A few facts for you:
America is a socially conservative and economically liberal country.
Do you believe that? Consider that a recent article pointed out that North Dakota, of all places, may not be a bad place to live. The reason? North Dakota – despite its “lack of culture” (quoting from the article) or major league sporting teams – has so much money and is so well off financially that it is looking to give back $400 million to residents, has an unemployment of 3.8% (best in the nation), and is saving at the state level for a rainy day fund. Continue reading
HT: WH
Repost from an old article at What the Thunder Said… circa 2006. A lot has changed since then – for example, I now use an HTC Touch Pro 2 rather than the (HTC built!) HP iPAQ 5555 – but the reliance on mobile tech for GTD, productivity, and so much more remains the same. Some day I’ll update what I use now in mobile technology, but this was an important benchmark.
Reading: The following article… Googlenews… praying for Katrina victims
Enjoying: State Fair “Sweet Martha Cookies” chocolate chip cookies and milk
Listening: Nothing. Its too early…
According to this article, more and more people – from professionals to teens – are taking advantage of PDA devices to run their lives more smoothly. Where teenagers may be simply chatting and messaging each other with wireless devices, professionals are getting their email wirelessly, working with mini applications like Pocket Word and Excel, and getting directions from voice activated and self-speaking GPS locators on their unit.
Of course, this is nothing new to blund. As a “seminary student,” I’ve been relying on my Hp iPAQ 5550 for a long time now to keep me going. Besides maintaining three email accounts, surfing the net, managing all the paperwork for my part time job, creating papers, spreadsheets, and powerpoint presentations (with wireless printing, nonetheless), listening to my mp3 collection, and running my blund blogs, there are few things my little pocket pc cannot do. I get all my news, weather, sports scores, movies, music videos, and daily paper on the little gadget. Perhaps even more amazing than all of this, is that I haven’t spent a dime on software, and other than the purchase for the initial machine (which should run anywhere from $300 – $500), I have spent only $130 on memory cards, an extra battery, a foldable keyboard, and a Bluetooth mouse (I’d like to get Bluetooth or nice corded earphones). A Pocket PC’s flexibility and useability are tremendous. Continue reading
(click here to enlarge)
So, how are you doing?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Despite the image of St. Pat above, I’m sporting my orange (not green!) in support of Irish Presbyterianism. Patrick was an ardent missionary, and labored to see the Gospel brought to Ierne. His well known prayer, “Patrick’s Breastplate” is printed below. May Christ be with you, before you and behind you today by faith.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
Continue reading
Almighty God and Everlasting Father,
We call upon You, the Infinite One, from Whom and through Whom and to Whom are all things. You are the sovereign One, and all sovereignty comes from You. Nations rise and fall and kings receive power and sovereignty from You. In You, true wisdom is found. You know and understand all things, and no one can search out Your ways. From you comes righteousness, justice, and courage. You are the source, and all things are from You. Indeed, we live and move and have our being in You.
And so we call upon You this afternoon seeking divine help. Would you grant, O Lord God, to this august company of men and women, the power that You alone possess to serve those whom they are called to represent. You have placed each of them here, and so grant them the wisdom necessary to make laws and decisions to benefit and bless this great state of Iowa. Instill in them justice and righteousness, that they would always strive to promote that which is true and good and beautiful. Graciously pour out courage and knowledge, that through their decisions and actions You would rule this land for righteousness’ sake.
In all of these things, we ask that You would do this not for anything good within us or for our own sake, but only for the sake of Christ Jesus, by whose blood we may find mercy and grace. Grant all of us a true and abiding faith in Him. We ask these things of you now in His holy and perfect Name, even Christ the Lord.
Amen.
Brian J. Lund 
