On this day in history: In 1790, the U.S. patent system was established when U.S. President George Washington signed the Patent Act of 1790 into law. In 1825, the first hotel opened in Hawaii. In 1849, Walter Hunt patented the safety pin. He sold the rights for $100. And in 1970, Paul McCartney announced the breakup of the Beatles.

Pour Over Coffee Tutorial – The pourover is my preferred method of making coffee. I use a Chemex and a Hario V60 primarily, and I love the wide range of possibilities they can bring to my coffee cup. Here’s a simple tutorial on how to use a pourover effectively.

The Optimal U.S. National Parks Centennial Road Trip – I love the National Parks system. There are several parks that are on my bucket list to visit. And although it would be not very practical for me to make this trip all at once, it would be very awesome. Also, check out this interactive site with several of these parks featured.

The US-Canada Border Slash – Did you know that there is a 20 foot wide slash through the landscape that delineates this border? I didn’t. This is very interesting.

The Hidden War Over Grocery Store Shelf Space – While this may seem trivial and laughable, it’s a very real phenomenon. And the best spaces get the most dollars. It’s a very intriguing video.

Today In Church History
Henry H. Halley, the author of Halley’s Bible Handbook, was born this day, April 10, 1874. He created his handbook, not as a textbook, but rather as a handy, brief manual for the average Bible reader who has few or no commentaries or reference works on the Bible. Read more about him here.

Reading For The Rest Of Us – I read a lot. A lot. But not everyone has the time to read as much as some do. Here are some ideas on how to read if your time is limited or you have other constraints.

The Immense Value of Missionary Biographies – Speaking of reading… One of the best methods of helping me grow spiritually, outside of reading God’s Word, is by reading the biographies of spiritual people, and missionaries can be at the top of that list.

The Bible Project – And speaking of reading the Bible, here is a novel way to read through it that may help you visualize what you’re reading. And, here is a list of prayers to pray as you do so.