CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-21 17:04:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

You Are A Catalyst

"How many times has resistance prevented something from happening? How often has your obedience created an opportunity? You are a catalyst; a door opener who creates breakthrough. God can trust you to stand when others run. He can expect you to see things that others do not." -Graham Cooke

#heartstone   #quote   #breakthrough  

2013-05-21 16:20:29 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Politics And Tornadoes, Really?

Can't people put aside their differences for ONE DAY and rally around the people in Oklahoma?

Comedian Lizz Winstead caught serious heat Monday after tweeting 'This tornado is in Oklahoma so clearly it has been ordered to only target conservatives'

Seriously?

#oklahoma   #fauxpas   #badchoice   #politics     #dailyshow  

2013-05-21 15:51:53 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

3 Life Lessons From A Falling Leaf

Life kinda comes at ya and punches you right in the face sometimes, doesn't it?

Ever wonder if God notices the stuff going on in your life?

Well, I've been there many times and wanted to share a page from my journal.

#heartstone   #journal   #life   #anyoneoutthere  

2013-05-21 15:48:27 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

2013-05-21 15:08:06 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Effects Media And Tech Have On Kids

Was working my way through my daily reading list (http://bit.ly/10gg0kk) on Feedly and came across this post from +Jeremy Smith, Effects Media and Technology Have On Young Children [Infographic]. Thanks for sharing Jeremy :)

Made me pause a bit and think of my own childhood. Quick recap...I didn't have much tech at all, in fact I spent most of my time outside (image that) building tree forts, riding my big wheel, playing cowboys and indians (yeah, I said it), fishing and stuff that boys did in those days.

Do I think media and tech has its place? ...absolutely, but I wonder what the long term effects on our kids is. The good news is that I have enough land and stuff to around the house that my kids don't get to hide behind their tech all day.

Did you consume yoursewlf with tech as a kid?

As a parent,ho... more »

2013-05-21 14:39:04 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Start With Ordinary

With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable” ― Thomas Fowell Buxton

What do you need to attain in your life?

#heartstone   #quote  

2013-05-21 15:17:57 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Trying To Understand This Tragedy

There was so much damage, so much tragedy with this storm system and the death toll is rising. People are asking why? People are asking where was God?

These are real and tough questions!

I wish I had a great response to this question, but I don’t. I cannot even begin to understand the “why” behind this tragedy. Beyond what I can find in Scripture; John 16:33 reminds us that “we will have suffering in this world.”

After the Boston Marathon bombings, these same questions came up. Many of us are asking why? Why do bad things happen and why does God allow it?

I write a post on Why Do Bad Things Happen And Why Does God Allow It?  to run into these questions and although there are not always clear answers at least the healing conversations can begin.

Read more: http://bit.ly/17iBQBL
I couldn'... more »

2013-05-21 01:37:37 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

Monstrous Tornado

A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. At least 51 people were reported killed, according to CBS News.

So much damage and so much tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by today's devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma. Praying for all the kids and all the families there.

#Oklahoma #tornadoes  

2013-05-20 19:46:44 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Reasons Christian Parents “Lose” Their Children

This is an interesting read.

It is a great anxiety of Christian parents; wondering if their children will grow up Christian, or if they will stay Christians as they move into their own adult lives. Youth pastors have all experienced the pressure of well-meaning parents asking how they will “drive in” Christianity to their children. Books have been written, and special classes are held in churches designed help parents understand how to “keep your children Christian” through college. However, the real reasons children go up to reject the faith of their Parents has little to do with education and apologetics.

I know from my own experience that if my own kids don't see a changed life in me, whats the value proposition for them? 

The article shares five reasons parents “lose” their childrenfrom Christianit... more »

2013-05-20 19:53:32 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Tumblr Exodus

Yahoo! Buys Tumblr, Thousands Head to WordPerfect!

This past Sunday, the news about Yahoo! acquiring Tumblr for the tune of $1.1 billion (who knew they had that much!) was blazing around the web, Tumblr users were found jumping ship.

Also on a post from HBR (http://bit.ly/115txev), As Yahoo goes through with its acquisition of Tumblr, CEO Marissa Mayer may have a user rebellion on her hands. 

"News like this, whether from a friend or a competitor, is always bittersweet: I’m curious to see what the creative folks behind Tumblr do with their new resources, both personal and corporate, but I’m more interested to know what they would have done over the next 5-10 years as an independent company," -Matt Mullenweg (WordPress CEO)

Is this just some pre-flight jitters or a real issue for Yahoo?

#yahoo   #tumblr   #w... more »

2013-05-20 16:49:58 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Forgiving Yourself

Forgiving others may be tough, but I've found that forgiving yourself might be tougher. 

So why is learning to forgive yourself a lot harder than forgiving others?

#heartstone   #forgiving   #quote   #cslewis  

(pic shared from 'Broken People' on FB)

2013-05-20 16:38:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Don't Give Up

The major difference between the big shot and the little shot is the big shot is just a little shot who kept on shooting. -Zig Ziglar

Are you getting close on giving up on something?

#heartstone   #quote   #zigziglar  

2013-05-20 16:26:54 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Chrome Takes Pole Position

According to this article in +Mashable, 'Google Chrome Now the No. 1 Browser in the World.'

Google's Chrome web browser just passed Microsoft's Internet Explorer to become the most-used browser in the world, says the latest data from a digital analytics service.

What browser do you use?

#chrome   #ie   #browserwars  

2013-05-20 14:52:24 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Life Isn't Easy

Life isn't easy, you will get hurt, and it will cost you — but just keep loving people the way God loves you.

#heartstone   #life   #forgiveness  

2013-05-20 13:31:47 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Visiting Hours In Heaven

Yeah, Mothers Day has come and gone, but there are these little reminders in life that bring back memories. I saw this pic in my stream and it put a smile on my face. My mom passed away back in 2008 and I believe that someday I will see her again, but it would be cool to have a visit. ;)

If there were visiting hours in heaven, who would you visit?

#heaven   #motivationmonday   #remember  

(pic HT +Marianne Sansum)

2013-05-20 13:16:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

What story is your life telling?

God has something great in store for your life! Start trusting Him and know He will make a way!

Here is my story: http://bit.ly/10Is8bZ

2013-05-20 13:05:44 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

1 WTC spire installation sped up!

#verycool   #worldtradecenter  

2013-05-20 12:56:25 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

The Giant You Face and One Smooth Stone
By Patrick Morley

No matter how big the giant taunting you, every enemy or problem has a vulnerability. When David went out to meet Goliath, he had a plan to attack the giant's vulnerability. But he didn't put his faith in the plan. Instead, he reckoned it was a battle between God and Goliath, not David and Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17:45-51, David said to the Philistine...

-I come against you in the name of The Lord.
-The Lord will hand you over to me.
-The whole world will know there is a God.
-It is not by sword or spear that The Lord saves.
-The battle is the Lord's.

Whatever giant you are facing today, pull a David. So closely identify your battle with God that before your giant can defeat you he must first defeat God. Do that, and then one smooth stone should be enough.

... more »

2013-05-18 22:20:08 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious.

2013-05-18 14:58:28 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Freedom

Freedom is the cornerstone of Christianity. -Brennan Manning

#heartstone   #quote  

2013-05-18 15:28:33 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Be a Warrior!

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith - 2 Timothy 4:7

(shared from 'ManUpGodsWay' via FB)

#heartstone   #scripture  

2013-05-18 13:19:53 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Our Limited View

I have been sharing some of my photos of when I went Skydiving to add some personal context to a recent blog post I've written called What I Learned From Jumping Out Of A Plane. It's one of those stories where I connected a real life event to a spiritual lesson.

Sure, jumping out of a plane take courage and guts, but I think it takes more courage and guts to trust in God - and to walk it out with Him!

Read the post: http://bit.ly/19thXZy

Because of our limited view, we focus on our circumstances while He focuses on using our circumstances to accomplish a deeper work in us. It’s a trust issue. Can I trust God to shield me from the full onslaught of the enemy? Can I trust God when He allows suffering in my life? Can I trust God when He takes things away from me? Can I trust God with my kids? Can I trust God if I loose my job? CanI tr... more »

2013-05-18 13:04:39 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Heartstone Update

Heartstone Journey has a new look! Wider format and an updated logo.

What do you think?

#heartstone  

2013-05-18 13:00:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Pride

As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you. - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

#heartstone   #quote   #cslewis  

2013-05-18 12:58:12 (2 comments, 8 reshares, 13 +1s)

#lol  

2013-05-18 12:55:20 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Should Christians Play The Lottery?

Check out this video and share your thoughts?

2013-05-18 12:51:03 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

The Cure For Everything Starts With Men
By Patrick Morley

When my mother was diagnosed with advanced Stage 4 cancer, she decided to treat the pain but not the disease. In many ways, that's what we're doing with our mega-problems--like divorce, fatherlessness, domestic abuse, the explosion of pornography, metal detectors in schools, rampage shootings, Wall Street corruption, and the normalization of sin on TV, to name a few. However, behind virtually every sad story you will find the failure of a man--and he hates himself for it. By all means, let's continue helping single moms, pregnant teenagers, and fatherless boys--we need more of that, not less. But we'll never solve these "symptomatic" problems without treating underlying disease – the cause – that men don't understand biblical manhood. Can you think of anything that has more potential tosol... more »

2013-05-17 19:00:21 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

What Does 45 And Heartstone In Common?

So, I wrote a book called Heartstone: A Journey out of the midnight of my soul . Yeah, it's about my personal failure; defeat; lost expectations; and my final devastation,  but at the core, it's about a homecoming.

Let Heartstone be the beginning of your journey home. This time the happy ending will be your own and  God wants you to have a beautiful ending!

If you've been curious about what it is, but not quite sure you want to buy the book you can now preview 45% now from Smashwords.

Here is the link: http://bit.ly/10BlyDJ

#heartstone   #ebook   #awesomedeals   #TGIF  

2013-05-17 18:34:13 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

#lol

2013-05-17 18:15:56 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Nothing short of chronological snobbery would make us think that in contrast to God’s biblical followers we are better placed to judge the character of God. -J.M. Njoroge

#heartstone   #quote  

2013-05-17 18:15:26 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013-05-17 16:35:37 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

IN THE DARK
By Woodrow Kroll

Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. (Ruth 3:8) 

Most crimes take place in the dark. In the dark of the night a thief slips into a home to steal. In dimly lit parking garages assailants lurk about for their next victims. In the blackness of alleys gang members hatch their plans. 

Depraved men love the darkness because it hides their wicked deeds (John 3:19). And here was a perfect opportunity? A man alone with a woman in the dark. No one would have noticed; it was midnight and everyone was sound asleep. Nor probably would they have cared, had they taken note. Ruth was a foreigner and, worse yet, a Moabitess. Since the days of Moses when Moabites refused to allow passage through their land and even hired Balaam to curse the Israelites, no love existedb... more »

2013-05-17 16:18:01 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Spotify vs iTunes

When Apple came out the the iPod, it changed the music landscape forever. Of course, like millions of other, I opened up an iTunes account and bought my first iPod. I was a loyal fan for years, that is until Spotify showed up.

I was first introduced to Spotify visiting a friend of mine in the UK when Spotify was only available in Europe. I loved what I saw and when it hit the US, I jumped in and didn't look back.

The Business Insider article concludes that this battle really comes down to... if you actually want to own your music or if you are all right with simply streaming it and downloading it for offline listening.

I think its much more than that. Also, here is the real test...my kids and pretty much all their friends dumped iTunes for Spotify and that definitely tells you something ;)

Read more:htt... more »

2013-05-17 15:49:07 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

you were bought at a price...

2013-05-17 15:24:26 (4 comments, 3 reshares, 11 +1s)

1...2...3...JUMP!

The trip up to altitude was the loudest, longest twenty minutes of my life, and that the jump instructor and videographer found amusement in ribbing me the entire ride didn’t help.

The alarm sounds.

Altitude is 13,500 feet.

The door opens.

The wind comes roaring in.

Panic begins to overtake me.

Changed my underwear. (Just kidding.)

My test of courage had finally come as I began to inch my way toward the open door of my destiny moment. I stood at the threshold of all I knew to be safe, and without any rational thought, we leaped out of the plane, heading toward the ground at over 150 mph.

(Excerpt from Heartstone Copyright © 2009 by Tim Young. All rights reserved.)

Ok, so here is the rub. I placed my trust in a plane I’ve never been in, I placed my trust in anorga... more »

2013-05-17 13:14:26 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Which side of the ball do you prefer to play on – offense or defense?

Google and Apple are both highly esteemed brands. Both companies share many common traits which have contributed to their success, but there is one very big difference between the two  – Google plays offense while Apple has recently settled for playing defense. Apple is struggling to maintain its position in the market, while Google is expanding its position.

We are all aware of the classic Android and iOS debate, but this Forbes article pokes at the leadership difference between Google and Apple. This is clearly on the heels of CEO Larry Page making a surprise appearance at Google’s I/O conference.

Do you agree with the assertions made in the article?

Is there a fundamental difference in the core of these two companies  from a leadership perspective?

#google   #apple   #lar... more »

2013-05-17 13:14:49 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Heartstone Journey Daily

Spent some time earlier this week setting up an online newspaper called 'Heartstone Journey Daily' using paper.li, check it out. ;)

http://bit.ly/13xAgNA

#heartstone   #paperli   #TGIF

2013-05-17 13:15:19 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

I Am Grateful

"I am grateful Jesus didn't intimidate people with his righteousness. Jesus never controls anybody. He states truths, and is okay with the chaos it creates. Control is the enemy of relationship, and of love. The Gospel is about relationship and love, not force." -Don Miller

#heartstone   #quote  #HappyFriday

2013-05-16 20:27:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Welcome Traveler

What story is your life telling?

Is it a mess?

Is it lonely and difficult?

I don’t want to presume to know what your situation may or may not be, but I can tell you that there is a God who can and will restore the years life has stolen from you.

If Heartstone has any message that can resonate with you it is that “You are not alone!”

Come and take a journey with me through the pages of my personal failure, defeat, lost expectations, and my final devastation.

Heartstone is a story about a people who faced the giants that we all face, and the keys God gave them (and has given each of us) to deal with those giants and turn theirs and our broken solitude into a field of dreams.

The truth of God’s word is that He has already written the story of your life. It is time for you to read that storyand fin... more »

2013-05-16 20:12:59 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Life Lessons I’m Learning From The Rain

Check out these lyrics from the song ‘Jesus Bring The Rain’ by Mercy Me.

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

That’s a tough perspective, isn't it?

#heartstone   #life   #rain  

2013-05-16 20:07:17 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Got Sport?

I played lacrosse for 3 of my high school years and I loved it.

What sport did you play in high school?

#sports   #lacrosse  

2013-05-16 19:49:39 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Where You Want To Be

What choices do you need to make in order to be where you want to be?

What actions do you need to take to get what you want out of life?

What things must you do now in order to live the life you want later?

#heartstone

2013-05-16 18:22:30 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 12 +1s)

#lol

2013-05-16 18:20:32 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Storms Of Life

Trials and tragedy will come our way. The question is: how do you respond to life's toughest challenges?

#heartstone  

2013-05-16 16:25:08 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

Understanding Google's new design: It's all about cards.

From The New Yorker: "A card will be the atomic unit of information display across all of Google."

See what I did there? I put what we journalists call a "pull quote" as the top line. The reason is that I know in your stream you will see only my "headline" and my first line, and I wanted to make it compelling enough for you to click and read. 

Welcome to the new Google+. 

Some people are complaining about this, saying its anti-writer, anti-words, pro-photos or too much like Pinterest. 

In fact, Google+ always displayed only the first few lines of each post, but now they're displaying fewer. 

Let's be clear about why this is happening: Google is fully embracing the cards interface. A card is a unit of information that could containany... more »