Free Online Bible Study Tools

Each of these websites offers an array of free Bibles and reference tools. While there are thousands of wonderful resources for sale, these are a great place to start.

The Value of a Good Boss

Is a good boss worth more than a good job? Well, hopefully you end up with both. That's the best case scenario. It's hard to argue with the devastating impact of bad bosses. 

Lee Strobel: Is Jesus a Copy?

Have you heard these claims: that Jesus is actually a myth copied from other ancient religions?  I get irritated by the low standards of journalism and scholarship which allow these bogus claims to float around unchallenged. There are mountains of evidence available to any genuine seeker of truth about the historic Jesus.

Quick notice on a speaking presentation this weekend

Sunday, August 7, 2011, 10:00 am Community Service

Evan's message: "What's My Spiritual Center?"

Wisconsin Valley Fair

Marathon Park Exhibition Building

I'll be leading worship with three classic hymns with symphonic recordings done on my keyboard. Then it'll be a 15-20 minute chat based on the content of the first section of my book project. Not expecting a big crowd, but should be fun to share with a new cross section of the city.

Roughhousing

I want to share a great article on parenting I came across this week. At our house, today marks 10 days until our Megan marries her sweetheart, Tim. The second big question of the Tau Zeta Chi Fraternity is, "Who will I spend my life with?" Megan and Tim have answered part of that question by choosing each other.


Now the wait for grandkids begins! 

Negotiating Salary - It's Worth It!

You go through all of the hard work of pounding the pavement and hunting down job openings. You drop off your resume. A few days later, you get the phone call: they want to interview you! You do your research and fully prepare, and the interview goes great. They say, "We'll be in touch." Your work is done, right? Wrong!

Happy 18th Birthday, New Adult

I'm going to link over to Jackie Burrell at the Young Adults blog today. She's written an important post on legal considerations for new adults: those who've just turned 18. Our Wade just turned 18 (Happy Birthday again Wade!), so this is all very relevant!

Picking a College

We've been watching old episodes of the Bill Cosby Show on Netflix lately. I'm thrilled that Jason finds them just as entertaining as I do. Colleen seems to enjoy it or at least tolerate it enough for the guys to keep watching.


Today's big drama was Denise--second oldest daughter--making the big announcement to the family on where she'd be going to college. She got five acceptance letters: Cal Berkeley, NYU, University of North Dakota Minot, University of Hawaii, and Hillman. Ah, Hillman, alma mater of her father and grandfather. I'm not sure where Clair studied law.

Studying in the Closet

So where do you like to study?

The worst place for me was always the library. I always felt stuffy and stifled. North Central Bible College had a great library, but I only used it to pick up books and get out quickly. 

200 Hours in 200 Days

This is not going to be a play by play like I did with my weight loss goals last year, but I have a new personal target. This time it's related to completing the first draft on my book, All I Needed to Say. 200 hours in 200 days gets me, hopefully, through my first draft by September 4. I'm on day 14 and my hours are at 18:25. While I've been at this for months already, the focus I've been getting from this new goal has added some real productivity to my daily words-on-the-page output.

If you're new to this conversation, my book is a father's parting words to my children (and all Christian kids) as they launch out from home to independence and the big choices in life.

Confessions of a Green Card Republican

So I'm a Christian guy getting involved with politics. I'm becoming a very informed and active citizen. 

Tonight's Grammy to Steve Martin

I'm using a vignette from Steve Martin's Father of the Bride in a key spot in my writing project. So we watched the movie tonight as a family. I still have the VHS tape...less than impressive. The quality of the drama overshadows the low definition presentation.

It struck me that this movie goes right to the heart of my TZX ambitions. 

African Miracles: Do They Mess With Our Worldview?

I haven't seen a great number of miracles first hand. I've seen a few, but I never looked at them as evidence for anyone but me. It was personal. I'm more of a mercy guy than a miracle guy, but for decades I've always believed.

Packers, Presidents and Prime Ministers

Nine days until Super Bowl forty-five. Here in Cheeseland the chatter is nonstop and the excitement is palpable. (I never knew what that word meant until I started working with medical doctors.) In the middle of all the talk about whose quarterback has the edge and whose defense is more dominating, I had a random thought today.

My Favorite Apps

I'm a software trainer. That's how I put bread on the table. Gadgets? Love 'em! I've been a PDA guy (personal digital assistant) for a decade and an iPhone guy for a year.


Gadgets aren't for everyone. I get it. Remember, I'm a software trainer. But for the right person, awesome!


If you're looking at the iPhone to enhance your success as a person and as a leader, here are some of the apps I heartily recommend.

Passion Conference

I was thinking about the Passion group today. Sometimes I feel like asking, "Where are the young adults laying it all out there for God?" And the statistics say that young people are leaving the church in droves. But there are bright spots. Very, very bright spots. I'll take Passion over stats.

What About Moving Back Home?

Jackie Burrell over at 20-Somethings blog comments that around 60% of single, young adults end up moving back home at some point. Elsewhere it's listed as high as 85%! Boomerang kids.


Obviously, money is a factor. All that rent money is better spent on Doritos and iTunes, right? Ah, the expectations of each generation might differ a bit. A bit o' tension.

New Year's Day and the Big Picture

I love the big picture. Stepping back from the forest to look at the trees... What could be better?!


I'm not a new year's resolution cynic. Today is January 1 and I'm pretty much wasted from a 15-hour blizzard cruise back from Canada yesterday, but I'm still fired up about the blank slate which is 2011.