Google Alerts

One of the really great features Google offers is called Google Alerts.  Google Alerts lets you set up an alert for any topic, word, or subject.  When something new comes on the internet containing your search terms Google sends you an email with a simple list of with links to articles referencing your search terms.  I have three or four Google Alerts set up right now.

Last week I set up a Google Alert for “Hanchett” my last name.  Why?  Well, I suppose because I am a narcissistic egomaniac and I am also interested in my family history and genealogy.  Today I hit pay-dirt.  Google emailed me a link to an article about Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates fame.  Apparently he is into buying old historic homes and bringing them back to life.  One of his recent buys in New England was the home of one of my ancestors, Oliver Hanchett.  Hall really likes to research the history aspects and found that Oliver Hanchett fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill.  My mom has a book that lists all the Hanchetts and their connections dating back to the 1600’s.  I’m going to check it out and see where Oliver fits in.

You have heard of the theory of six degrees of separation – Now, in a strange way, I am connected to Daryl Hall.  Who would have thunk it.

Mellow Johnny’s – Lance Armstrong’s New Bike Shop

Austin is a great city – at least that is my impression from the two times I visited. Now I’ve definitely got to return. Lance Armstrong is opening a bike shop. His goal is to have the coolest bike shop in the world. I would imagine he has the financial ability to pull it off. The store’s name is “Mellow Johnny’s,” a play on words using the name of the yellow jersey worn in the Tour de France. Austin 360.com has the full story. They also have some preview pictures.

God’s Will – Can We Know it Perfectly?

Recently I had a discussion with a group of people about one person’s change of mind about a previous decision they had made. When they made the decision, which involved a change of direction in life, this person stated that he believed it was God’s will. Well, 14 months later he realized he wanted to return to where he was before he veered off in a new direction.

Does Music = Worship?

A radical change in thinking has slowly enveloped Western Christianity. It is a radical change in the way we think about worship, define worship and practice worship. Today worship = music or rather worship = __________ music (you fill in the blank with your own preferred style of music).

Oprah Evangelizes for New Age PsychoBabel Religion

Oprah Winfrey without doubt is one of the most influential people in America.  Not just one of the most influential women in America.  Not simply one of the most influential African Americans in the United States.  She is all that and more.  Oprah is one of the most influential people today in this part of the world. 

If my memory serves me correctly when Oprah first begin to gain momentum there was talk among the believing folk of her Christian roots.  Rumors were that she was a Christian and since she was so funny, nice and personable – what’s not to like.  So over the years people have become absolutely Oprahized.  If you have never watched her daily TV show, turn it on.  It doesn’t matter what the subject is, pay attention to the audience.  Worship is the best description I can give of the looks of adoration she provokes.

I have long noticed that Oprah’s religion is anything but Christian.  This year Oprah went and confirmed what I had long suspected.  She is a New Age evangelist.  Oprah and Friends has chosen to become the radio outlet for Marianne Willamson’s “A Course in Miracles.”

Oprah the evangelist for the new age. 

Wade Burleson – A post for Christian Writers worth reading

Wade Burleson has a fine post on his blog “Grace and Truth to You” titled “The Power of the Pen to Effect Needed Change.”  If you are a Christian who writes or who has a desire to become a writer I highly recommend you read this post.  Need a little motivation to get to work – this will certainly help.

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CD’s On Sale

A couple of years ago I was looking around for some quality Christian music that could be used in church. I wanted to find something with a contemporary sound and solidly biblical and deeply theological lyrics. One of the resources I found was through Sovereign Grace Ministries.

Right now they are having a great sale on their CD’s and downloadable MP3 albums. For $6 you can buy a CD and get free shipping via USPS Media Mail.

No, I’m not getting anything out of this except the pleasure of passing along the info. Here is the web site – go check it out at Sovereign Grace Ministries Store

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Reliance of Christ’s Sovereignty in Doing the Great Commission

I buy most of my books used – they are cheaper that way. Of course, that means a lot of books are purchased on the spur of the moment. I find them in used book stores and garage sales and they look interesting and end up in my stack of books to read. One such book is God-Centered Evangelism by R.B. Kuiper. It was originally published in 1961. I bought it, when I don’t remember, and it has been gathering dust waiting for me to get around to exploring it’s pages. The other day I was sorting through my library and came across this unread book and decided it was time to open it up and see what Kuiper had to say. I haven’t made it all the way through yet. But I found this great section on doing the Great Commission that I wanted to share. Take the time to read it. It will be an encouragement to you in your service to the Lord. I quote Kuiper at length:

Would I Vote for John McCain

In 1980 I had the privilege of casting my first vote in a Presidential election. I was happy Ronald Reagan won and still consider him to be one of the best Presidents in American history. His name is being tossed around a lot these days.

How the Church Repeatedly Shoots Itself in the Heart

This evening when I came home there was a copy of the “Tulsa World” on the end table. That was slightly unusual, because we don’t subscribe to the paper, although I do buy it every Sunday for Monica’s coupon fix. Monica had gone to town earlier in the day and picked up a copy. Inside was a story in the Saturday religion section (Feb. 2, 2008) about how the church was losing most of its young. A great majority of people who grow up in a family that attends church quit attending by the time they are 22 years old.