If vanilla and fresh linen was still feeling too feminine to scent the man cave, fear not, manly men, Yankee Candle has heard your barbaric yawp and is now offering Man Candles. Offered in macho scents such as 2x4, Riding Mower, First Down and Man Town, you need never hang your head again after being dragged into the candle store. They even offer a sports-themed candle holder so you don’t ruin the tabletop. Just in time for Father’s Day. Full story at Yankee Candle via Buzzfeed. You know you want a Man Candle. Permalink | Leave a comment »
Selected by jaycookingham
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Most Topular Stories
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The scent of man, now available at Yankee Candle
Holy Kaw!16 May 2012 | 1:31 pm -
Review: The Shadows Touch by R. Scott VanKirk
Self-Publishing Review15 May 2012 | 12:57 pmThe Shadows Touch, by R. Scott VanKirk, is the sequel to the fantasy novel, The Dryad’s Kiss. The opening pages of The Shadows Touch picks up right where the first novel left off. I had the privilege of reviewing the first novel and I enjoyed it immensely so with great anticipation I opened to the first page of the sequel. Ian Finn Mortgenstern’s, the hero in the first novel, life has not improved much since we last saw him in The Dryad’s Kiss. His father is residing in the mental institution, Shady Oaks, and so is his best friend’s sister, Jen. And Finn feels responsible for… -
How to Find Great Writing Ideas
WritersDigest.com16 May 2012 | 8:57 amIn the search for story-worthy ideas, most writers are sidelined by occasional bouts of creative myopia. When it sets in—when your field of inspiration narrows—it’s easy to convince yourself that your luck has run out and all the good ideas are taken. But finding exceptional writing ideas isn’t a matter of luck. Waiting passively for creativity to strike won’t put words on the page, either. The secret to cultivating writing inspiration is to go out and hunt it down—in unexpected places. “Curiosity, attention, a little bravado, and a willingness to break routines lead to great… -
Papers reveal spat with Coventry Cathedral over tapestry
Christian Today16 May 2012 | 5:13 amBonhams is to auction a cache of Graham Sutherlands papers in which he talks about the process of designing and manufacturing his world famous tapestry Christ in Glory -
It’s Personal: An Interview with Brian & Amy Bloye
tonymorganlive.com16 May 2012 | 5:26 amInterview Highlights I reminded Brian that the Cleveland Indians are ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the baseball standings. Find out what the Bloyes identified as the biggest challenge of planting a church. Brian: “There are a lot of folks out there who, in my opinion, just shouldn’t be planting churches.” Learn why “it’s personal.” Interview Links Brian Bloye The Launch Network Exponential Leadership Network
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Holy Kaw!
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The scent of man, now available at Yankee Candle
16 May 2012 | 1:31 pmIf vanilla and fresh linen was still feeling too feminine to scent the man cave, fear not, manly men, Yankee Candle has heard your barbaric yawp and is now offering Man Candles. Offered in macho scents such as 2x4, Riding Mower, First Down and Man Town, you need never hang your head again after being dragged into the candle store. They even offer a sports-themed candle holder so you don’t ruin the tabletop. Just in time for Father’s Day. Full story at Yankee Candle via Buzzfeed. You know you want a Man Candle. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Dirty Disney cartoons? [video]
16 May 2012 | 1:16 pmIt’s hard to imagine Disney cartoons have ever been the subject of censorship, but like many beloved cartoons, there’s a seamier side that’s bound to offend if you get the references. Such was the case with “The Shindig” where Clarabelle Cow’s exposed udders were deemed too risqué for Ohio audiences as was her reading material; Three Weeks was an early example of “women’s mass market erotic fiction.” As the old saying goes, "What happens in the barn, stays in the barn." Full story at Neatorama. The evil underbelly of Disney. -
Mammals may not get to cool climates in time
16 May 2012 | 12:09 pmNine percent of the Western Hemisphere’s mammals—and up to 40 percent in some regions—may not be able to outpace climate change. “I think it’s important to point out that in the past when climates have changed—between glacial and interglacial periods when species ranges contracted and expanded—the landscape wasn’t covered with agricultural fields, four-lane highways and parking lots, so species could move much more freely across the landscape,” says Joshua Lawler, associate professor of environmental and forest sciences at University of… -
Time of year matters for vitamin D risk
16 May 2012 | 12:08 pmWhen considering a patient’s blood vitamin D levels, it may be best to consider a lower threshold for concern, as well as the time of year. "In evaluating health risk," the University of Washington researchers conclude, "season-specific targets for Vitamin D blood concentration may be more appropriate than a static target when evaluating patients health risk." Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
The (not so correct) anatomy of sea life
16 May 2012 | 11:52 amMarine biology, scharine schiology. Pleated Jeans skips scientific facts for its series of sea life diagrams. Via Pleated Jeans. (H/T @laughingsquid) Laughing is good for you. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Self-Publishing Review
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Review: The Shadows Touch by R. Scott VanKirk
15 May 2012 | 12:57 pmThe Shadows Touch, by R. Scott VanKirk, is the sequel to the fantasy novel, The Dryad’s Kiss. The opening pages of The Shadows Touch picks up right where the first novel left off. I had the privilege of reviewing the first novel and I enjoyed it immensely so with great anticipation I opened to the first page of the sequel. Ian Finn Mortgenstern’s, the hero in the first novel, life has not improved much since we last saw him in The Dryad’s Kiss. His father is residing in the mental institution, Shady Oaks, and so is his best friend’s sister, Jen. And Finn feels responsible for… -
Review: The Dryad’s Kiss by R. Scott VanKirk
10 May 2012 | 12:56 pmThey built the mound layer by layer, with each layer accepting more of the bones of the fallen. Finally, on top, facing the south and east, they interred the remains of Wahkoceethee the Eagle and Sheshepukwa the Cougar. They buried the fallen warriors with ceremonies of respect and thanks along with their totems. When Anakthepeuke the Rattlesnake died, he would be buried facing the west and the strongest of them all, Mactequeta Bear, in turn would be buried facing the terrible north. They would take their totems with them so their spirits could tap the power of their totems in death to… -
Review: Eyes Behind Belligerence by K.P. Kollenborn
3 May 2012 | 11:54 amEyes Behind Belligerence by K.P. Kollenborn is an ambitious book about complex subjects. The Yoshimura and Hamaguchi families of Bainbridge Island, off the coast of Washington, endure the bigotry of the 1940s and are forced into the Manzanar Internment Camp, but their stories transcend any location. Eyes Behind Belligerence is essentially a story of families and how they come to terms with loss — whether of people, life as they knew it, or the ability to make their own choices. Americans whose ancestry is not Japanese may look at Japanese-American families and see homogeneity. The… -
The God Within by Martine Racine
29 Apr 2012 | 10:52 amAuthor Martine Racine is a Jungian psychoanalyst and ordained minister. In The God Within, she describes how the divine lives in all of us. Racine posits that our center of power, creativity, and morality doesn’t come from extrinsic sources. Rather, they reside in our being and are tapped into when we feel from our hearts. All of the destruction in the world, according to Racine, comes from the unhealthy imbalance of putting too much emphasis on the mind. The mind is a tool that should be used only through the guidance of heart because our heart is what is connected to our inner god. Our… -
Review: Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo
26 Apr 2012 | 1:40 pmWhat would you do if you thought one of your two best friends from childhood was wanted for murder and you were the cop in charge of the investigation? Would you be able to put your feelings aside and do your job? In Giacomo Giammatteo’s debut novel, Murder Takes Time, he explores the power of friendship and honor. Right from the start, the reader is thrown into the bloody world of mobsters. The opening pages depict a horrific killing. The murder scene is not for the faint-hearted. At first I was uncomfortable. But fear not, this is not a novel that centers primarily on acts of…
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WritersDigest.com
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How to Find Great Writing Ideas
16 May 2012 | 8:57 amIn the search for story-worthy ideas, most writers are sidelined by occasional bouts of creative myopia. When it sets in—when your field of inspiration narrows—it’s easy to convince yourself that your luck has run out and all the good ideas are taken. But finding exceptional writing ideas isn’t a matter of luck. Waiting passively for creativity to strike won’t put words on the page, either. The secret to cultivating writing inspiration is to go out and hunt it down—in unexpected places. “Curiosity, attention, a little bravado, and a willingness to break routines lead to great… -
Don’t D-Y-I “Do-Yourself-In” with a D-I-Y Mentality
16 May 2012 | 7:20 amby Rob Eagar I am one of the few original self-publishing success stories. And, I did it way before the advent of e-books, Amazon, and social media. Over 10 years ago, I left corporate America as a sales executive to pursue what seemed like a ridiculous dream to write a book. I had no publishing contacts, no name recognition, and no desire to wait two years to get published. So, I chose the D-I-Y “do-it-yourself” approach. I worked tirelessly on my manuscript for a year. Then, I hired my own editor, page layout designer, graphic artist, and printing company. Long story short, I… -
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 175 (Dessert Poems)
16 May 2012 | 4:58 amFor this week’s prompt, write a dessert poem. The poem can be titled as a dessert. The main characters could be eating or waiting for dessert. Or dessert could just be hinted at in the poem. Of course, I’m expecting a variety of desserts to be mentioned. Happy poeming! Here’s my attempt at a dessert poem: “Strawberry Cheesecake” Most pictures don’t do the real thing justice, but there you are–in your airbrushed glory– smiling straight into the camera (some lucky photographer who got to say, “smile,” in person) with your hair… -
Writing Scenes: Stepping Forward, Falling Back
15 May 2012 | 5:09 pmAuthor of The Breakout Novelist, Donald Maass, discusses writing scenes in today’s tip of the day. He explains the importance of setting goals for each scene with an example from George R.R. Martin’s book, A Storm of Swords. Most instruction in writing scenes begins with this sound advice: Send your character into the scene with a goal. Well, duh. You would be surprised, though, how many middle scenes in how many manuscripts seem to have no particular reason for a character to go somewhere, see someone, find something out, or avoid something. What do they want? Working that out is… -
How I Got My Agent: Gretchen Berg
15 May 2012 | 11:54 am“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the GLA blog. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings. If you have a literary agent and would be interested in writing a short guest column for this GLA blog, e-mail me at literaryagent@fwmedia.com and we’ll talk specifics. GIVEAWAY: Gretchen is excited to give away a free copy of her book to a random commenter. Comment within 2 weeks; winners must live in Canada/US to receive the book by mail. You can win a blog contest even if you’ve won before. Gretchen Berg is an…
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Christian Today
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Papers reveal spat with Coventry Cathedral over tapestry
16 May 2012 | 5:13 amBonhams is to auction a cache of Graham Sutherlands papers in which he talks about the process of designing and manufacturing his world famous tapestry Christ in Glory -
When free debate is shut down its hard to see who benefits
16 May 2012 | 4:29 amThe Law Society the proud bearer of a Royal Charter should be deprived of that honour following its decision to ban a promarriage conference from its London headquarters -
Christian Resources Exhibition sees increase in visitors
16 May 2012 | 1:38 amThis years Christian Resources Exhibition International saw a slight increase in the number of visitors -
New single from Case Crayenord Saviours Song
16 May 2012 | 1:35 amKingsway has announced the release of the single from Case Crayenord the stirring truthladen Saviours Song -
Bishop of London joins churchs centenary celebrations
16 May 2012 | 1:25 amThe Bishop of London was the special guest at the centenary celebrations of St Benet Fink in Tottenham London earlier in the week
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tonymorganlive.com
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It’s Personal: An Interview with Brian & Amy Bloye
16 May 2012 | 5:26 amInterview Highlights I reminded Brian that the Cleveland Indians are ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the baseball standings. Find out what the Bloyes identified as the biggest challenge of planting a church. Brian: “There are a lot of folks out there who, in my opinion, just shouldn’t be planting churches.” Learn why “it’s personal.” Interview Links Brian Bloye The Launch Network Exponential Leadership Network -
National Conference on Preaching Workshop Notes
15 May 2012 | 9:58 amThis afternoon I will be the token non-preacher at the National Conference on Preaching. My “sermon” doesn’t have three points and a poem, but I do think my message will challenge preachers in a way only a non-preacher could challenge them. If you plan to attend my workshop, feel free to download the notes and follow along. I’ve also provided links for additional reading. National Conference on Preaching Workshop Session Title: Finding Your Communications Focus Whether you know it or not, your church is probably bowing down to the perceived power of the “giant inflatable… -
12 Tools I Use to Run My Business
15 May 2012 | 6:28 amLast week I talked about the three strategies I use to avoid getting overwhelmed with everything on my plate. I talked about focusing on priorities, empowering my team and using systems. Fortunately, it’s getting easier and easier to implement those strategies thanks to a toolbox of web apps that are available. I thought you might be interested in seeing the tools I’m currently using for my business. Some of these will also be applicable in ministry settings. In some instances, though, there are better ministry-specific solutions available. Here are… 12 Tools I Use to Run My… -
Soul Detox: An Interview with Craig Groeschel
14 May 2012 | 5:31 amInterview Highlights “We’re actually not a body with a soul, but the reality is we’re a soul with a body.” Find out why Craig couldn’t get a date in high school. Craig challenges churches that focus on entertainment. Interview Links Soul Detox Soul Detox DVD Study YouVersion: The Bible App Craig Groeschel’s blog LifeChurch.tv -
Two similar stories. Two different endings. God is glorified in both.
13 May 2012 | 1:59 pmOver the past few years, I’ve had two close friends diagnosed with colon cancer. Their stories were similar. The outcomes were different. In both stories, though, God is glorified. Here’s the story from Troy and Lindsey Page that was shared in this morning’s services at West Ridge Church. And, here’s the story from Zac Smith, my friend from NewSpring Church. I hope you’re both encouraged and challenged by these stories. God is good all the time.
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Perry Noble | Leadership, Vision & CreativityPerry Noble | Leadership, Vision & Creativity
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10 Things Your Husband Wants To Tell You
16 May 2012 | 4:36 amWomen, you may think that your man is confident, strong, and sure of himself. But you’d be surprised what he would tell you if he felt like he could be completely honest. So I want to tell you on his behalf. Here are 10 things that your man may have thought at some point, or may be feeling right now. I am really insecure about lots of things, but especially about how I am doing as your husband. I worry that you are not happy with me and that one day you will leave me. I’m scared that our kids may not turn out the way we hoped they would. I never feel like I have enough time… -
A Letter From Pastor P To NewSpring Church
15 May 2012 | 4:12 amHowdy NewSpring Church, FIVE things I want to share with you today… #1 – I ABSOLUTELY LOVE what Jesus is doing in our church. On the Sunday that Clayton spoke (May 6) I received a text from a young man in my high school discipleship group that I lead telling me that he was PUMPED because a guy in his Fuse small group received Christ when Clayton gave the invitation! Well…this past Sunday night I received another text from him and the conversation went like this… Him: ”Remember how my small group kid got saved last week” Me: ”Yep” Him:… -
Every Number Has A Name, Every Name Has A Story, Every Story Matters To God!
14 May 2012 | 1:33 pmHere is the video from Mother’s Day, I LOVE stories like this…they NEVER get old!!! (Warning…if you haven’t seen this yet you are going to need some Kleenex!) -
Eight Things To Keep In Mind In Regards To Conflict At Work/Church
10 May 2012 | 4:33 am#1 – Email DOES NOT WORK! (This would also apply to texting as well as any form of social media!) When conflict use to arise with me and someone in the office I used to walk to my desk, log on to my computer and fire off an abusive email, several problems with this… It is the act of a coward, I would do this so that I would avoid a eye to eye conversation. It removes the fact that I am actually dealing with another person…if I type an email I don’t have to look them in the eye and removing that obstacle allows me to say things to them through typing that I… -
How To Deal With Betrayal
9 May 2012 | 4:15 amBetrayal is one of the most brutal things a person (especially a pastor) deals with. It hurts…deeply. Someone who was close to you and who you trusted walked away…and they did not do so silently, they left making a lot of noise, saying things about you that simply were not true. They called people and spoke lies/half truths about you. They sent out mass emails… And at some point you felt like everyone in the world believed them, hated you and ultimately wanted to see you fail. You know what Jesus said about loving your enemies…but it’s hard, really hard because the wound that they…
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FRC Blog
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A Response to Peter Wehner’s Column on Franklin Graham
15 May 2012 | 1:32 pmRecently Franklin Graham took a bold and prophetic stance against President Obama’s affirmation of same-sex “marriage.” His full statement can be read here. Franklin Graham is the founder of Samaritan’s Purse, a ministry that provides life-saving food and medical care to the poorest of the poor, even in such generally closed countries as North Korea. And Samaritan’s Purse does their good unabashedly as a witness to the love of Christ and the power of His Gospel. Rev. Graham is also unashamed to stand for biblical principles in the public square. In his statement on marriage,… -
Facebook Inc. valued above McDonald’s Corp.: What does that mean for your kid?
15 May 2012 | 9:27 am“Whether we like it or not, kids are now spending far more time with media and technology than they are with their families or in school“ — as much as eight hours a day on average in the United States alone. So wrote Jim Steyer, founder of Common Sense Media, a San Francisco think-tank focusing on media and families. Facebook Inc is now worth more than Citigroup Inc. and McDonald’s Corp. But even when parents keep their kids off of the social networking site, numerous other apps and social media start-ups are vying for their use. The Wall Street Journal reported that… -
The New York Times Makes a Splash on College Loan Debt
14 May 2012 | 5:00 pmAndrew Martin and Andrew Lehren have written a major story on college loan debt for the New York Times (5/12/2012). As the authors note: “…. growing student hangs over the economy like a dark cloud for a generation of college graduates and indebted dropouts.” One interesting aspect of the article is its discussion of the less than honest campaigns that non-profit colleges use to entice students to attend them. Another devastating insight: “Many students and parents don’t have a firm understanding of the cost of attending college, or the amount of debt they will incur. And… -
More from Glenn Reynolds on the Higher Education Bubble
11 May 2012 | 12:26 pmThis past weekend Professor Glenn Reynolds, University of Tennessee Law School, published another newspaper article on the college debt bubble. Reynolds is one of the best writers on the college debt “bubble” – as he calls it. He believes that the market for exorbitantly priced higher education is getting soft as market forces and public awareness take hold. He also takes note of 21st Century alternatives to the old brick and mortar education model. He mentions a number of high-tech ventures that are taking off: Harvard/MIT edX, Minerva University, “Stanford professor/Google… -
They make Mother’s Day real…
11 May 2012 | 9:49 amThis Mother’s Day week, FRC hosted a special news program to celebrate the work that over two thousands of Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) do every day around the country. Both those who serve and those served join us to highlight this positive, life-affirming work that benefit mothers, fathers, and children in need. Now you can watch on-demand this special Mother’s Day webcast highlighting the recently published ”A Passion to Serve: How Pregnancy Resource Centers Empower Women, Help Families and Strengthen Communities” and the good work of PRCs around the…
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CatalystSpace | Articles
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Master or Messenger?, By Aaron Fortner
4 May 2012 | 10:45 amPosture We all have an innate and intuitive Leadership Posture. It's our "go-to" move in the moments of an endeavor that defines us as leaders. From what I can tell, there are really only 2 basic Leadership Postures: we are either Masters or we are Messengers. The Merriam-Webster definition of posture is "state or condition at a given time especially with respect to capability in particular circumstances". Every leader has an internal computer in their brain that is constantly assessing every situation, development, schedule, scope, assignment, task, project, team, endeavor and initiative and… -
Special Guests Added to Catalyst Dallas, By Catalyst
16 Apr 2012 | 3:25 pmWe are so excited about Catalyst Dallas coming up May 9-11, 2012 in north Dallas. If you are considering attending, you’ll want to go ahead and REGISTER TODAY to get the BEST POSSIBLE RATES on tickets. Tomorrow, Thursday April 12th is the final registration deadline for discounts on ticket prices, so go ahead and get your team or staff signed up at the lower prices. Here are 11 reasons why we are excited about Catalyst Dallas, and why you should attend: 1. The speaker lineup- Andy Stanley, John Maxwell,… -
10 Tried-And-True Techniques to Prevent Bottoming Out in Ministry , By Margaret Feinberg
16 Apr 2012 | 1:14 pmNo. 1: Make time for a personal spiritual retreat. Get away to a nearby place for 48 hours to recharge your energy, pray, study Scripture, and practice the spiritual disciplines most meaningful to your own growth in God. You may have a great retreat center nearby. Or simply jump on a website like www.priceline.com (use www.biddingfortravel.com) to find out what to bid and grab a place where you can get quiet and seek God. No. 2: Develop a mentoring relationship. Sometimes dips in our own ministry are a result of pouring out into a meaningful relationship. -
The Cross in Culture, Q IDEAS | Jon Tyson
16 Apr 2012 | 12:56 pmThe cross is one of our most robust, timeless, cultural symbols. No matter how dark our culture may grow, it just won't go away. Artists mock the cross, Christians boast in it, others ignore it. But after 2000 years, it continues to define our faith. Is it a sign of offense, grace, or a window into a whole new order of things? Jon Tyson, author of Rumors of God and Pastor of Trinity Grace Church NYC, helps us see the counter-cultural message of the cross in a new way. How do you view the cross? Can we allow the message of the cross be offensive without being offensive in our… -
Great leaders sleep in parking lots., By Jon Acuff
16 Apr 2012 | 8:43 am"Jon, do you want to camp out in a Chick-fil-A parking lot in Pennsylvania this week?" That was a question Dan Cathy, the President of Chick-fil-A, asked me on the phone one night. We were working on a few ideas together and, as he headed out the door for the trip, he thought he'd see if I wanted to tag along. Why was Dan Cathy, one of the leaders of a multibillion dollar company, flying north from his home in Atlanta? Because great leaders sleep in parking lots. Chick-fil-A was opening a new store and, over the years, they have turned this experience into a celebration. There give prizes to…
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Prodigal Magazine
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Telling the Dead Man’s Story
16 May 2012 | 2:00 amEditor’s Note: This story is written by staff writer Matt Appling, who blogs about church (and other things) several times a week over HERE. Do you “like” Prodigal on Facebook yet? What are you waiting for?? This room is full of complete strangers. And most of these strangers are much older than I am. They are wearing their best suits and dresses. I’ve done my best to blend in. The air is permeated with a somber feeling as many of them wipe tears from their eyes. Except for me. I am the only person in the room who has not shed one tear. In fact, my emotions at… -
I’m Not Fine, But I Will Be
15 May 2012 | 2:00 amEditor’s Note: Today’s post is by staff writer Tony Alicea who blogs over HERE. If you don’t already subscribe to Prodigal Magazine to get posts in your inbox or reader, what are you waiting for??? Click HERE now. “What’s wrong?” she asked. Immediately I responded with my typical answer, “Nothing.” But she knew it was something. Her calm, hazel eyes pierced through my disingenuous reply. We were going to have to talk about it and I wasn’t ready to go there. Six months of marriage and she could already read me like a book. The problem was… -
Five Ways To Be A Better Character In Your Story
14 May 2012 | 2:00 amEditor’s Note: Today’s post is by Prodigal President Darrell Vesterfelt who is committed to helping people tell and live good stories. If you don’t already follow him on Twitter, you can do so by clicking HERE. Speaking of which, you should also follow Prodigal on Twitter. If you read Prodigal every day, you know that we are committed to telling stories. In fact, you probably know that we believe good stories have the ability to change the world. Here’s the thing. In order to tell a good story, first you have to be living one. How do you do that? Good question. The… -
Motherhood: The Power of A Kitchen Table
11 May 2012 | 2:00 amEditor’s Note: Today’s post is from staff writer, Krisi Johnson. If you don’t already, make sure you follow Krisi on Twitter. Also, are you already a Prodigal subscriber? If not, make sure you become one by clicking here. My mom is not from Norway. She just married into the clan of mid-west Lutheran farmers, and out of love and commitment to my Dad, she was determined to become an expert Lefsa maker. So we spent hours watching the VHS “How to make Lefsa” and giggled over the plump farm wife’s little phrases and northern accent. I can remember delicately rolling out… -
Motherhood: Word From A New Mother
10 May 2012 | 2:00 amEditor’s Note: This is the fourth in our series called “Motherhood” which we are featuring in honor of Mother’s Day this week. Today’s post is from writer, blogger and new mother Kelsey Williams. Do you follow us on Facebook? Come like our page to stay up to date with all of our posts. I gave birth to my first child, a girl named Rooney Jane, two and a half months ago. And nothing–from the delivery to seeing her for the first time to breastfeeding to how it has affected our marriage–has gone as I expected. We found out pretty quickly that my husband,…
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Simply Missional
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Chaos and Mission
15 May 2012 | 7:50 amPhoto Credit: Scott Wade It’s early Sunday morning. The past few weeks have been furious. Travel, speaking, fundraising and trying my best to prepare for our summer trips to Haiti and Africa. Then I get the “oh snap, that just happened,” phone call. Our Haiti plan literally just blew up in our face. What do we do now? The good news, I know God is always taking care of me, even when I don’t “get it.” So, I lean into that place of understanding. That said, life is crazy busy… it’s like the universe jumps into a car, pushes down the gas-pedal and… -
Mission Trips, t-shirts, shoes and toothbrushes.
27 Mar 2012 | 3:04 amMission trips, shoes, toothbrushes and t-shirts. It’s getting close to “that” time of the year… Mission trip season is right around the corner. Lots of folks will leave the comforts of America (and other places) and travel to some far off land in hopes of loving and serving the “poor.” Mission trips seem so right, so good, so noble, so missional. Unfortunately, they can also be so wrong, so thoughtless and terribly damaging. Not to mention expensive, really really expensive. Over and over again these past few weeks, I’ve heard folks proclaim… -
Haiti Journal
20 Feb 2012 | 11:58 amI spent the last week in Haiti. My friend Dan King joined us on this trip to tell stories. Below are the stories that he wrote while in Haiti. Some good stuff here, enjoy! 1) Building a Playground. It’s more than just a playground! 2) How to change a life: The power of micro-loans. 3) More Than Just a House. The 100 homes campaign. 4) When Your Sponsored Kid Doesn’t Show Up. -
Book Review: 7
6 Jan 2012 | 9:44 amJen Hatmaker’s latest book “7″ is a quick hitting book, filled with lots of real life stories that so many of her readers can connect with immediately. Humbly, and yet with a sense of boldness, Jen tackles some real life issues, that for the most part, we would all like to ignore. Why? How many of us really want to deal with the fact that we possibly spend too much, have too much, eat too much and spend too much time on technology. No thank you… We all desire our sin to stay in the dark… to be ignored, or justified. Yet, deep in our hearts we know we need change. -
Monday Morning Breakdown
12 Dec 2011 | 6:49 amIt’s Monday morning. As I stare at the calendar, it seems crazy that 2011 is almost gone. Needless to say, November and December have been crazy busy with travel, events, and the holidays. H.E.L.P. launched our Christmas campaign last week. So excited to see this project come alive. We’ve also launched our new bloggers initiative. It’s still in beta, but I LOVE the potential. Here’s an example from Seth Haines. Bloggers can help get kids sponsored. So much potential. Had a great time in NYC last week. Always enjoy hanging out with Matthew and Sarah…
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Graphic Design Blog - An Ultimate Resource for Graphic Designers
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Brand Logo versus Globalization
14 May 2012 | 4:38 amLogo designers and brand managers have always laid paramount importance of imparting the power of their product through symbols. History has it that whether they are Mayans, Egyptian Pharaohs or Greek mythology, symbols and logos have always played a pivotal role in representing the force behind their message. • Proposition behind the Brand Logo In the contemporary world, the effort put in by the logo designers has become more challenging and inspirational. Since the international economic market has moved towards globalization to increase profits, the consumers can actually now… -
22 Amazingly Graffiti Artworks – A Creative Collection!!
9 May 2012 | 2:32 amOne of the most infamous types of graphic arts is street and road graffiti. It is known for decades and have enhanced over the passage of time. In earlier times it was employed by the Romans as a symbol of expression and opinions against their kings. In the modern world, street graffiti is a common technique of showing governmental and humorous reviews on the surfaces of both community and personal property. But on the other hand, it is also considered as a shrewd and infamous form of art as it harasses community and personal belongings. As visual artists, graffiti is always a creativity spot… -
25 Photos of Invisible Man – See the Unseen!
1 May 2012 | 1:28 amRemember the movie Hollow Man, where Kevin Bacon acquired the power to be invisible? Imagine how cool would it be in real life? Although there hasn’t been any ‘Invisibility Cloak’ developed similar to the one in Harry Potter, there is one artist that makes it almost possible to vanish. Liu Bolin is a Chinese artist with a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts. His famous work "The Invisible Man" features camouflage artwork that makes human beings disappear into the backdrop. Liu Bolin’s works have been featured in various Art Museums. In his ‘Invisible… -
5 Factors That Ruin a Graphic Designer’s Creativity!
24 Apr 2012 | 2:31 amHave you ever come across a time when your creative juices stop flowing? Yes, I’m referring to that moment when you try so hard but fail to conceive a creative idea. But this doesn’t happen all of a sudden, does it? There is always a reason behind this abrupt dearth of creativity. Even the slightest of distraction can ruin a designer’s ability to think innovatively. In the field of graphic design, creativity is one attribute that makes the real difference. Whatever you design for a client must stand out from the rest of the crowd. But there are some factors that damage a… -
Guess the Disney Cartoons – 20 Minimalist Posters
19 Apr 2012 | 10:17 pmCartoons are a momentous part of everybody’s childhood memories. No matter how old you are, you cannot grow too old for cartoons. Famous animation studios like Walt Disney and Cartoon Network have created some of the most epic and iconic cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse and Cinderella that have etched into our minds for eternity. Recently, I came across an interesting post on re:blog that made me jog my memories about famous Disney characters. The team at re:blog has created minimalist posters on Disney’s classic cartoons using the most prominent elements of the cartoon. Some…
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Six Revisions
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10 Excellent Online Payment Systems
15 May 2012 | 7:34 pmAdvertise here with BSA In this article, we’ll be reviewing my top 10 online payment systems for accepting payments on the Web. While many of the companies on this list have been available to online merchants for years, many are also now getting into new areas of online payments such as social commerce and in-store online card reader systems. A Quick Primer on Online Payment Systems Before getting started, here are just a few things to know about online payment systems. ACH payments are electronic credit and debit transfers, allowing customers to make payments from their bank accounts… -
Ultra Sleek Accordion Slider: Free PSD Template
13 May 2012 | 3:00 amAdvertise here with BSA This exclusive freebie on Six Revisions, brought to you by www.bestpsdfreebies.com, is a design mockup of an accordion slider that can be used to display content. It comes in 3 variations. Each slider variation has a unique texture design with a hover effect on the 3rd slider tab. This freebie comes in 3 separate and neatly organized PSD files that allow for endless customizable options. Previews Here are the 3 accordion sliders: Slider 1 Slider 2 Slider 3 License Feel free to use this accordion slider for personal or commercial projects. If you would like to share… -
5 Reasons Why Metaphors Can Improve the User Experience
11 May 2012 | 3:00 amAdvertise here with BSA There are many ways to experience the world around us. Especially offline, we can make use of our different senses to collect information, interpret our environment and make judgments. On the Web, however, our senses are more limited. As designers, we need to present information carefully to make sure our users think, feel and do the right thing. A great way to help your users understand abstract content, create a sense of familiarity, trigger emotions, draw attention and motivate action are metaphors. "The way we think, what we experience, and what we do every… -
30 Minimalist Portfolio Website Designs for Inspiration
4 Apr 2012 | 3:00 amAdvertise here with BSA There seems to be a recent trend whereby creatives are aesthetically stripping down their online portfolios to their bare essentials. (UK-based web designer/web developer Kean Richmond recently discussed this trend in an article about "undesign", and the possible reasons why this trend is becoming widespread.) In this showcase, you’ll get to see 30 great examples of minimalist portfolio sites for your inspiration. 1. Eleven Made 2. Jessica Caldwell 3. Buero Buero 4. Thuy Truc 5. Igor Zagnienski 6. DB Works 7. Andy Mangold 8. Alexander Munk 9. Mickaël… -
“Undesign” Your Portfolio Website
2 Apr 2012 | 8:27 pmAdvertise here with BSA Even the most ineffective, unattractive or simple of man-made objects have been designed in some way. The same is true for the Web: Even the most hideous of websites are created by someone who has consciously made decisions into its design. For web design professionals, it’s normal to put a lot of work into a design, using research, analysis and their expertise to form a design to delight and engage. This process is not quick and while many of us spend hours crafting websites for clients, our own website goes wanting. It’s in this situation that the process…
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DesignM.ag
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21 Best Websites for Teaching Yourself Web Development
14 May 2012 | 8:05 amAdvertise here with BSAI remember how popular web design was even 5 or 10 years ago. Kids in high school were teaching themselves HTML and building small web pages from scratch. And nowadays this is possible because of the thousands of free tutorials and code online. Open source has dramatically shaped an industry of high-tech and high demand. But it can still be difficult pinpointing exactly what you want to learn. Beyond straight HTML/CSS there is jQuery for frontend animation, PHP/RoR for backend web apps, and even Java/Objective-C for mobile apps. With this collection you should be able… -
40 Photos of Creative Offices & Freelance Workspaces
11 May 2012 | 10:23 amAdvertise here with BSAThere’s no denying that WordPress has become the leading CMS on the market. Anybody looking to launch a simple website would be foolish not to consider WP. It has the largest amount of free themes and plugins – not to mention the huge base of developers working to push out bug fixes every day. But just working with the default WordPress options is not enough. That’s why I have this collection of 26 amazing resources for those interested in learning WordPress. You can find hundreds of free templates & plugins to mess around with. Additionally some… -
26 Resources for WordPress Tutorials Themes and Plugins
7 May 2012 | 6:54 amAdvertise here with BSAFreelancing seems like one of the most lucrative job titles. And it’s true that setting your own hours and working on interesting projects can be a lot of fun. But there is also the matter of looming deadlines and touchy clients you need to keep satiated. One of the most important tools for a freelancer is their work station. You can’t get anything done if your work area is poorly setup, cluttered, or too small to fit inside. In the gallery below I have put together 40 brilliant examples of freelance offices, both home & industrial. Your creative space… -
22 Fresh And Free Fonts For Your Design
3 May 2012 | 8:33 amAdvertise here with BSAIn this post we have put together some high quality free fonts. If you like these fonts you might also want to check out our previous posts below. 30 Free And High Quality Fonts 50 High-Quality Free Fonts for Professional Design Silverfake Metropolis Intro Graduate Bobber Typeface Grammatica Nougatine Font GEARED Henry Valentina typeface Frontage Typeface WELLFLEET TITAN ONE FORO TROCCHI SIMONETTA OSWALD ITALIANNO ZNIKOMITNO24 Sornette Piximisa Deathe Maach NCV Advertise here with BSA -
Building an E-mail Request Invite Form with jQuery
30 Apr 2012 | 6:19 amAdvertise here with BSAUsing jQuery we can build some incredible web-based applications. The animations and manipulation of DOM elements using jQuery are much more intuitive than coding regular JavaScript. Because the syntax is so minimalist it’s possible to scale a very complex idea within a few hours time. In this tutorial I’ll demonstrate how we can build an HTML5 invite form and check the results through jQuery. I haven’t gone into any backend PHP as this isn’t always the best solution for an invitation system. You may want to tie into another e-mail campaign such…
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Design daily news
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8 tools to manage an email newsletter
15 May 2012 | 6:26 pmAccording to internet marketers, the email list is still what you should look to grow fast if you want to make any money online. For non-business people, it is a great way to spread ideas and contact many people at once. I recently encountered problems with a client’s email list, some emails are not sent, so I’ve been looking for new ways to manage their newsletter. In the following article I share some of the popular options you get to technically manage your newsletter. Open-source solutions Whenever I start a new project or need some software to perform some tasks, I always… -
The best rejected New Yorker covers
14 May 2012 | 5:27 pmThe New Yorker is famous for its gorgeous illustrated covers, but the published covers are only the tip of the iceberg. Many, many cover proposals stay unpublished for various reasons. Françoise Mouly, who has been chosing covers since 1993 as art director, authored a book giving these rejected covers some exposure. You can see some of these covers here, and see more as well as an interview on ImPrint Mag. -
This week on Pinterest
13 May 2012 | 6:15 pmPinterest has become a great source of inspiration for me. Each week I share my favorite pins of the week. If you don’t want to miss any pin, make sure to follow me on Pinterest. Alessandro Gottardo illustration. Via My Modern Met. The Velvet Underground Loaded Album Cover.Via Tralfaz Archives. Sculpture by Ron Ulicny. Via Colossal. To Kill a Mockingbird cover. Via Amazon. Photography by Daniela Sachs. Via Flickr. Coffee Duck logo. Via Behance. Cool vintage typographic label. Via Codex99. -
How to get people to buy your software
11 May 2012 | 8:37 pmA quite fun way by the founders of the Chocolat text editor to get people, graphic designers at least, to purchase your software. Via Reddit. -
Stylised 17th century floriated letterforms
10 May 2012 | 7:22 pmUsually exagerated ornaments aren’t my cup of tea, but there is something charming about these letters engravings. See more on BibliOdyssey.
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Out of Ur
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New Census Data- Mormons & Muslims Growing Fast
14 May 2012 | 11:00 pmWhile 80 percent of Americans still claim to be Christians, the devil is in the details. -
Stupid Church Tricks: Mary & Joseph in Bed
13 May 2012 | 11:00 pmHow many theological and cultural taboos can one billboard violate? -
Obama Endorses Same Sex Marriage--Now What?
9 May 2012 | 11:00 pm3 reasons he did, and where Christians should focus their attention. -
Andy Stanley, Al Mohler, and Homosexuality
7 May 2012 | 11:00 pmStanley gives a sermon about tension, and Mohler refuses to live in it. -
Trayvon, Dr. Land, & the "Myth" of Racism
2 May 2012 | 11:00 pmRichard Land "overestimates" the church's progress on race relations.
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A Holy Experience
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Links for 2012-05-15 [del.icio.us]
16 May 2012 | 12:00 amTop 10 Most Read Books in the World ... @ Galley Cat ...thought-provoking. Hard work on the right things @ Seth Godin.... "The secret, I think, is in understanding what matters." And it comes back to priorities unseen.... priorities unseen like love and relationship and souls... yes. Just Guide Gently @ Mom Heart Online... and I'm posting over here today with Sally Clarkson and community --- and how to really manage the day. If Life is an Adventure… @ "So if life is an adventure... Why aren’t we out there loving bigger and bleeding grace? Why aren’t we seeking out the hurt and the… -
The Purpose of Pain: When Life Hurts
15 May 2012 | 7:39 amShe stood under all that blue sky and watched the windmill spin round and was it the all the world turning that she could feel? How it spun and hurt and unfurled. Dandelions unfolded at her feet — suns, risings everywhere. The rooster turned. Laundry slapped on the line. Something in her, the hurting places, stirred awake right there. That’s what she could feel: The surrendered accept that pain is always but growing pains. And growth is always a gift — even when trials are the tutor. One of the ducks duck settled down by the barbed wire fence. Out in the far field, a horse… -
The Happy Mom Manifesto
14 May 2012 | 10:23 amThe Happy Mom Manifesto 1. The only thing that has to be written in stone is when to pray. Because it’s not schedules, busyness, or deadlines that keep one from prayer. The only thing stopping one from praying is self. {Excuse-making can be a cheap cover for idolatry.} If one’s not praying regularly, it’s only because something else is regularly loved more than God. 2. Even if everything goes wrong, love is always right. There is ridiculous hope in this. 3. Whenever you want to throw your hands up, throw them around someone instead. Holding someone always helps holds… -
Links for 2012-05-13 [del.icio.us]
14 May 2012 | 12:00 amOut of the Mouth of Babes by Rebekah Lyons.... An esteemed and dear friend, Rebekah's raw and honest and exquisite post speaks of the hardest and the hope on Mother's Day.... Beautiful. -
A Perfect DIY Mother’s Day …………… {or “How to make Your Own R&R Day”}
12 May 2012 | 6:40 amBecause there are days when every mother – every woman – just needs to have her own perfect little DIY project: 1. Go for walk just anywhere quiet, just for a moment — somewhere this weekend, go for a walk? 2.Turn on the music: Fill the house and your heart and mind and bones with Praise to God music (Play it loud and let the whole house dance in praise! Really — just for a moment: dance in praise!) 3. Make a tasty little treat – just because. Nibble on this sweet with with a cup of your favorite tea. Use your best china! {It’s like…
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Think Christian Articles
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What books should every Christian read?
16 May 2012 | 2:19 amPosted on 05/16/12 When I co-wrote Besides the Bible, a collection of essays about books my co-authors and I think every Christian should read, our hopes for the project were modest. We wanted to encourage followers of Jesus to talk about books, especially the really good books. “This is not a list of the most important books in Christendom,” we say in the introduction. “It is not a comprehensive catalog of the history of the Christian church. It is a list of 100 books, culled from the vast library of the written word, we believe our siblings in Christ will be stronger for… -
Frank Langella and fame
14 May 2012 | 11:44 pmPosted on 05/15/12 I recently came across two interviews with Frank Langella discussing his memoir Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women as I Knew Them. I first saw Langella on the Tavis Smiley Show and then Charlie Rose the next night. Both times I watched with great fascination as Langella talked as much or more about what he learned as a result of writing the book as the famous figures (all deceased) in the text. In the midst of discussing Rita Hayworth with Smiley, Langella stated that after writing the book he became aware of how many famous people weren’t well parented. By… -
Journey and the value of companionship
12 May 2012 | 11:58 pmPosted on 05/13/12 When I first saw a figure in the distance, I was unsure how I should react. I wanted to yell - I had been walking alone for what seemed like miles and I wasn’t entirely sure where I was. However, I didn’t know this person. How could I know that I could trust her? I didn’t speak. I simply walked toward her, she acknowledged me and turned and began walking toward the looming mountain in the horizon. I followed. We walked silently together. At first I followed, but we soon reversed roles and I began leading the way. At some point suspicion of my companion… -
The missed opportunity of the Freedom Tower
11 May 2012 | 12:52 amPosted on 05/11/12 The Empire State Building has once again lost its claim to being New York City’s tallest tower (having been eclipsed several times in the “world’s tallest” category). With 100 floors complete and counting, the Freedom Tower, aka 1 World Trade Center, has passed the venerable Art Deco landmark recently and isn’t looking back. This event, though greeted with press releases and mild fanfare, left me more sad than satisfied. For one thing, the so-called Freedom Tower owes its very existence to the horrific attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, an event I… -
What science cannot say about morality
9 May 2012 | 11:29 pmPosted on 05/10/12 Editor's note: Agendas Aside, a Think Christian series on homosexuality and the church, also includes pieces by Neil de Koning, Joshua Walters and Glenn Goodfellow. “Black people are worth less than white people,” my 11-year-old African-American mentee matter-of-factly informed me as we were working on his science-fair project. As we talked about this it became clear that he had somehow collapsed the value of human beings into a conflation of lifetime income and economic productivity such that he was certain the “worth” of an individual could be…
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The Simple Dollar
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Know the Features You Need Before You Shop (136/365)
16 May 2012 | 1:00 pmIf there’s one thing I suggest that people do before they go shopping for any reasonably expensive item, it’s that they make a list of the features they actually need before they go and stick to that list. There are several parts to that simple suggestion, though. First of all, how do you know what features you need? Often, the assumption is that you have to know some things about what the product can do before you can decide which ones you need. That’s a bad assumption. Not knowing what you want before you go shopping makes you into a target for a salesperson. The best… -
The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Overfocus Edition
16 May 2012 | 7:00 amThe biggest difficulty Sarah and I have with our relationship is our respective abilities to overfocus on the task at hand. If one of us knows that we really need to get something done, we can both slip into this zone-like state where almost nothing will interrupt us. This often happens in the evening when the children are in bed, for example. The only problem is when one of us tries to get the attention of the other, we’re sometimes ignored or the situation results in someone being irritated because their concentration is broken. That’s why we often schedule “date… -
Pick the Model Now, Then Wait Six Months (135/365)
15 May 2012 | 1:00 pmFor many consumer goods, the price that you’ll pay right now for that item is higher than the price you’ll pay six months down the road. There are a lot of reasons for that. The big one is that many companies issue products in cycles. Every so often, they replace the version of the product currently on the market with a new one that’s usually just a fairly small tweak on the old one. There’s also the simple “new” factor, which pops up on things like video games and DVDs. When they’re new, companies charge a premium price for those items. When… -
The Great Things You Already Have
15 May 2012 | 7:00 amThe hardest part about being a parent is realizing that the six year old boy who runs up the stairs to give you a hug the moment he gets home from school is going to disappear soon and never return. He’s going to keep growing up. Before long, giving Dad a hug isn’t going to be that big of a deal. He’ll have new interests. Eventually, he’ll go through his teen years and the birth pangs of independence that those bring. Not long after that, he’ll be an adult with his own life to traverse. That little boy who thinks I’m the greatest thing in the world… -
Sharing Futures, Sharing Scores
15 May 2012 | 5:15 amYou’ve found your soul mate and you’re goin’ to the chapel and you’re goin’ get married. Congratulations. But are your credit scores compatible? It isn’t a particularly romantic conversation, but talking about your credit history and how to manage your new financial life together is something couples can do to avoid disappointment or embarrassment once the honeymoon is over. It’s something to take seriously, considering divorce lawyers and therapists say one of the most prevalent causes of a destroyed marriage is financial troubles. Stay Open and Transparent: Share Scores As…
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fivecentnickel.com
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Choosing Between a High Deductible and Traditional Health Plan
16 May 2012 | 12:14 pmIn response to my article about HSA contribution limits for 2013, a reader named Stephanie asked the following: Is there any good way to calculate which health plan is right for you? I’ve been having trouble the past few years deciding between the regular PPO and the HDPPO, but my health care costs are usually pretty high (I reach my deductible mid-year). I’ve actually talked about how to approach this decision in the past, but today is as good as any for a refresher… When choosing between a high deductible health plan and a more traditional PPO or HMO plan, you need to consider… -
Being Too Frugal Can End Up Costing You Money
15 May 2012 | 10:27 amI recently came across a coworker who was burning the midnight oil. I thought that I was the only one who had to work late that night. When I asked him what he was doing, he told me that he did not have an internet connection at home, so he was using our work internet after hours. Setting aside the ethical implications to this scenario, I decided to delve deeper into his life and frugality. Come to find out, he does without a lot of things to cut costs — cable television, internet, phone service, and he even drives across town for cheaper gas. There’s difference between being… -
Check Fraud: Use a Shredder — and Hope Everyone Else Does, Too!
14 May 2012 | 9:36 amI’ve suggested in the past that you should think twice before writing a check to a complete stranger. After all, your checks contain both your account number and your banks routing number — exactly what someone would need to help themselves to your money. This is especially troubling given the ease with which checks can be printed, as well as the fact that bank accounts don’t typically have the same level of fraud protection as credit cards do. Well, guess what? Now that more banks are accepting remote deposits using photos of checks, you have reason to worry even if the… -
HSA Contribution Limits for 2013
11 May 2012 | 1:56 pmIt’s never too early to look ahead to next year. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight the 2013 HSA contribution limits. As many of you know, we’ve been using our health savings account as an additional retirement investment vehicle. That is, we’ve been contributing to it and saving up the documentation related to our medical expenses, but not withdrawing the funds. The only drawback has been that my employer’s HSA custodian has horrible investment options, so I’ve been waiting for the money to reach a critical mass before transferring it to another custodian… -
How to Close an Ally CD Early
10 May 2012 | 10:12 amI’ve talked a lot in the past about using long-term CDs to improve your short-term savings yields. In particular, I’ve talked about using five year CDs from Ally thanks to their low early withdrawal penalty. Until now, however, much of that strategy was theoretical. Yes, I had bought the five year CDs to hold some of our short-term cash, but I hadn’t actually tried to break any of them early — until today. The time has come to re-deploy some of the cash that was sitting in those CDs, so I contacted Ally via their online chat interface. For the record, you can close…
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FreelanceSwitch
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Why Controversy Can be a Good Thing
16 May 2012 | 7:00 amAs a journalist, I sometimes write columns and blogs that people don’t agree with. Sometimes I feel so lambasted when people leave comments about what I’ve written that I literally can’t read them. I have a pretty tough skin, and I am aware that I’m not always right—but still, sometimes I get angry and hurt. My goal in writing something controversial is to never regret writing it. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, and I try to be as explicative as I can when I know I’m writing about a touchy topic. I don’t have all the answers to everything, but I know that posing the… -
Understanding the Design Audit: Getting the Biggest Benefits for You and Your Clients
16 May 2012 | 5:00 amSignage, stationary and forms, oh my! Businesses can easily create enough visual material to fill up an ark. There’s a logo, of course, and everything it gets applied to, such as: brochures, catalogs, websites, print and e-newsletters, Facebook pages, ads, uniforms, vehicle graphics, and more. When a company is successful, it grows and expands. As it moves from infancy to adulthood, its visual armaments grow as well. One location becomes three, then twenty and so on. Each one brings with it more of everything. More signs. More stationery. More forms. This can avalanche out of control. -
PR Professionals and Journalists: How to Make Everyone Happy
15 May 2012 | 9:00 amI got a telephone call today at the office from the wife of a certified public accountant. She was pitching me on a story that her husband had just written about the benefits of creating an LLC versus an S-Corp. I listened politely, then told her why I couldn’t run her husband’s obviously wonderful story. I can’t tell you the number of times I get pitches that we would never publish—not because it’s a bad idea but because it just doesn’t fit in the pattern we have already created. The magazine I edit is a regional publication that has a pretty narrow focus. We only publish stories… -
Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck with Shared Office Space
15 May 2012 | 7:00 amMany freelancers work out of the house. But there are situations in which at least having access to office space is important: Maybe you need a place to meet with clients. Maybe you need a place where there aren’t kids demanding attention. Maybe you just need a safe place to keep gear that pets can’t get at. Sure, for many of these purposes, you can just head to your local coffee shop. But it’s worth considering office space, especially if you can get it inexpensively. Shared office space, whether we’re talking about a coworking space, a conference room you can rent, or even just a… -
5 Principles to Better Networking for Freelancers
15 May 2012 | 5:00 amNetworking is more than just attending events and swapping business cards. Freelancers, in particular, can find fellow collaborators, future partners, prospective clients, and a tribe of fellow freelancers when they network. Networking is about building relationships and like all relationships it takes trust and personal contact built over time. 1. Do a head check first and look inward. The first relationship to consider before you jump into networking is the one you have with yourself. Can you deliver commitments and handle setbacks in a professional way? Do you recover quickly when things…
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Bible Money Matters
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How And Why To Check Your Credit Score If You Plan On Buying A House
16 May 2012 | 9:39 amMy wife and I have pretty good credit. We’ve never missed a payment on any of our debts, have had a variety of credit types (installment loans, mortgages and credit cards) and the cards that we do still have, we’ve had for years. We’re not too concerned about having a good credit score these days because we don’t really use debt that much, we pay cash for most things. There is one thing that we DO need a good credit score for, however, that may be happening within the next year or two. Buying a house. When buying a new home it is important to stay on top of your… -
7 Roth IRA Mistakes To Avoid
15 May 2012 | 7:41 amWhen it comes to saving for your retirement, a Roth IRA offers you a simple and understandable vehicle for planning ahead. But while investing in your Roth IRA isn’t rocket science, investors from all walks of life tend to encounter the same potential pitfalls over and over. So make sure you know the rules of the game as well as the hidden dangers which threaten to throw a wrench in even the best laid retirement plan. Here are seven Roth IRA mistakes you need to avoid: 1) Not Making The Maximum Contribution (or Any At All) One of the worst mistakes you can make is to not make any… -
Can You Afford Your Lifestyle?
14 May 2012 | 7:07 amAbout six years ago, my husband and I had a fairly comfortable lifestyle. I worked full-time and my husband worked part-time as a graduate assistant. We had one child, and we had no credit card debt. We did have my student loan debt from graduate school, though it was less than $10,000. We budgeted and set aside money for yearly expenses such as home insurance and twice yearly expenses such as car insurance, as well as car repairs. My employer automatically withdrew 8% of my salary and deposited it in a retirement account. Sounds good, right? We thought so. We thought we could… -
50 Ways To Make Money: Maximizing, Creating And Increasing Your Income
11 May 2012 | 10:28 amA week or so ago I published a post called 50 Easy Ways To Save Money Every Month where I gave tips for how people can save money every month and improve their bottom line. We gave tips on how to save on regular recurring bills, how to repair money leaks, and how to get creative to find other savings around the house. The idea is to have more left over to pay off debt, or if you don’t have any debt - more left over for giving, saving and investing. While I think it’s important to find ways to save every month, I also think it’s important to make sure you maximize… -
Should You Combine Finances After Marriage?
10 May 2012 | 6:33 amAre you engaged? Married? Wondering if you should combine your finances during marriage? What are the pros and cons of a combined financial plan? Let’s explore this topic and figure out why you should or should not combine your finances when you’re married. Two Arguments on Combining Finances After Marriage Everyone I’ve met with when talking about this topic has always been passionately on one side of the argument or the other. People a lot of different feelings when it comes to this debate, and I’m going to try and be as objective as possible and then propose the…
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Christian Personal Finance
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It All Belongs to God: A Devotional
16 May 2012 | 8:00 amPsalm 50:10-12 – “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains.” Our Nature For you and me it was an old worn out tool, but to a little boy it was a treasure … and it was mine! Little Aaron was playing with daddy’s tool belt left on the floor after a long day of work. Quickly he noticed the most fascinating multifunction screwdriver and took off to accomplish some minor repairs around the… -
How to Hire Financial Help
15 May 2012 | 8:00 amHiring a financial professional can be a daunting task. It can be a bit like dating – you need to understand yourself and what you need out of the relationship. Get up to speed on the lingo of professional credentials. Then you can look for some good candidates to team up with you. Finally, a few clicks on the Internet can confirm credentials and find out about any past problems. What is your current situation? The hardest step in meeting with a professional is doing your homework first! Take time to gather some general information about your household that includes a list of your assets… -
How to Train Others: Five Lessons From Jesus
14 May 2012 | 8:00 amWhether you hire workers for your own business, train co-workers within the context of your current position, or equip others for ministry in your church, you should consider the following lessons from the Master trainer: 1. Be real during the interview process. If you are salivating over a prospective employee, don’t succumb to the temptation of sugar coating the job. When a teacher of religious law asked Jesus if he could follow him, Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to even lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) If you… -
How Residual Income Works: What You Need To Know
11 May 2012 | 8:00 amAre you stressed out by your paid-by-the-hour job? Do you feel like you’ll never make a substantial income? Then you should take some time to learn how residual income can help you relax and increase your profits at the same time. Are you ready? Linear Income vs. Residual Income The Definition of Linear Income With linear income, you do work and get paid once. Pretty simple. Like many of you, I was raised as a kid to produce linear income. I was told by teachers that the way to make a living was to go to college, get a steady paying job, and support a family. All of that is great, but… -
The Basics of Value Investing
10 May 2012 | 8:00 amIn today’s mutual fund–and computer–driven investment environment value investing can sound almost exotic. Yet it’s probably the most time-honored way to successfully invest in stocks. It has none of the thrill of watching your portfolio grow every quarter or every year in bull markets, but it can be a cozy place to be when the market is heading the other way. Think of it as being as close to “patient capital” as it gets in the stock market. What is Value Investing? Value investing is buying stocks that are lower in price than other stocks in the same industry group. This can be…
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Good Letters: The Image Blog
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Whispering Along a Thin Trembling Thread
15 May 2012 | 9:46 pmMost of us are vulnerable to the solipsistic notion that our sufferings and joys are exquisite. My ex-wife once attended a seminar, a Christian women’s retreat, in which the keynote speaker opined about the peace of God. “Most of you have never truly known the peace of God,” the speaker told her audience. “You may think you’ve known the peace of God, but you haven’t.” The speaker had .... -
Charming Demoiselles
14 May 2012 | 10:55 pmIt’s good to see the return of writer/director Whit Stillman. I missed his refreshing take on the world, peopled with earnest, decent, often forlorn characters who parody the culture by way of urbane, stylized discussions. In Damsels in Distress, Stillman again features the upper classes, those most maligned by the yawn-inducing “independent” film establishment that applauds its own supposed bravery by.... -
Beads of Memory
14 May 2012 | 2:34 amThe hairbrush is cheap black plastic, and vented at the back. It is the humblest kind of quintessentially American consumer item, though today it was doubtlessly made in China. It’s so basic, so echt, that it’s not hard for me, looking at it, to imagine it blown up to giant size in an Andy Warhol painting, or radiating flames in a Keith Haring. I bought the hairbrush in the gift shop of Inova Fairfax Hospital.... -
Finding Something to Worship
10 May 2012 | 10:03 pmThe New York Times obituaries from Sunday, March 11, 2012 include an article about William Hamilton, the man at the center of the “Death of God” controversy in April of 1966. The controversy was sparked when Time published a cover article about his ideas, with the famous cover: on a simple black background, the question, “Is God Dead?” The Times had already run a headline in January.... -
Late Bloomers
10 May 2012 | 2:11 amMy husband and I are going through a time of marital restlessness. Not with each other, but with our life together of twenty-two years––the midlife of our marriage, maybe. The last time we felt this way was at the ten-year point. The result of that restlessness, in combination with opportunity and, we felt, calling, was a move from San Francisco to Salt Lake City. Two years, we thought. A whim, an experiment, a chance to....
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Thinking Out Loud
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Wednesday Link List
16 May 2012 | 3:17 amIf you missed the bonus edition of the link list this week, be sure to click over to Monday. Quotation of the day, from Arminius, after whom Arminianism is named: ““Next to the study of the Scriptures which I earnestly inculcate, I exhort my pupils to peruse Calvin’s Commentaries…” (appropriately, as quoted on an Arminian blog.) Canadian author, apologist and television host Grant Jeffrey passed away on the weekend. His independent publishing catalog was purchased years ago by Random House subsidiary Waterbrook Press, with Wikipedia listing 34 titles including one… -
Book Review: Love Works
15 May 2012 | 3:47 amLove Wins. Love Does. Love Works. Lots of books right now on the market with titles that will inevitably confuse some. I’m considering writing a set of four: Love Hurts. Love Scars. Love Wounds. Love Mars. But I am digressing big time. Love Works (subtitle: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders) is most appropriately titled however, because this is a book about going to work, or better yet, taking principles with you to work. The principles are based on the “Love Chapter” in the first few verses of I Corinthians 13. Author Joel Manby knows these principles can… -
Monday Link List
14 May 2012 | 3:30 amRejected from the position of Wednesday List Lynx, this one wants to know if a mascot position for a Monday List Lynx is opening up. Monday? Because (a) there’s no law against it, and (b) some of these just couldn’t wait! That’s Dr. Gloria Gaither to you, as the southern gospel songstress receives an honorary doctorate in music from Nyack College, a Christian and Missionary Alliance school in New York. Okay, we just lost our younger demographic. So, in the interest of equal time, Hawk Nelson now has a new lead singer. In other music news, here’s 15 Tips for Bloggers… -
Classic Christian Music Song
13 May 2012 | 4:52 amWhile assembling things for my own little YouTube upload project, we discovered one of the songs I most wanted to include was already online, and we’d determined only to do songs that didn’t exist anywhere else. I might still make an exception for this one, but I wanted to share it with you today in this tribute video form. The band is Scarlet Red; the song is simply titled Why. It wasn’t long before I saw the painful truth before my eyes All my sin had brought a price to pay, and I knew it was for me that Jesus died. I truly love this song, and I hope you enjoy… -
The Bible: Still Both the All-Time and Current Bestseller
13 May 2012 | 4:49 amThis is from Jared Fanning; found at Blogging Theologically and originally sourced at Justin Taylor whose version allows you to zoom in on the stats.
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Ligonier Ministries Blog
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Feed My Sheep — 99¢ eBook Sale
15 May 2012 | 11:45 pmOur publishing imprint, Reformation Trust Publishing, was founded in 2006 and seeks to proclaim and explain the great truths of the historic Christian faith for a new generation. For a limited time, we'll be making select titles even more accessible as we lower their eBook price to 99¢. We begin this month offering you Feed My Sheep: A Passion Plea for Preaching, a book Ligon Duncan commends to ministers, seminary students, and church members alike. "There are a lot of books on preaching today, but not many good ones—this one is good. The subjects covered (and the accents of the… -
Biblical Calvinism Should Evoke a Passion for Lost Souls
15 May 2012 | 11:00 pmIn the following excerpt from Steven Lawson's, The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon, we see in the life and ministry of Spurgeon the fruit biblical Calvinism should produce: a passion for lost souls. May this serve as a reminder and an encouragement to our evangelistic fervor. It is clear that Charles Spurgeon believed the gospel must not be calmly presented as a mere set of facts. To the contrary, it must come as a bold proclamation with open invitations, tender appeals, sound reasonings, and compelling persuasions. Such presentations should include even… -
R.C. Sproul on the Other Comforter [VIDEO]
15 May 2012 | 3:03 amIn this excerpt from his teaching series, "What Did Jesus Do?", R.C. Sproul considers the meaning of the Greek word paraclete and the purpose of the Holy Spirit's coming at Pentecost. -
Pray the Scriptures
14 May 2012 | 11:00 pmHere's an excerpt from Pray the Scriptures, Scotty Smith's contribution to the May issue of Tabletalk. I am a recovering self-centered pragmatic pray-er — a believer who spent many of my first years in Christ thinking of God more as a sugar daddy than the sovereign Father. Prayer, for me, had more in common with programming a heavenly computer than surrendering to a loving Master. I worked harder at claiming God's promises for my ease than being claimed by God's purposes for His kingdom. Instead of being still and knowing that God is God, my prayer life was that of an antsy man, trying… -
Some Standing Here Will Not Taste Death — The Unfolding of Biblical Eschatology
13 May 2012 | 11:00 pmFrom the point of Peter's confession onward, Jesus begins to teach his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and on the third day, be raised (16:21). Peter rebukes Jesus for saying this, but Jesus shows him that this is the only way (vv. 22–23). Jesus tells his disciples that they must take up their cross and follow him because it is foolish to gain the world and lose one's soul (vv. 24–26). Then Jesus says, "For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly,…
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Soulfari
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Validation
7 May 2012 | 11:26 amI was thinking... At the core of a human being is something remarkably complex. We want...no, NEED, our views, our opinions, plans, ideas, dreams, and accomplishments validated. We want them to matter to other people, other human beings. Why? I think the answer is in the middle of the word validation...it's the word ID. We want to matter because it's part of our identity, our value and our worth.The invisible identity card we carry cries out for validation, for approval and acceptance. Yet, it is constantly being questioned by the cruel border patrols of doubt, fear and… -
Nobel No-bility
3 May 2012 | 6:10 amIt seems I needed a dose of my own medicine today. I woke up feeling sorry for myself (the story of why is not important). Early today I read some of my manuscript for RETOOLED (you can read a free chapter here) which is in the hands of another publisher bent on torturing me with a response. Anyway, I was reading a section on losing heart and felt strongly that I should share this with you all today...I hope it encourages you. – Jay "True nobility is exempt from fear." - (King Henry the Sixth, Part II Act IV, Scene I) I love the movie Braveheart and it once spoke to me about… -
Themes of Life - Poetry
30 Apr 2012 | 10:57 amThemes of Life The tone The rhythm The pace A life story measured in heartbeats Proclamations of intent Visions seen and unseen For I am a teller of tales and a collector of songs Compositions for the Themes of Life Focused realities quietly test the blur of dreams But themes of life are loud They dance with words They shout for attention and sing with wonder Embracing a purer will than their own In the whisper of moments you can hear their melodies Even in the shadows of memories you can see them Outlasting failure's gripe and plead for clemency Father's verdict of truth power… -
Choosing the Path – Guest Blogging
26 Apr 2012 | 5:22 amI'm honored to guest blog over at my new friend and fellow blogger Thomas Mason's site, Living the Story. I ask that you head on over to read the rest of my story and get to know Thomas through his musings. I know you'll be blessed! You can go there by clicking NOW! Choosing the Path of Forgiveness I know all too well the effects of Arrested Development. I grew up in an abusive home. My dad’s cruelty was part of everyday life. His words spewed unkindness and his voice always carried vile threats towards me. His words and name-calling crushed my spirit. … -
My Birthday Gift
25 Apr 2012 | 6:46 amIt's hard work to be a good dad. It's a hard core dedicated, extreme makeover type of a adventure. I'm stretched daily, sometimes hourly and I'm never the same man I was when I woke up that particular morning. The seven talented, unique individuals that God has loaned me have forever changed the man I thought I was going to be. I remember a line from a song Franky sang...mistakes, I made a few...I cringe when I think of them. Yet, they gave opportunity for me to become humbler, less hard in my approach...as I asked for forgiveness from my children. We spend a lot…
