Good, Pure and Wonderful

Awesome Deal Of The Day - Download Phil Wickham's Live Worship CD for FREE from his website. You only have to sign up for his free newsletter.

2008-08-16T09:58:00.002-04:00

My ears perked up the first time I heard Phil on my local K-Love station. Wonderful worship music, a high tenor voice that seems to lift into the clouds, and the lyrics - amazing. I went to I-Tunes and bought the song I heard but you can get it for free, plus 14 more. From your good friends at Jesus Freak Hideout and Phil himself. Cool.

Free Phil Wickham CD Download.

An Amazing New Search Engine - Searchme

2008-08-16T08:48:00.003-04:00

While Google still gives in my humble view the best search results on the internet, and kindly hosts this and my other blog for free, there's a new kid in town to shake things up and make things interesting. Searchme shows you the whole web page - I-Tunes Style - and it really is stunning, and fun to play with if you have broadband. If your on dial-up or in a hurry this is not a good choice, but it does render the images fast if your computer is good and your internet is good as well. You can also search for video and images.

Give it a try. Just don't leave Google out of the picture because they are great too.

SEARCHME - Visual Search Engine

‘Interval walking’ a more efficient way to lose weight

2008-08-16T08:39:00.002-04:00

Tired of the same old exercise routine? Changing it up could do more than just beat boredom. Interval walking may help jump-start your metabolism.

It's one thing to get your exercise through walking. But in his book "The South Beach Diet Super Charged," Dr. Arthur Agatston advocates something called “interval walking.”

“Instead of going at a steady state, warm up for three, four or five minutes,” Agatston explains. “Then, walk almost as fast as you can for 30 seconds. Then, recover for 30 seconds, a minute.”

Agatston suggests repeating the cycle throughout the workout. He says it's a more efficient way to lose weight.

“You will burn more calories, more fat, in less time,” he said. “The time will go much faster and you'll improve your fitness levels.”

26 fabulous freebies

2008-08-14T18:54:00.004-04:00

Cheapskate, skinflint, tightwad -- whatever you want to call us, we hate spending money and love finding a good deal. If we can save a few bucks, we're happy. And if we can get something for nothing, we're in heaven.

Even in these days of $400 haircuts and million-dollar starter homes, you can find plenty of things for nothing. We've pulled together a list of 26 of our favorite freebies, and they're not junk. These are valuable goods and services you'd actually want, from free music and movies to legal advice and financial services.

Check it out at MSN Money

U.S. green lights 'anything into oil' - Defense Department OKs facilities turning natural produce into energy

2008-08-14T18:37:00.002-04:00

Naturally occurring bacteria used to convert biomass into hydrocarbons.

A Georgia company looking to solve America's energy problem has finally teamed up with the federal government, hoping to make millions of barrels of oil every day from virtually anything that grows out of the Earth.

Bell Bio-Energy, Inc. says it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Defense Department to build seven test production plants, mostly on military bases, to quickly turn naturally grown material into fuel.

"What this means is that with the seven pilot plants – the military likes to refer to them as demonstrations – with those being built … it gives us the real-time engineering data that we need to finish the designs for a full-scale production facility," J.C. Bell, the man behind the project, told WND today.

"In 18 months or so, we will start manufacturing oil directly from waste and we will build up to about 500,000 barrels a day within two years. In another six months, we'll reach a million barrels a day."

7 Steps Newly Diagnosed Diabetics Should Take

2008-08-14T18:08:00.003-04:00

Diabetes sufferers may be able to give up their cake and eat it, too. According to a new study, people who lost weight in the 18 months after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes experienced sustained benefits even if they regained the weight later. They were up to twice as likely to reach their targets for blood pressure and blood sugar as those who didn't lose weight, although by the end of the four-year study, most of them had regained the weight they had lost.

Read More at USNews and World Report

Could It Be For Real? A Car Using Air And Gas Getting 106 MPG?

2008-08-13T15:10:00.002-04:00

You've heard of hybrids, electric cars and vehicles that can run on vegetable oil. But of all the contenders in the quest to produce the ultimate fuel-efficient car, this could be the first one to let you say, "fill it up with air." That's the idea behind the compressed air car, which backers say could achieve a fuel economy of 106 miles per gallon.

Plenty of skepticism exists, but with many Americans trying to escape sticker shock at the gas pump, the concept is generating buzz.

The technology has been the focus of MDI, a European company founded in 1991 by a French inventor and former race car engineer.

New York-based Zero Pollution Motors is the first firm to obtain a license from MDI to produce the cars in the United States, pledging to deliver the first models in 2010 at a price tag of less than $18,000.

The concept is similar to how a locomotive works, except compressed air -- not steam -- moves the engine's pistons, said Shiva Vencat, vice president of MDI and CEO of Zero Pollution Motors.

More from CNN

New Digital Praise® Guitar Praise™ Set To Take Center Stage With Kids, Families This Fall

2008-08-11T19:31:00.002-04:00

Digital Praise® Inc, the leader in Christian-themed, family-friendly entertainment software, today announced Guitar Praise™, its new inspirational PC guitar game, at the International Christian Retail Show 2008 in Orlando. Combining unique play features with a playlist of today's most popular Contemporary Christian rock hits, Guitar Praise gives Christian retailers a headlining opportunity to build on the $1 billion guitar game segment that continues to smash sales records among young consumers.

In creating Guitar Praise, Digital Praise has applied its intimate knowledge of player tastes gained through its #1 best-selling Dance Praise™ dance arcade game franchise. "Our research shows that 92% of Dance Praise families, and 100% of Dance Praise churches, are interested in Guitar Praise," said Tom Bean, President and CEO of Digital Praise, Inc. "People love the console guitar games on the market, but many would like more family-friendly songs and graphics. Guitar Praise gives kids, families and youth groups the play features they like best, plus some new twists as well as the best Christian rock titles out there today."

Guitar Praise features 52 of the most inspirational and pulsating tracks from the Christian rock world, all by the original artists. Today's most popular hits are combined with classics from the 80's and 90's; the playlist includes titles from Flyleaf, Skillet, Stellar Kart, tobyMac, Newsboys, Petra, 12 Stones, Spoken, Whitecross, Thousand Foot Krutch, Paul Baloche, David Crowder, and Red, plus many others.

Find out more about this great new program.

Former 'Lost Boy' Lomong chosen to carry U.S. flag

2008-08-08T16:25:00.004-04:00

Eight years ago, Lopez Lomong didn't even have a country. Now he'll be carrying the flag for his adopted nation, leading the U.S. Olympic team at opening ceremonies Friday night.

Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, won a vote of team captains Wednesday to earn the honor of leading America's contingent into the 90,000-seat Bird's Nest Stadium.

The 1,500-meter track runner will be the flagbearer only 13 months after becoming a U.S. citizen.

"It's more than a dream," Lomong said in an interview with The Associated Press moments after he got the news. "I keep saying, I'm not sure if this is true or not true. I'm making the team and now I'm the first guy coming to the stadium and the whole world will be watching me carry the flag. There are no words to describe it."

He was born in Sudan, separated from his parents at the point of a gun at age 6, and with the help of friends, he escaped confinement and made it to a refugee camp in Kenya. In 2001, he was brought to America as part of a program to relocate lost children from war-torn Sudan.

More of this wonderful story at ESPN

Third Day was on The Tonight Show last night. If you missed it, that's OK, because we have the VIDEO!

2008-08-08T16:11:00.004-04:00

Not only possibly the best band in Christian Music right now, but also one of the best bands in all of music right now, Third Day showed the Hollywood crowd a little bit about uplifting rock and roll. The crowd loved it, and you will too. Here is Third Day's Call My Name live, the first single from their new hit CD REVELATION. It is one of the best CD's you will ever hear in my personal opinion, so be sure to pick up a copy or two today, or head on over to I-Tunes or Amazon for the download.

A heartbreaking yet heartwarming story - Steven Curtis Chapman on Good Morning America

2008-08-07T19:25:00.004-04:00

No one could imagine an accident so terrible, as Maria, the child they adopted from China, now 5 years old and full of life and personality dies due to being ran over in an SUV by their youngest son. Amazingly it seems instead of tearing this family apart, this has brought them closer together. How you might ask? Only by the grace of God and the prayers of thousands of fans including myself. Get out your hankies for this video, this one is going to make you cry.

From YouTube and ABC News.

Two Dozen Uses For Toothpaste (Aside From Cleaning Your Teeth)

2008-08-07T18:08:00.003-04:00

Didn’t you know that toothpaste (despite its name) is for so much more than your teeth? It’s truly handy to have on hand (I pity the household - and their teeth - that has no toothpaste at all), because it is quite multi-functional. Here are a few ways you can get your toothpaste working extra hard for you:

Find out out Wisebread

Free Christian music download - Downhere's new single My Last Amen

2008-08-07T17:56:00.002-04:00

A great band from Canada with a unique sound, you will likely be hearing a lot more from Downhere over the next few months and years. Never turn down the chance to get a free legal download like this one.

Download the new single from DOWNHERE

Buy Free Movies from Blockbuster - You will have to pay for just the tax!

2008-08-07T17:48:00.004-04:00

What's better than cheap, pre-owned movies delivered to your door? Free ones. And for a very limited time, you can take your pick of hundreds of movies at Blockbuster for the cost of tax.

Blockbuster online has a large selection of new and pre-owned DVDs for you to purchase. You don't have to be a member to buy, but you do get a nice discount (5-10%) if you are. With Christmas less than 6 months away, I had been meaning to buy a few pre-owned DVDs to put in the kids' stockings, and with the latest in promo codes, I got them at a very nice price (FREE!)

Here's what you do: They Will be glad to tell you how over at Wisebread

Devout Heisman winner declines spot in 'Playboy' lineup

2008-08-01T18:03:00.002-04:00

One year after winning college football's highest honor, University of Florida star Tim Tebow was pulled from consideration for Playboy's pre-season All-American team because the magazine conflicts with his Christian beliefs, a school official confirmed.

Tebow, who last year became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, comes from a family of missionaries and is a devout Baptist. Assistant Sports Information Director Zack Higbee said he chose not to nominate his quarterback for the Playboy spread based on what he knew about Tebow's spirituality.

"I've been working with Tim since his first day here and I know his priorities and his family," Higbee said. "He has that trust in me to make the decision."

As a teenager, the home-schooled Tebow made annual trips to the Philippines, where his father, a minister, runs an orphanage. This year, he went on separate missions to the Philippines, Croatia, and Thailand.

Higbee said Tebow supported the move when told of it this month. Playboy Sports Editor Gary Cole downplayed the university's decision, however, and said that Tebow would not have made the team anyway.

Son of top Hamas leader converts to Christianity - 'I hope my father and family open their eyes to Jesus and the Kingdom of God'

2008-08-01T17:59:00.002-04:00

The son of one of the most popular leaders in the Hamas terrorist organization has moved to the U.S. and converted to Christianity, it has emerged.

In an exclusive interview with Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Masab Yousuf, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yousef, slammed Hamas, praised Israel and said he hoped his terrorist father will open his eyes to Jesus

and to Christianity.

"I know that I'm endangering my life and am even liable to lose my father, but I hope that he'll understand this and that God will give him and my family patience and willingness to open their eyes to Jesus and to Christianity. Maybe one day I'll be able to return to Palestine and to Ramallah with Jesus, in the Kingdom of God," Masab said.

Refurbished Dell Pocket DJ MP3 Players + $5 s&h - 5 Gigs for $25 or 20 Gigs for $40

2008-07-30T19:30:00.003-04:00

Creative.com offers the refurbished Dell Pocket DJ 5GB Digital Jukebox MP3 Player for $19.99. With $5 for shipping, that's nearly $175 less than what Dell charged for this MP3 player back in 2005. Features include a 4.4-oz. weight, 10-hour battery life, MP3 and WMA support, earbuds, 1.62" blue back-lit display, and USB 2.0 interface. A 90-day warranty is included, although it's unclear who supports it.

Other Dell DJ models are available (select them from the drop down menu): I bet this doesn't last very long. These will also likely double as a small portable USB hard drive as well.

MP3 Players from Dell at Dealtime

Do You want over ONE MILLION books for free? This is for real, but it's only good for a few days!

2008-07-30T19:17:00.002-04:00

So what's the catch? They are E-Books that you download for free. Until Aug. 4th The World eBook Fair is offering the free downloads from some of the worlds top E-Book providers. Load up while they are free, you don't see a deal like this every day.

FREE BOOKS! FREE BOOKS!

Happy Birthday NASA!

2008-07-30T17:50:00.003-04:00

50 years old and going strong, they have not only helped mankind reach beyond our planet on to others, but technologies they have developed have so enriched our lives it would be hard to think about modern life without them. The discovery channel will be noting their groundbreaking work over the next 90 days. Check out the link below for on-line video, articles and more. It's going to be some pretty cool stuff.

NASA - The first 50 years at The Discovery Channel

BlackLight's physics-defying promise: Cheap power from water

2008-07-29T20:46:00.001-04:00

Imagine being able to convert water into a boundless source of cheap energy. That's what BlackLight Power, a 25-employee firm in Cranbury, N.J., says it can do. The only problem: Most scientists say that company's technology violates the basic laws of physics.

Such skepticism doesn't daunt Dr. Randell Mills, a Harvard-trained physician and founder of BlackLight, who recently claimed that he has created a working fuel cell using the world's most pervasive element: the hydrogen found in water.

"This is no longer an academic argument," Mills, 50, insists. "It's proven technology, and we're going to commercialize it as quickly as possible."

For the first time in his company's 19 years of persistent trial and error, Mills says he has a market-ready product: a fuel cell that produces a chemical reaction to alter hydrogen atoms. The fuel cell releases heat that turns water into steam, which drives electric turbines.

The working models in his lab generate 50 kilowatts of electricity - enough to power six or seven houses. But these, Mills says, can be scaled to drive a large, electric power plant. The inventor claims this electricity will cost less than 2 cents per kilowatt-hour, which compares to a national average of 8.9 cents.

40 Positive Effects of a TV Free Week

2008-07-29T20:41:00.002-04:00

“What could you accomplish if you stopped watching TV? What would you do with all the extra time?” My wife asked me these questions two weeks ago. After a short discussion, we decided to find out for ourselves. We completely eliminated television from our lives last week. It turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience. We now have a plan to drastically reduce our future viewing habits.

See what this writer accomplished. Here are 40 positive effects from our week without television.

Get Rich By Saving Every $5 Bill

2008-07-26T12:12:00.003-04:00

There's a woman who saves every $5 bill she gets, blogs Get Rich Slowly. She's been doing so for three years and has saved $12,000.

JD at Get Rich Slowly also shares his wife's personal money saving trick:

For several years, Kris has been rounding every transaction up to the next dollar in her checkbook. If she spends $49.74 at the grocery store, she enters this in her checkbook as $50. If she spends $33.13 on gas, she enters it as $34. As a result, she saves an average of 50 cents every time she performs a transaction. In 2-1/2 years, Kris saved an extra $500 using this method. That's enough to treat herself to something nice.

Learn More tricks at Get Rich Slowly

Abortion clinic prayer vigils coming to 100 cities - For 40 days and nights, Christians will seek end of killing

2008-07-26T11:59:00.002-04:00

In two previous campaigns by Christians to disrupt America's abortion industry with continuous prayer, officials with the 40 Days for Life campaign say 35,000 have participated in vigils, 514 babies have been saved and five abortion industry workers have lost their jobs.

Now a third campaign is on the calendar, with a signup deadline of July 29 for cities to take part in the outreach. Most locations will have prayer warriors on the sidewalks outside abortion clinics 24 hours a day from Sept. 24 through Nov. 2.

Spokesman David Bereit said the first campaigns have seen 150,000 people praying and fasting for an end to abortion in the U.S., and half of the 35,000 marching in vigils were on the lines for the first time.

He also said two abortion centers have closed their doors following the campaigns.

"We have had 340 cities express interest [in the new campaign,]" he told WND. "We are well on our way to having more than 100 actually registered.

"It's a massive undertaking. People are committing to call on believers to pray and fast for 40 days – that's 960 hours with people physically present," he said.

South Dakota Remains First Abortion-Free State after Planned Parenthood Abortionists Refuse to Work

2008-07-24T19:48:00.004-04:00

On Monday, July 21, eight women arrived at the Planned Parenthood office in Sioux Falls abortions but were instead met with locked doors and a hand-written not indicating the only abortion clinic in South Dakota was closed.

Planned Parenthood remains closed for abortions after their abortionists, who are flown in from other states, refused of work under the new law that went into effect last Friday. The law orders abortionists to inform patients of the humanity of their babies and that the procedure could affect their mental health two hours before the abortion can be done. The law also provides that abortionists can be sued if they do not comply.

This law was the brain-child of attorney Harold Cassidy and passed with the help of determined pro-life leaders Dr. Alan and Leslee Unruh, who pushed for the regulation in the face of opposition even from those in the pro-life movement. The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cleared the way for the law's enactment last week.

In remains unclear if the Planned Parenthood office has permanently ceased the practice of abortion. However, several women who were scheduled for abortions this week went to a pro-life center instead where some have reportedly changed their minds about having abortions.

More at Christian News Wire

Who is this T. Boone Pickens guy and what is this plan of his?

2008-07-24T19:25:00.004-04:00

He is a Texas Oilman who has a very interesting plan to replace 20% of our electricity with wind power, while running our cars on natural gas. Sound a little crazy? Not really when you look at the facts. Can we afford to do it? Sure, it will cost almost what it cost to buy 2 years worth of oil, but as gas keeps getting higher and higher, and nations that hate us are possibly leading to our eventual financial collapse, the big question should be: Can we afford not to?

Find more videos like this on PickensPlan

The powerful T. Boone Pickens Plan