Tips on sharing your faith from Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns is on a 10 week journey to talk about what it means to live your life Until the Whole World Hears. Mark, along with a few friends, will share scripture and encouragement on how to live your life on purpose, how to share your faith with family and friends and how to impact the nations in the name of Jesus. Check it out!

This just might cause you to cry if you've been wanting an IPad

This just might kill you

To pieces of fried chicken, cheese and bacon ... KFC wanted to make sure it was some what healthy ... they left the bun out ... that's right ... the fried chicken is the bun ...The Original Recipe sandwich will set you back about 540 calories, 32g of fat and 1380mg of sodium. The not-as-bad-for-you Grilled Double Down totals 460 calories, 23g of fat and 1430mg of sodium.


Will I try one .... not sure yet ...

To check out the full article click here

Cell PhonePlan War = Good News for You!!

It seems like cell phone companies can't stop taking shots at each other these days, That's great news for us. In this economy customers have power. Where you chose to do business can't be taken for granted anymore. To find out how you can benefit from this "war" check out this link from CNN money

Who is St. Patrick ?

Today we honor St. Patrick who drove out snakes by pinching the ones who
were not wearing green. Or something like that. All joking aside what do we really know about him .. To find out his amazing story and how he became a missionary ... click here

Smart Phone Frustrations

Last month my wife surprised me with an IPhone I've been wanting for almost a year now. I love it .. I am such a tech geek .. but one thing frustrates me. The battery life in this phone and other smart phones goes fast .. I've never had to charge once .. sometime twice a day until now. It was kind of annoying .. but I might have found some tips to keep the phone from needing to be charged every 5 minutes ... check them out here

Thank you from Addison Road

Last Friday Addison Road's RV burned to the ground. When they go on the road they pack everything they would need for 3 months. After giving an amazing performance in Las Vegas ... they were overwhelmed with the support they received. The out pouring of supports makes me proud to call this city my home. Here's the link to Jenny's blog that shows you just how blessed they were by those in Las Vegas and else where. Click here to read Jenny's blog.

Go on a missions trip with the Newsboys!

The boys... Duncan, Michael, Jody and Jeff have partnered with the safe and trusted, 24-year-old organization Global Expeditions and would like to invite you to join them in ministering to the poverty-stricken people of Baja, Mexico this summer!

You don't need to be an architect or construction worker to come on this adventure. If you can swing a hammer or hold a paint brush, then you can help share God Ís love with a needy family by building them a home with the Newsboys. You will also have the opportunity to reach out to the surrounding community and impact the lives of children and families with service projects and programs.

For more info .. click here

Your Music, Your Vote: Dove Awards Fan Voting

Fans will help decide the winners of two key Dove Award categories again this year: Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year. Voting begins now and will close Tuesday, April 20 at midnight (EST). The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards premieres on gmc Sunday, April 25 at 8 pm et. Tune in to see the results presented!

to vote just click here

Urgent Request for Supplies at MBHOH: Kindergarten Materials Needed!

You can show hope to the orphans at Maria’s Big House of Hope by donating necessary supplies for their kindergarten class! This is a great project for your friends, your family, or your church. You can either purchase the items and ship them to our office in Nashville, or you can donate online and we will purchase the items on your behalf. But there’s not much time! These supplies need to be in our office by March 5:
Show Hope
c/o MBHOH Kindergarten Supplies
230 Franklin Rd.
Suite 11JJ
Franklin, TN 37064

Maria’s Big House of Hope is a medical care center in Luoyang, China, that cares for orphans with special needs, providing them with abundant love, medical attention, and hope.

Supply List: Due to transport restrictions, please only send the items listed below.
30 packs Washable Markers
100 packs Construction Paper
6 sets Wooden Building Blocks
30 packs Finger Paints
20 Large Balls
50 packs 24 count Non-Toxic Crayons (Large and small)
3 sets Fisher-Price Little People Noah’s Ark Playset
100 packs Construction Paper
3 sets Fisher-Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm
Story Books
Finger Paint Paper
Play Food
Cardboard Blocks

Thank you for your willingness to help show hope for these children! If you have questions, please call Cathy Troyer at 615.550.5600.

Get to know the Officers who protect your neighborhood!

At the March 2nd First Tuesday event, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department is inviting the public to learn more about their Auto Theft /VIPER section.

Attendees will learn how officers categorize auto thefts, operate bait car programs and protect our vehicles from chop shop thieves. Crime prevention measures will also be discussed.

The LVMPD has seen a 54% decrease in local auto thefts since 2004, and is hoping to continue that downward trend.

The LVMPD First Tuesday program is an open house-style event that takes place on the first Tuesday of every month beginning at 7:00 p.m. At substations all over the Las Vegas Valley.

During the First Tuesday program events, the public is invited to come to any area command, meet the officers who protect their neighborhoods, and learn about the various aspects of policing.

More Details Here

Michael W Smith talks about Come Together Now for Haiti

Hey everybody,

Wanted to let you know that Smitty is heading to NYC today with his good friend Franklin Graham to hit the media circuit and do several interviews over today and tomorrow on the topic of Healing for Haiti. Their itinerary includes:

• USA Today
• Hannity (FOX News Channel)
• CNN (this will be a live interview @ 10:45am eastern on March 2)
• The Washington Post
• FOX News – On The Record (this is also a live interview that will air between 10 and 11pm on March 2)

Please pray for Michael and Franklin as they do these interviews that God would use them to maximize the restoration efforts for the country of Haiti. Stay tuned to the aforementioned media outlets to watch/read the interviews…

Thanks,
MWS Staff

How to get the best seat when flying

It always happens .. When flying I always get the seat with the least leg room or the seat doesn't recline. NO MORE!!! if you fly a lot check out this site http://www.seatguru.com/ It shows the best seats on the plane for any airline.

Where's my refund

Over the next couple of weeks millions will file their taxes.. and some will be getting a refund. To find out the status of your refund .. check out the IRS Where's my refund site by clicking here.

Movie Reviews

Bob from plugged in called today to share his thoughts on the new movie Shutter Island and also Percy Jackson. Click Here to listen

This is what we do.....

Well I knew what we were getting into.. but it still hurts. I can't believe that she has been here less then a week and fits in so well. We know we are foster parents and should guard our hearts and know that children will come in and out of our lives. It doesn't work like that. We really feel like God has called us to do this and I know we will continue to be a foster family in the future. Our hearts are still for hurting children who need love and a safe place to stay.

Right now it looks like she's going to be heading home in the next couple weeks. So until then we will care for her and love her while we have her. I think Vanessa said it best this afternoon " This is what we do"

Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, the traditional 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penitence before Easter.

For the last month I've been praying about what to fast for Lent. This year I wanted to do something that would make a difference for someone else. I decided to team up with the Blood Water Mission. For the next 40 days I will only drink water. I did the math and found out I would spend about 2.50$ a day on Soda... milk and other drinks. Over the next 40 days I will save that money and at the end of Lent I will donated it to the Blood Water Mission.

The Blood Water Mission provides wells for clean drinking water to those in Uganda. We are blessed to live in a country where we don't have to worry about clean water. To learn more about the Blood Water Mission click here.

Free Pancake Day Feb 23

Join IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., we'll give you one free short stack (three) of our famous buttermilk pancakes.* All we ask is that you consider making a donation to support local children's hospitals through Children's Miracle Network or other local charities.

Check out all the details here

Valentine’s Day is not just for couples; it is for everyone.

The following are more ways that single men and women can enjoy Valentine’s Day without worrying about the pressures and pitfalls that often come with the holiday:

1. Do not define yourself by your relationship status. Your relationship status is not your identity.

2. If you are single because of a recent loss, allow this to be a day of grieving. Do not pretend that it’s not a hard day. Get support and sympathy.

3. Realize that Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday. It is not about love and relationships; it is about selling flowers, candy, and diamond jewelry. Think of all the money you are saving.

4. Plan well in advance to do something that will not place you in the path of billing and cooing couples. Even if you usually like dining out alone, do something else on Valentine’s Day.

5. Get together with people who do love you -- friends, family members, the people who already have relationships with you.

6. If you are single and you don’t want to be, start now to think about what is in the way of you creating the relationship you want. Find ways to work on becoming the person your dream partner would fall in love with. Start therapy. Take up yoga. Begin to volunteer. Create art. Make meaning. Act to change the world. It is into the fullest lives that love is most likely to fall.

Church Ad during the Superbowl?

Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” challenge.

Erwin McManus, the head pastor of Mosaic church in Pasadena, Calif., is viewing the ad competition as a chance to present his faith to one of TV’s largest audiences when they are least expecting it, according to the USA TODAY Web site.

McManus said on the USA TODAY Web site he wants people to know that they have a sense of humor and that it’s OK to laugh. He said so much of what comes out of the faith community seems sour and somber. He wants to show people that they can be people of faith and enjoy life and laugh.



By KATE MCCLOY

Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow

I watch for the game ... but most of the entertainment comes from the commercials on Super Bowl Sunday. This year Focus on the Family has purchased a 30 sec ad. The spot will feature Tim Tebow and his Mom. Here's a description from Sports Illustrated..

The ad -- paid for by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family -- is expected to recount the story of Pam Tebow's pregnancy in 1987 with a theme of "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child and gave birth to Tim, who went on to win the 2007 Heisman Trophy while helping his Florida team to two college football championships.

Protecting our homes and family's

Last Saturday night my sense of security was shaken. We live in a nice neighborhood and have never had any real problems, Until three doors down from us someone kicked in the front door. Thankfully no one was hurt .. but they didn't catch the person who did it. The next afternoon was spent checking around the house and making sure that it was secure. Here are some tips to help make your home secure.


Although there's no way to guarantee you won't be a victim, there are ways to minimize your risk. Here are 10 ways to make your home unattractive to burglars:

1. Think like a crook. Look for places that get dark at night, that have access or aren't easily visible to neighbors or from the street. These are places where a burglar might lurk.

2. Trim shrubbery. Overgrown landscaping appeals to a burglar, who can lurk behind shrubbery and slip into a first-story or basement window without being seen by a neighbor, Polak said. Trim and thin out shrubbery to the point where no one can hide behind it.

3. Shine a light. Don't give burglars a dark place to lurk, Polak said. Landscape and path lighting and motion-detecting floodlights can work together so crooks have nowhere to hide. Pay attention to lighting indoors, too. Set lights on a timer, and change the timing frequently to keep burglars from detecting your daily routines.

4. Be alarming. A security system is one of the best ways to protect your home, Polak said. The presence of one makes burglars think twice before trying to break in.

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5. Keep 'em guessing. "Don't establish any patterns," Polak said. "If a burglar can't be sure of when you're coming or going, they're less likely to strike your house." A dog or cat moving around the home may confuse a burglar. A home-automation system, which can be integrated with a security system, can automate everything from lights and televisions to blinds. If you're going away, even for a weekend, don't let mail, packages, circulars or newspapers accumulate. Ask a relative, friend or neighbor to drop by at different times.

6. Be a good neighbor. Get acquainted with your neighbors, and offer to keep an eye on their homes while they're away. Know where they're going and when they'll be back, and get a contact phone number. If something doesn't look right while you're keeping an eye on things, if someone who appears to be in a utility-company uniform doesn't seem legit, trust your gut and don't be afraid to call the police, Polak said.

7. Look out below. Basement windows are a vulnerable point for older homes, Polak said. They're often single-pane glass with flimsy metal frames, and the opening is big enough for an average-sized adult to slip through. Polak recommends replacing those old windows with glass block for better security. Glass block also offers better privacy and energy efficiency.

8. Deny access. Make sure the locks on doors and windows are secure, and check them before leaving the house. The most common mistake people make is leaving the door to the house from the attached garage unlocked, Mickalide said. "They figure the garage door is locked, no point in locking the inside door," she said. "But if the garage door is breached or left open, a burglar can waltz right in."

9. Go around the back. The back of the house isn't visible from the street and can offer some tantalizing ways for a burglar to get in. Sliding doors are the easiest way to gain entry, so make sure they're always locked. Some people put boards or rods at the base of the slider to keep it from being opened. Don't ever leave a ladder outdoors — a burglar can climb up one to an unlocked second-story window.

10. Think safety, as well as security. Although a deadbolt lock that opens with a key from the inside may be the most secure, a turning deadbolt is better, because it permits a quick exit in the event of a fire or other emergency, Mickalide said. Bars on your windows may keep burglars out, but they can keep you in, too. If you must have bars, get the ones that allow you to open them easily from the inside, and practice doing it so you don't panic in an emergency. "Don't ever impede your exit from the house," Mickalide said.

By Melissa Hebert

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer

The Bible and Cell Phones

From Pastor Greg Laurie ... Wow after I read this .... Conviction about how often I pick up my cell phone instead of my bible.



Have you noticed how much cell phones are a part of our lives now? It seems like everyone has them, even the children.

My granddaughter Stella has a Dora the Explorer toy phone where Dora asks you a question. Then when you are answering, she seems to become disinterested and changes the subject quickly. Then she says she is your best friend and hangs up!

I was a bit offended until I reminded myself that it is, after all, a computer chip I am interacting with, not the real Dora (who herself is simply a drawing).

Next, they will have cell phones for dogs and cats, though I am not sure the latter would ever use them.

Rudeness

I was with some friends the other night and everyone was reading texts and e-mails on their iPhones, so I texted them a question. I figured that wold be the best way to communicate.

When cell phones first came out, they were enormous, about the size of a World War II walkie talkie with a battery life of about eight minutes. Now they are so small and powerful, with the ability to check e-mails, play video games, take photos and videos, and send text messages.

Sometimes they even make phone calls! (Though mine does not do that function particularly well and often drops calls)

We take our phones with us everywhere, we consult them constantly, and we panic when the battery begins to fade. We can’t seem to live without them!

What if we treated our Bible like our cell phone?

Someone sent me an e-mail that asks the fascinating question, “What if we treated our Bible like our cell phone?” So check this out.

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purse or pocket?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go . . . Hmm, where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think, where are my priorities?

And no dropped calls!

TV Crew Helps Rescue Baby From Rubble

Proof your prayers mean so much .. A 16 month old girl pulled out of a destroyed home, three days after the earthquake hit. If you would like to give and help out .. click here

Pants on the Ground and MLK

This week on American Idol, 62-year-old novelty rapper General Larry Platt upstaged all the "real" singers on the Atlanta auditions episode with his instantly viral hit, "Pants On The Ground." But Platt is not just some William Hungian TV clown angling for 15 minutes of YouTube fame. His real legacy in fact extends all the way back to the '60s, when he was a teenage crusader for the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia.

Platt was actually a student of Martin Luther King Jr. back in the day, which makes the timing of his sudden fame quite interesting, given that next Monday is MLK Day. In the early '60s when he was only 16 (see the 16-year-old Platt in the photograph here; he's the one on the far left), he worked with activist groups like the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and Southern Christian Leadership Conference to fight racial segregation in the South. He was even beaten while participating in the infamous "Bloody Sunday" protest march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama.

Posted Thu Jan 14, 2010 1:53pm PST by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

2nd Annual Rock and Worship Road Show!!!

Tour Dates for Rock and Worship Roadshow 2010 (dates subject to change)

March 18, 2010 Indianapolis, IN
March 19, 2010 Madison, WI
March 20, 2010 Council Bluffs, IA
March 21, 2010 Colorado Springs, CO
March 23, 2010 Billings, MT
March 25, 2010 Tacoma, WA
March 26, 2010 Portland, OR
March 27, 2010 Boise, ID
March 28, 2010 Spokane, WA
March 31, 2010 Bakersfield, CA
April 1, 2010 Fresno, CA
April 2, 2010 Sacramento, CA
April 8, 2010 Long Beach, CA
April 9, 2010 Ontario, CA
April 10, 2010 Phoenix, AZ
April 11, 2010 Las Vegas, NV
April 13, 2010 Albuquerque, NM
April 15, 2010 Oklahoma City, OK
April 16, 2010 Dallas, TX
April 17, 2010 Tulsa, OK
April 18, 2010 San Antonio, TX
April 22, 2010 Cedar Rapids, IA
April 23, 2010 Ft. Wayne, IN
April 24, 2010 Columbus, OH
April 25, 2010 Columbia, SC

Presidential Proclamation - National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Human Trafficking is a real problem. I have seen children that have been victims of this. The devastation that is causes is horrifying. Props to our President for this proclamation..


A PROCLAMATION

The United States was founded on the principle that all people are born with an unalienable right to freedom -- an ideal that has driven the engine of American progress throughout our history. As a Nation, we have known moments of great darkness and greater light; and dim years of chattel slavery illuminated and brought to an end by President Lincoln's actions and a painful Civil War. Yet even today, the darkness and inhumanity of enslavement exists. Millions of people worldwide are held in compelled service, as well as thousands within the United States. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we acknowledge that forms of slavery still exist in the modern era, and we recommit ourselves to stopping the human traffickers who ply this horrific trade.

As we continue our fight to deliver on the promise of freedom, we commemorate the Emancipation Proclamation, which became effective on January 1, 1863, and the 13th Amendment, which was sent to the States for ratification on February 1, 1865. Throughout the month of January, we highlight the many fronts in the ongoing battle for civil rights -- including the efforts of our Federal agencies; State, local, and tribal law enforcement partners; international partners; nonprofit social service providers; private industry and nongovernmental organizations around the world who are working to end human trafficking.

The victims of modern slavery have many faces. They are men and women, adults and children. Yet, all are denied basic human dignity and freedom. Victims can be abused in their own countries, or find themselves far from home and vulnerable. Whether they are trapped in forced sexual or labor exploitation, human trafficking victims cannot walk away, but are held in service through force, threats, and fear. All too often suffering from horrible physical and sexual abuse, it is hard for them to imagine that there might be a place of refuge.

We must join together as a Nation and global community to provide that safe haven by protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers. With improved victim identification, medical and social services, training for first responders, and increased public awareness, the men, women, and children who have suffered this scourge can overcome the bonds of modern slavery, receive protection and justice, and successfully reclaim their rightful independence.

Fighting modern slavery and human trafficking is a shared responsibility. This month, I urge all Americans to educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the signs and consequences of human trafficking. Together, we can and must end this most serious, ongoing criminal civil rights violation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2010 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating in the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery, and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

more than you've ever wanted to know about Tenth Avenue North

The guys from Tenth Ave North tell the story of how they became a band... check out the interview here