Do you have the cloud on your Google Alerts?

The title of this blog was inspired by my friend Cory who actually does have the cloud on his google alerts. At first I just found this humorous, but as I listened to a podcast yesterday I realized maybe I should have the cloud on my google alerts too!

I grew up in a reformed, moderately evangelical church for around 14 years of my life, but I cannot remember one time that the second coming of Jesus was preached on, let alone talked about amonst the churchgoers there. It may be that I missed the one sermon on it, while trying to create a new and innovative oragami animal with my offeratory money...but I would think something this powerful would have gotten my attention:

"Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, 'Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.' So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested."

Since I am not an expert on the second coming of Jesus, at this point in the blog I will refer you to a podcast that has an excellent message entitled: The Olivet Discourse – A Review. Dr. David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego, California, delivers the last in his series on Signs of the Second Coming.

If you don't get a chance to listen, I will summarize the highlights for me. The point of talking about the second coming is not to be obsessive about trying to figure out when its going to happen, but to be ready for it to happen. He touches on The Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25 and being a good steward of the talent, time, resources, influences you've been given. In a nutshell....Be Ready, Be Resourceful, Be Real, Be Right. And finally a nice parallel to the business world and world in general that also ties in nicely with how God created the world:

"It isn't what you've done that counts, but who you know that counts or more importantly who knows you."

In closing, I want to give a shout out to OnePlace.com, which is a wonderful one stop shop for Christian podcasts. Check it out!


Thought for the Day: Manage what you've been given well.

Prime for Podcasts

It has taken a while, but I finally decided to delve into the world of blogging. My main reason is to have a central place to post things I find online and podcasts I enjoy. I am also a connoisseur of fine deals, so look for exceptional free finds that I must share in this blog.

I listen to upwards of 8 podcasts daily, so I will try to highlight the most inspiring one for me each day. Please send me podcasts that you think I would enjoy as well.

Since it is Sunday and I typically don't listen to podcasts on Sundays, today I will give you a free deal that I have been enjoying for over two years!

Every month Walgreens publishes an EasySaver booklet that contains rebates up to $600 and many of them are completely free! Some people think rebates are a waste of time, but Walgreens offers an array of free products monthly that you would typically buy anyways.

For example last month I bought $50 in P&G products that I normally would have bought and also received 4 free movie tickets ($40 value)! The beauty of the Walgreens rebate system is that they give you a 10% bonus on your rebate money...so you actually make money : ) The highlight of my two year run of free products was a month where I got $80 in completely free things and made $8 in the process.

If you enjoy clearance or saving a few bucks, I assure you the monthy Walgreens rebates will bring much satisfaction and a little bit of joy.

Without further ado, I give you the Walgreens rebate site online: http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp?cf=ln You can also pick up the rebate booklet in your local Walgreens.

Thought for the day: You reap what you sow.