The 5 Steps To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee – The perfect cup of coffee can be extremely elusive, and the search is on for many. Well, search no more, because The Roasterie has spelled it out for you. Having toured this facility, and sampled many of their blends, I can verify that they know what they’re talking about.

How Do Fortune Cookie Messages Get Written? – This is a question I’ve always wondered about, but have never taken the time to search for the answer. I’ve always enjoyed laughing at them, especially by adding a phrase to the end, like “while sitting on a phone book.” This article was interesting, but I think I like the concept in this short video better.

14 Awesome Ice Cube Trays – I am really tempted to add a few of these to my freezer. And it’s appropriate that the theme from Star Wars is playing on my favorite Pandora station right now…

Does Preaching Have Future? – Since my new role is preaching, and I’m no longer directly involved as a youth minister, my interest in reading about preaching has increased. This article from the North American Church Planting Foundation gives some interesting insight into the future of preaching, especially along sociological and technological lines. I’m not sure I agree with all of his premises, but it was interesting to read his thoughts.

It’s Not About The Nail – Every husband should watch this. Every single one. The lesson for men is powerful. Watch it twice. The first time, laugh. The second time you watch it, pay attention to the lesson it teaches.

Three Ways To Have The Best 4th Of July Ever – All Pro Dad has created a resources with a few ways to enjoy the holiday. Enjoy the resource.

What! Get to heaven on your own strength? Why, you might as well try to climb to the moon on a rope of sand! – George Whitefield

MistoBox Delivers Coffee To Your Door – This is a pretty cool concept, a coffee subscription. I’m not sure it would work for me though. Either I would receive too much each month, building a stockpile that is going stale, or I would receive too little and be stuck running to the store for that cheap stuff they call coffee in the plastic can. I wonder just how good this stuff is…?

60 Second Adventures In Thought – Sometimes I wish I’d paid more attention in class when I was in school. But since I didn’t, these short videos help me find some of the information I need, or, um… don’t need when I need want it. Anyway, they’re entertaining.

Retaining What You Read: E-Format vs Print – This is an interesting article detailing the minds cognitive ability to retain what is read. While I have a Kindle, and enjoy it, my preference is still for physical books. I found this article fascinating, and suspect it plays a part in my dictating my preferences. I know some of you will adamantly defend your ereaders. That’s ok. But I just wanted you to know.

Dispatches From The Front – This is a pretty cool idea. Dispatches From The Front “highlights the marvelous extent, diversity, and unity of Christ’s Kingdom in our world. The journal format of each episode underscores the daily unfolding of God’s activity on the ‘frontlines,’ bringing viewers up-close with sights and sounds from distant corners of the Kingdom.”

The Snowstorm And The Suffering Servant – As you probably know, I have several children, and one of my greatest desires is to be the best dad that I can be. I found the story of this dad to be very inspiring, and hope that, if circumstances should require it, I would be willing to sacrifice as much as he did for my kids. After all, someone else sacrificed that much and more for me.

It’s The Little Things; OK, It’s The Big Things Too – This week marks the two year anniversary of my dad’s death. Father’s Day was tough. I wanted to call him all day long, just to hear his voice and tell him I loved him. This week also marks the second anniversary of my step-dad’s death. I wanted to call him as well. I miss them both. Even though this article is a couple of months old, it held a very important reminder for me just when I needed to hear it.

You must realize that perhaps the most important moment in the worship service is the moment in which you leave the church. Then it is decided whether you have understood why you spent that hour behind those walls. – Horst Symanoski

Coffee Grounds Turned Decorative Pots – This is a pretty cool concept. Unfortunately, it didn’t succeed on Kickstarter. I would have chipped in…

Breathtaking Eruption Of Plosky Tolbachik Volcano – This site offers a pretty cool 360° panoramic view of the eruption of a volcano east of Russia on the Kamchatka peninsula. The volcano erupted on November 27, 2012, and spewed lava for several months. There are some extremely beautiful shots displayed here.

10 Facial Reconstructions Of Famous Historical Figures – Ever wonder just what someone from distant history really looked like? Wonder no more, because the technology is here, and has been used to reconstruct several faces from the past. While some of these look real, others look like they should be in a wax museum, or even on a video game, such as Cleopatra’s sister. Has anyone even ever heard of her before?

Prisoners Of Technology – “In a cool campaign for Go Outside magazine Felipe Luci shows us in a striking way that we are sometimes prisoners of technology.” Very creative approach to how we are attached to our gadgets.

More Than Half Of Humanity Lives Within This Circle – Although I think I already knew this, at least on some level, this map reinforces the need for missions, and shows where we might need to target.

Five Lies Sin Tells Me – Sin is sneaky. It infiltrates our lives and then helps us justify it. We need to be aware of its subtle influences, and the lies it leads us to believe.

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who did most for the next. – C. S. Lewis

Try This Simple Science Experiment To Learn The Ins And Outs Of Coffee – Acid. Earthiness. Flavor Notes. Body. Presence. Strength. Coffee drinkers have their own language. This is a simple experiment that you can perform to help you understand what each of these terms mean. Try it out. It won’t make the best cup of coffee, but it will help you understand the lingo a little better.

50 Unbelievable Cool Places That Really Exist – Listed in two parts, this list of fifty places is pretty awesome. There are several locations that have now been added to my bucket list of places to see before I die. Hopefully… Part 1. Part 2.

How To Read A Book – Tim Elmore has a great website dedicated to building the next generation of leaders. This post is helpful in getting the most out of the books you read, and choosing the right books to begin with.

Embarrassing Moments In Ministry – As a minister, I’ve had my share of moments I wish never happened. Such as the time I publicly prayed for a lady having an autopsy (which was really a biopsy…). It’s good to know that it’s not just me. The Baptists have their moments as well.

The Reading Habits Of Today’s Pastors – On the subject of reading, David Murray posted some of the highlights of a study done by the Barna Group on the reading habits of those in ministry. I found it interesting that I fit nicely into almost every aspect of this.

The Socially Acceptable Sin – “There are some sins that are socially acceptable, even in the Church. There’s one sin in particular that has pervaded our society and churches so silently we hardly give it a second thought, and that is the constant hunt for more over what is enough.” This is a very though-provoking article. But be ready to be challenged.

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. – C. S. Lewis

The Portland Press – This is a pretty cool concept. A company in Oregon has created a French Press designed for use with a Mason jar. With an Oregon maple top and a wool sleeve make this an awesome addition to my coffee accoutrement collection, but the price tag of $100 makes it an improbability. But still… It’s cool.

Beautiful Lavender Fields In France – We moved into our new home last week. Our front sidewalk is lined with some beautiful purple flowers, similar to these lavender flowers found in France. We don’t have nearly as many, though.

Scientists Find Evidence Of Cannibalism At Jamestown Settlement – We’ve all heard the stories of the difficult first winter the settlers at Jamestown in 1609-1610. But new evidence suggests that the settlers turned to cannibalism to survive. While macabre, this article is interesting from a historical perspective. It also suggests the depths of how far people will go to survive.

The Alien World Of The Bible – You often hear sentiments like this one: “The world of the Bible is not our world—its context, language, customs, knowledge, beliefs and social systems are far from those we experience in the twenty-first century. It is in many respects an alien world, where it is easy to become lost or confused.” But is it true? This post takes a look at the idea.

Why It Doesn’t Matter If People Don’t Remember Your Sermons – This brief article was reassuring for me as I enter my second week of Senior Ministry. While several people did remember my emphasis in my first sermon at our new church (it even made it onto the church sign!), they probably couldn’t tell me my point now, a week later. This article, though short, was very encouraging.

9 Internet Rules For Your Kids – With the progression of the digital age, online access is getting easier and easier. Our kids have access to computers and smartphones, iPods and iPads, and more. What can we do to keep our kids safe in this environment? This article gives several good suggestions.

Love is not an affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained. – C. S. Lewis

What Your Coffee Says About You – This made me laugh. In so many ways it’s completely right. But it’s also dead wrong. Which one describes you best? I’m a mix between Double Espresso, Macchiato, and Americano (except for the part about watery coffee).

Photography And The Civil War – As a photography buff and a history buff, this caught my eye right away. But it wasn’t exactly what I expected. This post shares some of the harsh realities of war, caught by photographers of the time.

George W. Bush Is Smarter Than You – I don’t know what your opinion is on politics. Personally, I think he was a much stronger leader than most people gave him credit for while in office. This article by one of Bush’s staff is pretty revealing.

History’s Darkest Hour? – One of the loudest cries I hear is that we live in such a dismal time, and that the end of the world must be near. I’m not even going to try to figure out just when Christ will return; he told us that only the Father knows that. G. Campbell Morgan says, in effect, “Just shut up!” And I think he’s right.

10 Specific Compliments To Give Your Wife – I hope you are creative enough that you don’t need this, but here are a few ideas to get you started. Paying your wife a compliment much more often than just now and then is crucial to a healthy marriage.

Is It ‘Unspiritual’ To Be Discouraged? – My personality is such that when I get stressed, I tend to feel discouraged. Too often, I’ve felt guilty for feeling this way. This brief article helped me see discouragement in a new light.

He who complains of the weather, complains of the God who ordained the weather! – William Law

Coffee Latte Art – Art is everywhere. And there are a lot of people who make art where they are. This guy, for example, uses coffee as his canvas. It’s pretty cool. His website is listed at the end of the video if you’re interested in seeing more of his work.

Native American Stylized Superheroes – Native American artist Jeffrey Veregge has developed some fun images combining superheroes with traditional Native American art. There are a couple here that I wouldn’t mind hanging in my house…

9 Questions To Ask About Your Social Media Addiction – This is an excerpt from Manage Your Day-To Day, the new book from 99U, that asks some pointed questions about the time we spend in social media. These questions could actually apply in several more areas of our life as well.

The Four Magical Steps To Making Your Child A Winner In Life – This article on the National Fatherhood Initiative website has some great ideas, but I think it stops short. There’s an element of faith that has to be present for a dad to be a great dad. These four steps are important (although I disagree with the second point somewhat), but they aren’t enough for a dad to reach his full potential.

7 Directives For Meditating On Scripture – Developing and implementing lifelong spiritual habits is crucial in order for our walk with Christ to grow. This short list from the Puritans has some great points to consider.

The Top Mistakes I Make In Preaching – With my transition from youth ministry to senior ministry approaching quickly, articles like this are very helpful.  As I begin to develop new habits and schedules, I know there are several things I must take into consideration, such as the items on this list.

We know how God would act if he were in our place — he has been in our place. – A.W. Tozer