Nov 27, 2008 | Culture
How did we get “Thanksgiving” as a national Holiday? Washington, D.C. October 3, 1863 This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America’s national day of Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed for a local day of thanksgiving. Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28, 1863, urging him to have the “day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival.” She wrote, “You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution.” The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise.” According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln’s secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary that he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops. By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation. The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come,... read more
Nov 27, 2008 | Technology
Need to capture YouTube video and download it – TubeMaster will help. TubeMaster HomePage read more
Nov 26, 2008 | Technology
This will be useful to me as I am using more scanned material for study and reading these days. It should allow for scanned material to be converted to Word files-copy and paste to sermon notes or blog posts from pdf just became simpler. Create PDF Online Free, PDF Toolkit API for .NET, VB, Java, ASP for Programming PDF Server Applications and Converting PDF to... read more
Nov 25, 2008 | Technology
This looks to be a good and useful tool for enhancing photos with mirror effects. Mirror effect – Image Mirror Effect – Picture Mirror Effect online read more
Nov 24, 2008 | Preaching
This is old news, but I wanted it archived on my blog – all of John MacArthur’s sermons are available through free mp3 downloads – this is a great service to the body of Christ. Pulpit Magazine » Blog Archive » Free Sermon... read more
Nov 23, 2008 | Prayer
I found this an encouraging petition for this Lord’s Day: We rejoice in another Lord’s Day when we call off our minds from the cares of the world and attend upon thee without distraction; Let our retirement be devout, our conversation edifying, our reading pious, our hearing profitable, that our souls may be quickened and elevated. We are going to the house of prayer, pour upon us the spirit of grace and supplication; We are going to the house of praise, awaken in us every grateful and cheerful emotion; We are going to the house of instruction, give testimony to the Word preached, and glorify it in the hearts of all who hear; may it enlighten the ignorant, awaken the careless, reclaim the wandering, establish the weak, comfort the feeble-minded, make ready a people for their Lord. From “First Day Morning: Worship” in The Valley of... read more
Nov 23, 2008 | Music
This will be a must have CD-the singing at T4G was excellent. Together for the Gospel Live CD | Worship Matters read more
Nov 22, 2008 | Pastoral Ministry
Good friend and pastor Brian Croft is coming out with a new book on the practical issues involved with shepherding through visiting the sick. Thabiti Anyabwile reviews it. Church Matters: The 9Marks... read more
Nov 21, 2008 | Pastoral Ministry, Time/Life Management
C.J. Mahaney with some excellent material on procrastination and use of time – I procrastinated in posting this. Confessions of a Busy... read more
Nov 8, 2008 | Pastoral Ministry, Technology
This looks to be an interesting tool. I’ll be giving it a look soon. PastorHacks: ChurchMetrics.com is open for business… and... read more
Nov 8, 2008 | Time/Life Management
Some excellent and mostly free tools to use the web in being productive. The Ultimate Productivity Toolbox for Creative People | Lateral Action read more
Nov 7, 2008 | Christian Living
Pastor Paul Rees published the audio from his recent men’s retreat with Kent Hughes on the subject of Discipline. Great stuff here! Gospel Growth: Men’s Retreat... read more
Nov 6, 2008 | Technology
This looks to be a great tool-especially for those of us who are doing more scanning of documents into pdf files. PDFs: Let Google Convert Your Scanned PDFs to... read more
Nov 5, 2008 | Technology
If you are an iPhone user, Exchange is perhaps one of the best features (IMHO). Here’s some thoughts on finding acceptable Exchange hosting to use with your iPhone. How To: Choose and Set Up Hosted Exchange on iPhone ActiveSync | The iPhone... read more
Nov 3, 2008 | Culture, Politics, Presidential History
Justin Taylor (a former assistant to John Piper) gives some of his kind and thoughtful thoughts in response to John Piper’s recent comments on this year’s election. Between Two Worlds: Piper, Politics, and Abortion: A Few... read more
Nov 3, 2008 | Politics
Thanks to Pastor Stephen Jones pointing out some analysis from a Christian perspective on the California ballot initiatives. While I don’t think that bond issues are by definition a Christian vs. Non-Christian issue, I do think some important analysis is provided here that you may find informative. I don’t agree with or endorse every recommendation here, but propositions 4 and 8 are no-brainer “yes” votes, from a biblical perspective. Voting is at least one manner in which we can engage our American culture with a biblically informed conscience. The Desert Chronicle: Analysis of the California ballot... read more
Nov 2, 2008 | Culture, Politics, Presidential History
A few days ago, I linked to John Piper’s video that, among other issues, stated his concerns about a mother pursuing public office. Today, Dr. Piper clarifies his position in light of some who would assume it may be worse to vote for a woman to be Vice President than a man who supports abortion. Why a Woman Shouldn’t Run for Vice President, but Wise People May Still Vote for Her :: Desiring... read more
Nov 1, 2008 | Christian Living
Good conversation starter here on the role of the local church pastors, counseling and the pressure to refer tough counseling cases to “the professionals.” Church Matters: The 9Marks... read more
