Podcast Week 2

I pretty much love the internet. It’s kinda like the dandiest thing ever.

I remember the days of no internet…then dial-up….it’s pretty sweet how far we have come in such a short amount of time!

One of my favorite things to do while I am on the internet is listening to music. Now while I am not one of those weird Pandora people that thinks it’s the best thing since the Big New Yorker pizza, I do listen to internet radio.

Here are some of my favs!

Christianrock.net - This site has been going for a long time. Bout 10 years I think (I am too lazy to look it up. They have also added christianhardrock.net, christianhiphop.net, and christianpowerpraise.net (decently contemporary music–but quite grand). They pretty much have a style for any of your musical tastes! Just start listening to one and you can switch over to another quite easily!

RadioU- Radio station based off of TVU (Christian equivalent to MTV…back when they played music videos). This station plays some awesome alternative music! Quite peachy I must say.

News places are quite dandy as well!

JesusFreakHideout - This is a sweet spot to catch up on news, reviews, and pretty much anything else you would want to know.

Hearitfirst.com - Not as current on news as the hideout–but this place has some sweet contests. The shirt I wore on Wednesday came from a contest that i won here. Usually they have a new contest every week!

ChristianityToday - Has the best reviews out there. They are more critical than jesusfreakhideout. Also they have some great articles and interviews that really challenge your thinking. Not a ton of information, but it is all great quality!

Download: Podcast Week 1

Click here to watch:  http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a310/pill000/?action=view&current=podcast.flv

You need to sign-up TODAY to be able to go to the Tim Hawkins concert in Wichita!  It is on June 12th at NewSpring Church.  We plan to leave at 4 and then grab some fast food before we watch Tim!  Sign-up by calling Justin

What does your name mean? Mine (William) means “determined guardian” or “valiant defender.” Not really sure what that entails. As far as I know, I have never guarded anything in my life (besides some pizza–and I just hide that in my stomach).  Oh well…

In Bible times a name meant a whole lot more. Sure, nowadays some of us say that we are just like the meaning of our name.  But that really doesn’t happen too often.  However, in Bible times, your name either defined you, or came about from some important family event. It’s not like today where you just get whatever name your mom and dad think sounds cute.

In Genesis 17:5 we see God changing Abram’s name to Abraham. Why? Because he was to become the “father of many.” His life was about to be changed radically through the gift of a son, Isaac.

A man name Simon comes to Jesus in John 1:42. As soon as Jesus sees the man, Jesus renames him Peter (or Cephas). This name literally means “rock.”

Why did God rename these men?

God saw them for who they were, and who they were going to be. In man’s eyes, Abram was just an old man, wilting away–but in God’s eyes, he was going to be used to be the father of Israel. What about Peter? Didn’t Jesus know that He was going to call Peter “Satan” and ultimately be rejected by him three times? Yes, He did. But Jesus saw more. He saw a strong leader who was going to become very instrumental in the early church. He saw a man that would speak with such courage that the high court would be shocked his boldness (Acts 4:13).

What about you? God is in the habit of using ordinary people. Abram was just an old dude and his wife Saraih was barren, but God used them to be the parents of His nation. Peter was just a dude who couldn’t stop from being stupid–but God used him to help found His church.

Who are you now? And what could God use you as?

Don’t ever think that God can’t use you.