On this day in history: In 1790, the first US President, George Washington, delivers the first state of the union address. In 1806, Lewis and Clark find the skeleton of 105 foot blue whale in Oregon. And in 1870, the US mint at Carson City, Nevada, begins issuing coins.

Today Is National Argyle Day!
So go put on those socks you know you have hidden in a drawer!

The Alkani Cold Brew Coffee Maker – Cold brew coffee is incredible! But what many people do not realize is that cold brew coffee does not mean cold coffee. You can drink it hot, and it is wonderful! Here is a review and a tutorial on the Alkani cold brewer, and it looks like a great piece of coffee equipment. But the principles apply to other cold brew methods as well. Here’s the one I like to use.

6 More Reasons Why You Should Write With A Fountain Pen – I love to write with vintage tools. I occasionally write letters on an old, old typewriter. And I love writing in my journal with a vintage fountain pen. Here are some excellent reasons why you should use one, and the article starts off with a link to another post with several more.

The Legendary Rifle That Fought Wold War II – I found this article about the M1 Garand to be utterly fascinating, both as a history nut and a gun aficionado. The role this particular weapon played on the world stage is pretty incredible.

Seasons Of Norway – This is one more place on my travel bucket list. This video shows the stunning beauty of the place.

Today In Church History
On January 8, 1956, five missionaries were killed in Ecuador, Ed McCulley, Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian, when they attempted to make contact with the Huaorani (Auca) Indians in order to share the message of the Gospel. Read more about them here.

9 Things You Should Know About J. R. R. Tolkien – My favorite author is C. S. Lewis, but another one near the top of the list was his close friend, J. R. R. Tolkien. Here are a few facts you may not know about his life.

Performing A “Time Audit” Of Your Life – With the start of a new year, many people are looking for ways to improve, or to accomplish their goals. You might begin with the idea presented here: taking a “time audit” of your life to see where it all goes, and how it relates to your priorities.

A Curious Clue About The Origins Of The New Testament Canon – How we got the Bible is one of the major topics that many believers struggle to understand, especially newer believers. In light of that, here is an interesting article about a passage in Paul’s letter of 2 Corinthians that can help.