bang-up...

• Google Buzz on Phones: Location Is the Killer App [Google]

  matt buchanan

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:42 am

  newVideoPlayer(...

• What Is Google Buzz? [Google]

  Mark Wilson

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:22 am

  So what exactly is Google Buzz? Used on a PC or mobile, Buzz reminds us of an RSS combined with all of your social networking—all within the existing Gmail and Google.com...

• 
  Lifehacker

• Listary Sifts Through Files with Powerful Search Hotkeys [Downloads]

  Whitson Gordon

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:30 pm

  Windows only: Explorer's integrated search is fine for most things, but more powerful searches or sorting through long lists of similar files isn't exactly easy—Listary gives you hotkeys,...

• The Rotterdamn Collective [Featured Workspace]

  Jason Fitzpatrick

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm

  Many of our featured workspaces are featured for what they contain. The most notable thing about today's featured workspace is what it doesn't contain. Lifehacker reader re404 gets stuff done in a...

• The Map-as-Envelope Incorporates Directions in Your Snail Mail [Clever Uses]

  Lisa Hoover

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am

  In the age of email, it's not often we send mail through the regular postal service. Next time you're mailing a letter the old-fashioned way, do it up right with Google Maps and a color printer. The...

• Google Buzz Explained [Screenshot Tour]

  Adam Pash

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  Google today announced a new service, Google Buzz, that automatically brings social networking into Gmail and the rest of the Google-sphere. Whether or not you're big on social networking sites like...

• Move the Users Directory in Windows 7 [How To]

  Roobs

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am

  Ed. note: If you've tried moving the Windows Users directory to a location other than the default, you know it can be quite an undertaking. Reader Roobs wrote in detailing how he moved his Windows 7...

• 
  CNET News.com

• CNET News Daily Podcast: Google gets Buzzed, Priuses get recalled

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:07 pm

  A quick rundown of Tuesday's news, including Google's dive into social media and more woes for Toyota.

• 26 Windows, Office holes patched in 13 bulletins

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:53 am

  Software giant Microsoft says its Patch Tuesday deploy addresses vulnerabilities in DirectShow, SMB Protocol, ActiveX, Windows Shell Handler, and 32-bit Windows.

• Intel meets its match in IBM

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:45 am

  With Power7, IBM has served notice on the computing world that Intel isn't the only high-performance microprocessor manufacturer in town.

• Ford to debut all-electric Transit Connect van

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:21 am

  Automaker to unveil 2011 Transit Connect Electric van at Chicago Auto Show. New model expected to go into production late 2010.

• Man texts Greece to get rescued in New Zealand

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:08 am

  A tourist texts his family in Greece when he gets lost on a New Zealand mountain. His family calls Greek authorities, who contact those in New Zealand. Great, but why didn't he just call a local rescue number?

• 
  Church Marketing Sucks

• Snowmageddon Cancels Church: Communicating a Crisis

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:50 am

  by Ryan Spilhaus, Guest Blogger Welcome to Washington, D.C., the snow capital of the country. In the past month and a half, we've had two major snowstorms of over 20 inches (affectionately named "Snowpocalypse" and "Snowmageddon," respectively). Plus a smaller storm of about eight inches. For a city where it is unusual to get more than three inches of snow, having three storms of that magnitude has been unprecedented. What's more, they have all happened just in time to wreak havoc with our weekend services here at McLean Bible Church. So since Dec. 19 we've had to cancel our services three…

• Christian Advertising at the Super Bowl: Subtle & Controversial

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:41 am

  The commercials are by far my favorite part of the Super Bowl. The last couple of years have been pretty mediocre in terms of the million dollar ads, but I'm hoping this year is different. Where the commercials have usually been made up of beer, cavemen and the GoDaddy girls, this year is different. This year one, and maybe two, commercials have connections to the church. And they're a study in opposites. One is a blatant commercial message for a consumer product--but it has subtle spiritual overtones and you wouldn't guess a church is behind it. The other is from a Christian nonprofit and…

• The Church, Haiti and Disaster

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:39 am

  Last week, we talked about your feelings on the way churches responded to the Haitian disaster. Us? We were beaming with pride. And dreaming of a future where the church is known for responding this way, even when there is no natural disaster to be found. Here's just a shade of what we were reading: Amid Rubble, Seeking a Refuge in Faith In Haiti's 'new era' Episcopalians around the world offer help Religious Groups Fill Haiti Government Gaps Haitians everywhere united by faith Churches Respond Grass-roots efforts were springing up everywhere. Nearly every Christian organization was offering…

• Fight Church: Mixed Martial Arts as Ministry

  3 Feb 2010 | 8:08 am

  Recently the New York Times examined the growing practice of churches and evangelical groups creating mixed martial arts ministries. [A particular martial arts ministry] is one of a small but growing number of evangelical churches that have embraced mixed martial arts — a sport with a reputation for violence and blood that combines kickboxing, wrestling and other fighting styles — to reach and convert young men, whose church attendance has been persistently low. The article continues to discuss some of the logic and justifications behind these types of offerings. Essentially, churches are…

• Online Sermons Poll Results

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am

  Kevin Finn recently gave churches the challenge to get their sermons online. And we were curious just how many of our intrepid readers were already part of churches who make materials available online. We expected a big number, and we got a pleasant surprise. 83% of you are making sermons available online. Whether you're a house church, a megachurch or anything between, this seems like a good move. It gives your folks more access to the things you believe and preach, and it allows them to stay more connected with your message. Equally pleasing? None of you are putting your sermons behind a…

• 
  djchuang.com

• Top articles shared by Christians

  djchuang

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:29 pm

  A new web app called Zoecity.com launched last week that automatically lists the top articles viewed and shared by Christians (technically, re-launched.) Zoecity’s self-description is: “We track hundreds of Christian websites for the latest content.” Are you as curious as me what those 100s of Christian websites are? I got to interview Colin Wong, the CEO of Zoecity today. Watch the video interview below [powered by wetoku; pardon the echo]: My “aha” moment during the interview was this: as Zoecity.com bubbles-up the most popular content, it may or may not be the…

• live coverage from Verge Conference in Austin

  djchuang

  2 Feb 2010 | 7:22 am

  2,000+ church leaders will converge in Austin this week at the sold-out VERGE missional church conference. Neil Cole describes Verge as “first of its kind in the missional church field.” I’ll be there with the Verge Social Media Team, providing live coverage via various social media channels, and the team members’ websites + blogs + networks will host on-going conversations in a distributed fashion after the event. The Verge team blog will link to all the latest — including announcement of the live video feed of main sessions. Live twitter tweets on twubs (below)…

• churches closing and pastors leaving

  djchuang

  31 Jan 2010 | 9:10 pm

  Question >> “do u know a place to get stats on how many churches close a day, month, year etc and the same on pastors and leaders leaving ministry?” djchuang >> Good question. (And, in case you can’t tell, this question came in via a text message.) The latest research on church attendance can be found in The American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson, with research based on data from 200,000+ churches. And, the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, has analysis based on interviews with 35,000+ American adults. Here’s some…

• A way to mentor like Jesus

  djchuang

  30 Jan 2010 | 10:57 pm

  Thanks to Chris Hornsby of Next Generation Mentoring, I got a review copy of Mentor Like Jesus, by Regi Campbell with Richard Chancy. This book lays out a very clear mentoring process to reproduce leaders of a particular type. Regi Campbell is an entrepreneural leader and knows how to get results in the marketplace. The book unpacks his value for being strategic with time, finding what works, and adapting principles from Jesus’ process of disciple-making, in order to invest in next generation leaders who have high potential to impact the world. I can see how this book will be very…

• all kinds of spiritual formation going on

  djchuang

  28 Jan 2010 | 8:44 am

  For followers of Jesus wanting a more transformational life, more people seem to be engaging in some kind of spiritual formation process. I’m finding a number of different programs and processes that are percolating in the evangelical world at large (though the concept has been around for Catholics for centuries.) Here’s a short list of ones that I’ve heard of, (mostly) in a chronological order of when I first heard of them: School of Spiritual Direction (via Larry Crabb) Renovare Dallas Willard on spiritual disciplines & formation TrueFaced (aka Leadership Catalyst)…

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  The Digital Sanctuary

• Do You Get Relevant Magazine’s Neue Quarterly?

  Cynthia

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:13 am

  Several months back, Relevant Magazine’s Neue Quarterly released the article Multi-Conversation, a three-part conversation on plurality in the Kingdom.  The piece is designed to be an exploration of new trends in church development.  Exploring multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-site movements, perfectly normal church planter Earl Creps, absolute wild-man pastor Shaun King and myself all review and assess these church trending topics.  Enjoy the article, and order Neue Quarterly.

• Worship Leader Magazine Adds Tech Expert

  Cynthia

  15 Jan 2010 | 10:22 am

  Worship Leader magazine just emailed me announcing that DJ Chuang will join the company as Network Developer.   Although I forgot to blog it, I got the privilege of writing for Worship Leader last summer  (Cynthia Ware – Worship Leader’s Toolbox) and have been so impressed with their persistent and ongoing focus on the use of technology and it’s overlap with worship.  Hiring a specific Network Developer just seems so right. DJ, who has been an amazing support to me over the years, has been at the forefront of spearheading network communications, software development, Web…

• What Your Church Can Learn From Zappos

  Cynthia

  6 Jan 2010 | 7:02 am

  Zappos is a growing company with a unique culture, an innovative marketing style, and a brilliant reputation.  Compared to most young upstart companies, it’s pretty amazing what they’ve accomplished. In 10 years Zappos has grown from “nothing” into a billion dollar industry leader, no small feat if you’re just selling shoes!  When this happens in business, it’s no accident.  When a company is doing this well following their launch they’re worth studying. Given, the Church is obviously not a “business” that can be governed by…

• Launch 2010 with a Digital Business Card

  Cynthia

  1 Jan 2010 | 9:20 am

  Need a 10 minute project to benefit you for the rest of your 2010?  How about simplifying your life by ordering a digital business card? If you’re all over the web like so many of us, why not make things easier for people looking for you online? Go green & paperless by ordering a digital business card and use it as  your personal landing page for everything. Simple, super affordable, smart. It only takes about 10 minutes to order your card from ‘the man’, Sam Druegger and if you do it now, you can relax for the rest of the weekend and enjoy your New Year’s start…

• 2010 Daily Bible Reading Plan for iPhone

  Cynthia

  30 Dec 2009 | 11:09 am

  Click here to view the embedded video. Following yesterday’s You Version post I should probably direct you to a Daily Reading Plan since it can be overwhelming to pick from so many. If I were just getting started I would use Pastor Wayne Cordiero’s “First Steps” and I know hundreds of people who have benefited from Pastor Wayne’s Bible reading & journaling plans over the years. Which reading plan do you recommend?

• 
  Holy Experience

• how to assemble the parts of a life when beginnings end & kids grow up

  Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:29 am

  He unwinds the last screw and the crib side panel comes down along with the whole backside of my heart. He disassembles his history, all of ours. Lays the crib sideboard up against the sunny yellow of the bedroom wall. I didn't know if the walls of the house would stand when he took down the last side rail.This was his crib. The one Farmer Husband slept in when his mitt hands were but fisted delicate fingers, the one that carried all nine of his mother's babies through the night dreams, from her firstborn, Eric in 1956 when she was a Dutch immigrant and spoke English in this halting, thick…

• let us not forget...

  Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:07 pm

  (Consider pausing music in the sidebar or viewing here)If American, consider giving, even a few dollars, here.... and if Canadian, here. We're joining you again, right now.If you are interested in sponsoring a Haitian child: contact Compassion and your name can be put on a list. When Haitian children become available for sponsorship, Compassion will send you a child pack  Photos: Share your thoughts?If you would like Holy Experience posts quietly tucked into your reader or your inbox for free...

• What a Day is Always Really Made of...

  Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:59 am

  When we lose the cap to the glue stick like we always inevitably do, I kneel on the floor to check under his grandmother’s table that sits in our study, peer under the legs of the 100 year old chairs.And the cascade of sun falls on the nape of my neck, runs down my back all warm. I say it aloud, a purr of the skin-warmed in February, “Ohhhhhh, I am a cat basking.” I lie right out on the century planks and I don’t give a second thought to a dried out stick of glue. And a beautiful child face leans over the edge of the table and giggles and I look up into laughter at me all stretched…

• weekends are for curling up with books

  Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience

  6 Feb 2010 | 4:48 am

  In a quiet week of recuperation, I curled up with words and they curled around me and I wrapped up in rest.What's been on the nightstand:Dancing with My Father: How God Leads Us into a Life of Grace and JoyThe prose has a steady rhythm, yes, like a gentle beat, and these words do make you dance. Sally Clarkson's,  Dancing with Father, is the read of a friend, a mentor, sharing her journey to joy, and I found myself returning and lingering over passages, shimmering personal narrative woven throughout the work. Sally, homeschooling mother to four, writes transparently and openly…

• Discovering the One Thing You May Have Long Forgotten About You

  Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:06 am

  When it’s time, I know, I can tell in my bones, the ways the knees ache, those joints with a clock of their own, and I drag my fingers through the hair, back from the temples, and I survey the room of the sprawled out legs, the stacks of books, the balls of yarn, the half deck of Rook scattered, and I smile and chime the hour quiet.“I think it’s time for bed, folks.” They cheer wild. Race for their beds. They know when it’s time too. Time for the day’s best hour, the children’s hour, the moon out the window and night studded up with the stars. I pick up and I return and I lead a…

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  Bible.org Women -

• A Quick Guide to Talking with Kids about Sex

  Sandra Glahn

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:08 pm

  My five-year-old daughter and I sat in the Wal-Mart parking lot one weekend waiting for my husband to return. Suddenly out of nowhere, she asked, “Mommy, what does f--- mean?” I consciously locked my jaw to keep it from falling to the floor mat and exuded a studied calm as I asked where she’d heard that word. read more

• Celebration

  Gwynne Johnson

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:45 pm

  Fans from New Orleans at Super Bowl experienced exultant celebration as confetti showered down, tearful comments were expressed, and the joyful lifting of the Lombardi trophy by owners, coaches, and players.  A season of hard work, exercise, hard fought combats culminated in this final victory.  All this for a trophy and a season lasting only one year. The passion and joy expressed and experienced lifted all who participated in any way, even as spectators. read more

• Listing Forward

  Amanda Knight

  5 Feb 2010 | 5:57 am

  Life seldom unfolds the way we planned. As a little girl I dreamed of a Ken and Barbie style wedding. I wanted to be a doctor, then a fashion designer, or an opera singer. Now I’m 25, single, and in ministry. read more

• A Memo from God

  Kelly Arabie

  3 Feb 2010 | 10:17 pm

  My husband and I will celebrate 14 years of marriage this year. We weren’t long into the first decade when the questions of “family planning” flew our way.  I found myself caught off guard one too many times from “When are you guys going to have children?”  My standard reply became: “We haven’t gotten that memo from God yet.” read more

• The message of your life?

  Gail Seidel

  3 Feb 2010 | 6:02 am

  As I sat in the service and watched the video scrolling overhead about the life of Layne Cole, my mind raced with thoughts and questions. Why such an early departure for one in the prime of his life – this young father of 2 small sons, 42 years old who died, after a 7 year battle, of brain cancer? Married only 8 years; children are not supposed to die before their parents. What does God have in mind with all of this? How will He provide for these fatherless young sons? How is it for Erin right now, sitting down there in her pretty green dress- Layne’s favorite color? read more

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  Out of Ur

• Ed Stetzer on Pastors and Change

  by Ed Stetzer

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm

  Ed Stetzer recently presented data to the attendees of the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta. Much of that data was shared in the Winter issue of Leadership journal. In this post, Ed Stetzer explores additional information that was, until now, only available to the attendees at Catalyst. Change. It’s happening at such a pace it has become cliché. Joel Barker is so 80’s. Yet Barker is still around. A self-described “futurist,” Baker popularized the term, “paradigm” to describe our behavior patterns. Our recent Lifeway Research findings inspired us to go back and consider one of his…

• The Hansen Report: Subverting for the Sake of Christ

  7 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm

  At the same time that many evangelical leaders lament the sin in our midst, talk of transforming the world for Christ rallies big crowds to action. We bemoan the present world as we long for Christ to return and make all things new. Somewhere in between, we eventually realize that we can accomplish more for the cause of Christ than we have so far, but not so much as our rhetoric sometimes suggests. Trevin Wax, author of Holy Subversion: Allegiance to Christ in an Age of Rivals, offers pastoral wisdom on living according to the next world’s values even now. You pastor a Southern Baptist…

• Ur Video: Piper on Hell

  2 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm

  The second edition of our series on hell features John Piper. He's concerned that we're diminishing the centrality and importance of hell in our theology and proclamation. Do you agree?

• A Movement or a Fad?

  by David Fitch

  1 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm

  The difference between a fad and a movement is that a movement produces long term enduring change. A fad, on the other hand, feeds off something that already exists: a cultural awareness, a disenchantment, or even a novel idea and expands on it. Through media, publishing, and viral exchange, it becomes a sensation that sells books, creates a lot of activity, makes people feel something exciting—but in the end it doesn’t produce enough substance to sustain lasting change in history. Often, in the midst of something new, we can not tell the difference. Whether it is a fad or a movement…

• Ur Video: NT Wright on Hell

  27 Jan 2010 | 10:00 pm

  We're starting a new weekly series on Out of Ur about the doctrine of Hell. Each week there will be a post (video or written) from a church leader on their view of Hell and the role of the doctrine today. Given the diversity of views, and the different ways evangelical churches talk (or don't talk) about Hell, we hope this series informs your own thinking and communication.

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  Holy Kaw!

• 13 geeky Valentine’s Day gifts

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:33 pm

  Looking for a way to knock the argyle socks off your geeky lover this Valentine’s Day? Skip the computer programmer-themed porn and try gifting your nerdy loved one some HTTPanties or “Tweet Me” Sweethearts candy. The Huffington Post tracked down thirteen geeky gifts that scream “I love you, nerd face.” Full geeky gift list at Huffington Post. Get your geek on. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Google Buzz's official demo [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am

  Google has just unveiled its latest attempt to become more relevant in the social media space—Google Buzz. The product is integrated within Gmail and will be rolled out gradually to all of the webmail service’s users over the next few days. While this development is still unfolding, you can check out Google Buzz’s two-minute demo of Buzz in action both online and via mobile. What are your initial reactions? Another soon-to-be-forgotten Google product like Wave, or a Facebook/Twitter killer? Full story at Mashable. Total Google coverage. Permalink | Leave a…

• Darth Vader’s original wimpy voice [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am

  Imagine a galaxy far, far away where Darth Vader sounded like any other British bloke strolling down the corridors of the Death Star. Before James Earl Jones provided the menacing voice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, English actor and bodybuilder David Prowse delivered the lines from inside the Darth costume. While George Lucas never intended for Prowse’s voice to make the flick’s final cut, it’s weird to imagine how different Star Wars would have been with a different Vader voice. Full story at Huffington Post. Tons of Star Wars tidbits. Permalink | Leave a…

• 7 things you didn’t know about condoms

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:14 am

  Rubbers. Raincoats. Inconvenient. Whatever you call 'em, condoms remain a must-have in the safe sex tool box. Long before the days of Durex and Trojans, men used animal intestines to protect their willies (that sounds lovely, eh ladies?) and still to this day use lambskin condoms for latex allergies and supposed extra sensitivity. Want to learn even more fun facts about condoms that will surely impress your friends and potential lovers? Check out Asylum's seven things you probably didn't know about condoms that includes tantalizing tidbits like: Vaseline + condoms = Disintegrated rubber and…

• Horror flick mirror scare mash-up [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:25 am

  Horror movies love to rely on cliches to scare the bejeezus out of us, but does it really surprise anyone that the axe murderer is going to pop in the reflection of a mirror? Ok, yes, it still totally sparks a few pee-in-pants moments. Check out this mash-up of mirror scare moments (fair warning: don’t watch alone in a big, dark, scary house): Full story at Four Four. Boo! Tons of scary and not so scary movie news. Permalink | Leave a comment  »