Tired of depending on your own power?  Take

What do you depend on? Do you depend on your job to give you a paycheck? Of course. Do you depend on the traffic lights to work or the warning signal at the railroad crossing to let you know when a train is coming? Sure. Do you depend on your computer not to crash and wipe out all the valuable info, pictures, messages and memories you have stored in it?

In my life, I need something outside my own little boxed-in world I can call upon in times of need. I want reassurance that if things don’t run smoothly, I can reach out and find a source to restore my hope. When it comes to computers, I definitely can’t lean on my own understanding. How much more true is it with my life, and with the lives of those I love?

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge” (Psalm 62:7).

Like my secured documents, I have a little green dot in my life. He is called the Holy Spirit. I depend on Him. He assures me that God is sovereign and, whatever happens, He will never abandon me. He will restore my soul if I turn to Him for help. My faith can be rebooted once again knowing the One who knows infinitely more than I do is in control.

My work, my life and my memories are secure in Christ if I let Him have access to all that I have and all that I am. What a comfort to go about my day depending on Him to be there no matter if things run smoothly, or not.

“So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him” (Hosea 12:6, NLT).

Questions: What will you give to God today to secure? Do you believe you can depend on Him – why or why not?

About the Author Julie Cosgrove

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

“I have no idea how to talk to teenagers today,” our friend lamented as we enjoyed a fresh cup of coffee and he told us about the blue haired boy he had encountered at the mall. “They just seem so out of reach. I think I’m actually intimidated by them! I feel I’m out dated in their eyes and that they wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

My friend is wrong. Every day teens write to TruthMedia with questions about life and faith. Everyday there are opportunities to encourage a teen, be their sounding board and listen when no one in their world seems to hear them.

Teens are facing many of the same things we faced as young adults: peer pressure, moral decisions, career choices, falling in love, questions about God and faith, relationship struggles. Though they often face these things at a younger age, the heart issues have not changed and our stories and experience can encourage them.

Passing the stories of our faith on to the next generation is a strong theme in the Bible.  In Psalm 78 the history of God’s people is recorded and it is noted in verse 4

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done.”

Kids are on their computers. More and more they are writing in with their questions and seeking a caring, listening ear.  TruthMedia has a unique opportunity to link these young people with a mentor who can share his or her own faith journey and offer encouragement and resources. We need more mentors to keep up with the demand!

You have the life experience and the faith journey that can encourage these kids. You are not too old or too unqualified. Your own walk with God is the most essential thing you have to offer to these seeking teens. TruthMedia will train you and give you the resources you need. It can take as little as a week to go through the application and training process.  If you are matched with a teen question that you feel is not for you then you can return it to the pool and receive a different one.

You can have a fresh new opportunity to reach the next generation and tell the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD. May I encourage you to try it? You can take as little as one question a week.  You can impact the life journey of a young man or woman seeking some guidance today.  Won’t you prayerfully consider it?

Lord God, I ask that You would spur the hearts of those who You want to reach out to a teen today. Don’t let the opportunity be pushed to the background in the lives of those You want to bless through sharing. Grant courage to those who You are calling. I pray this in the name of our praiseworthy savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Thank you for checking out teen mentoring here:

Questions: So many of the teens have no one to pray for them. Would you be willing to pray for some of them on a regular basis? Would you be willing to share your own faith journey and offer encouragement and hope to some teens online?

About the Author Gail Rodgers
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The edges of the screen are fuzzy and peaceful looking. The seats are appropriately spaced. People tilt their seats back with a smile (and with plenty of room on both sides). Children are sitting cross-legged in their seats with their safety belt fastened perfectly around their little waists. The airplane swooshes gently into a sky laden with puffy clouds.

Welcome to your flight.

I am relaxed by the in-flight commercial, until my knee bumps the chair in front of me and jiggles the screen (and a fellow passenger, sorry!). I wish I was as short as the people in the safety video. As the flight gets longer, my already insufficient leg room shrinks. The person in front of me decides to play a cruel joke and tilt his seat back to take away what precious room I have left. And then the child two rows over decides that now would be a good time to test out her singing ability.

But there is a moment, when I get my satisfaction.

The beverage cart comes around, and I order a can. I’ve noticed that when you order a can of anything, they give you the full can. Not just a small cup, but an entire drink all to yourself. Insignificant as it may seem, it is my one moment of bliss.

Welcome to my flight.

As with any flight, there are ways to make your experience a bit better. You just need to come prepared. With your sanity and survival in mind, I offer up the best 10 gadgets to have on a flight.

#10 – The Neck Pillow
Sure, it’s not really a gadget in technical terms. But after watching Lord of the Rings for three hours straight, trust me, you will thank me. Your mini DVD player does not double well as a pillow. A neck pillow will help keep you from sleeping on your neighbor’s shoulder (which means you might actually get to sleep) and guarantees that you won’t spend the next few hours working the kink out of your neck.

#9 – Cell phone
This is a great gadget to have on the plane…so you can put it away! Nothing is more annoying than someone trying to talk on a cell phone above the noise of the plane. So please, set your ringer to quiet, text to your heart’s content, and realize that your conversations are much more enriching when you’re not sharing them with the three rows in front of you.

#8 – Charger
Some airlines come equipped with a standard plug-in for all of your gadgetry. Bring along a charger just in case. Instead of hoping that you have just one more minute of battery life left (and three hours of flying), you’ll be able to keep your devices fresh. (And you’ll be able to finish your Rocky marathon!)

#7 – iPod
Tired of your music? Download an audio book in advance of your flight. If that doesn’t entertain you, try out a few new podcasts. They’re a great way to learn about something new and pass the time. Just make sure you charge the battery before you board. Or better yet, bring item #8.

#6 – DVD Player
What better way to spend the flight than to catch up on a few movies? If you’re riding with a friend, bring an adaptor (or buy a DVD player with several headphone ports). They’re not too expensive and they make the hours fly by. Several airports offer DVD rentals and a few major hubs have kiosks where you can rent a player to take with you.

#5 – Tooth Brush
Again, it’s not technically a gadget (unless its electric). But if you’re stuck on a long flight, there is nothing better than spending a few minutes stretching out and brushing your teeth. Not only will it help you feel refreshed, but it’ll make your drool smell a little bit nicer when you fall asleep without your neck pillow.

#4 – Portable Gaming System
Just like their full-sized cousins, a portable gaming system offers hours of entertainment. But don’t get too carried away when you finally rescue the princess from the angry dragon. (Space is limited.) If you’re intent on doing this for a few hours, you may want to cart along another set of batteries, just in case! (That handy charger works here too.)

#3 – A bottle for water
Chances are the small shot of water they give you from the beverage tray will help…for the next ten minutes. Carry on a small bottle of water to help keep you hydrated. You’ll be so happy that you’ll forget this isn’t technically a gadget.

#2 – Laptop
This is probably the best gadget to have on a plane — provided you’re not spill-prone. If you’ve got a laptop, make sure it is charged (or see #8) and bring your favorite movies or games along (or, if you must, get some work done).

#1 – Headphones
This is the greatest invention known to airlines (and probably the reason they charge you $5 to buy them). Headphones have the potential to make or break your flight experience. Loud child two rows back? You’ve got the solution. A set of compact, noise-canceling headphones will allow you to drift away from the fact that you are crammed into a small seat beside frazzled parents with screaming babies and behind the man who tilted his chair back.

With these gadgets on hand you’re all set to enjoy your flight! Just remember, ask for the full can.

-Shaun Smith

Ron Smith, the man who interviewed Pat Gelsinger for his first job at Intel over two decades ago, still has the report he wrote up on the brash 18-year-old:  “Smart, arrogant, aggressive – he’ll fit right in.”

While these qualities initially launched Pat’s career at Intel, the largest manufacturer of computer microprocessors in the world, they nearly did him in as he drew near to the top.

Knew what I wanted to do

“The first time I touched a computer, I knew I wanted to be in computers,” Pat says.

When Intel offered him a job straight out of college, Pat jumped at the opportunity. Hired as a technician, Pat was disappointed to learn his job basically involved being a gopher for the engineers.

“The only career aspiration I had when I started at Intel was to be the engineer telling the technician what to do as opposed to the other way around.”

Pat planned to achieve this goal through education. Two months after starting at Intel, he began working on his bachelor’s degree in addition to his full-time job. He planned to eventually finish his master’s and PhD as well.

Hard questions

However, Pat’s plans for conquering Intel were somewhat derailed when he met his future wife, Linda. On the plus side, Pat’s feelings for Linda, a devout Christian, caused him to ask some hard questions about his lifestyle. Although he claimed to be a believer, his lifestyle told a different story. Pat realized it was time to get serious about his faith, and in 1980, he committed his life to the Lord. But even before he and Linda had discussed marriage, she was diagnosed with a progressive problem in her reproductive system. Unless she had children soon, she wouldn’t be able to have them at all. When she broke the news to Pat, he was devastated. But he decided it was God’s will to begin a family.  Thus, he added to his busy work and school schedule immediately getting started on a family.  Miraculously, Linda eventually gave birth to four children.

As Pat’s family grew, his career also advanced. He even managed to finish his master’s degree at Stanford and was offered a full scholarship to complete his PhD. Not wanting to pass up the opportunity, Pat resigned from Intel. But Intel wasn’t going to let him go that easily. They promised Pat that if he stayed at the company, they would make it worth his while. True to their word, they made Pat design manager of the 486 computer chip and, at age 32, named him as the youngest vice president in Intel’s history.

Wakeup call

Pat’s new responsibilities also included heading up the videoconferencing and Internet communication division. However, after four years of development, the project was deemed a failure. This served as a major wakeup call for Pat.

“You’re praying all the time, ‘Why God? What did I do wrong?’ Clearly, you’re struggling with your own pride.”

Pat now looks at the experience as God’s way of extracting some of that pride from his life, enabling him to work on the aspects of his character that were preventing him from being as influential for the kingdom of God as he might have been.

Today, as one of the most influential people at Intel, Pat says the first real turning point in his life was when he committed his life to Christ at age 18.

“It was like God reached in and plucked me from the path I was on and put me on a new path where he can use me in a very effective and powerful way.”

Is something holding you back from success? Perhaps it’s time you asked Jesus what it is. If you don’t know Jesus, we encourage you to pray the following prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be. Amen.

Pat Gelsinger’s career with Intel, the world’s largest computer chip maker, reads like a fairy tale: 15 promotions in 15 years. Along the way, he managed the development of the Pentium Pro and other microprocessors. In 1990, PC Magazine voted him “Person of the Year.” At age 32, he became the company’s youngest Vice President. He was Intel’s first-ever Chief Technology Officer. At age 40, he became a Senior Vice President.

Pat has also authored more than 20 technical publications. He holds six technical patents. He has three degrees in Electrical Engineering: an AA degree from Lincoln Technical Institute; a BS from Santa Clara University; and a MS from Stanford University.

Among many outside interests, Pat is an elder in his local congregation, speaks regularly on work life balance, and is the owner of Wazira LLC – a basket import business to support development of the Turkana peoples of northern Kenya. He also enjoys skiing, golf, biking, playing racquetball and spending time with his wife and kids. Pat is married to Linda and they have four children.

• 40% of adults over the age of 50 own computers
• 46% use the Internet for email to keep in touch with family and friends
• 33% use the computer for games
• 26% use the computer to surf the Internet
• only 13% of adults over the age of 65 had access to the Internet at home

The Internet can be daunting, but increased access to computer training and Internet resources may be helping to alleviate fears. Many community centers and government agencies offer computer training programs to seniors, often free of charge or at a reduced rate. Many retirement communities and seniors homes are installing computer centers and providing support to interested residents. These put seniors in touch with some of the benefits of the information age, such as:

• maintaining contact with friends and family anywhere via e-mail
• expressing opinions and carrying on conversations, that are accessible even to the hearing impaired, via chatrooms and newsgroups
• shopping anywhere, anytime, for anything – providing access to a tremendous variety of goods and services that can be delivered.

There are also a variety of resources currently being developed for the visually impaired, to enlarge print on the computer screen and generally make computers easier to use (this research and other pilot projects have been undertaken by IBM in cooperation with SeniorNet).

- Author unknown

My kids don’t know that people once played solitaire with real cards.

The computer is a big part of our kids’ lives. They love the games, they can pick up school assignments and schedules, and a research paper is just a couple of clicks away.  (One of my kids finally had to write a paper by hand the other day.  He asked me how to do a manual spell-check.)

Me? Sure, I know my way around the computer. Never mind that the information I’ve garnered in the past decade my kids picked up in one semester — of the THIRD GRADE. It took me longer than that to figure out that a “screen” saver wouldn’t necessarily keep bugs out of my Windows.  I also had to nix that pesky habit of fixing typos with correction fluid on the monitor.

And my computer savvy has caused a bit (or byte) of confusion around the house.  How many times now have I tried to reboot the microwave?  My dishwasher hasn’t yet completely recovered from that last de-fragging.  I’ve even tried to enter my password on the TV.  Artificial intelligence?  I could still use the all-natural kind.

I have to admit that I would miss life without the computer. I’m picturing my children blinking dazedly at me with every homework assignment.  And what if I couldn’t check their websites to find out what’s going on their lives?  I think I’d even miss the spam.  Life without warm fuzzy stories and goofy jokes? No promises of gift certificates or scrolling pictures? No warnings of bad luck if certain slices of spam aren’t forwarded to 47 people within 3 minutes?  Thanks, Bill Gates.

I may not know everything about computers, but I know enough to know that computers don’t know everything. As a matter of fact, they only know what we tell them to know.  I also know enough to know that I know the most important thing to know.  You know?  Ephesians 3:17-19 says, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able … to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.”

Being “in the know” in the one and only important way is knowing the love of Christ.  Jesus is the One who has put us “in the know,” and he’s given us a knowing that “passes knowledge.”  You can’t find a better knowledge in this world.  Put that in your computer and forward it.

I’ll leave you with two computer tips for the day:

1. Don’t get so wrapped up in any form of earthly/computer knowledge that you forget that real knowing is knowing Jesus, and
2. Never try to roll up your Windows. If you need more information, you’ll have to wait for me to download it.  Excuse me while I’ll go ask my second grader how to do that.

Are you seeking to know more about God? Read about how to have a deep and meaningful Bible study and steps you can take to have extraordinary faith.

In the four short years since it’s inception Facebook has taken over like the plague; it’s everywhere.

With 40 billion page views every single month, it’s undeniable that this social networking tool is insanely popular. And like anything that has its day in the sun, it’s both wildly loved and completely loathed. I wanted to figure out why. So after listening to some other people’s experiences, considering my own and exploring countless Facebook pages, I think I have some solid reasons for why this site is the social magnet it is.

REASON #1: Personal Celebrity

It gives us all our own little space of infamy, a tiny taste of celebrity. The mini-feed is like a personal US Weekly, documenting who’s going to what, who’s now friends with who, plus all the comings and goings, moods and attitudes, thoughts and quips of all of our ‘friends’. The mini-feed erases any need to ask questions because it’s stalking, gossiping and the answer to “how are you?” all rolled into one. You’re instantly updated.

REASON #2: Validation

This is one of those unacknowledged reasons nobodies ready to admit. It’s validating. Picture albums full of weddings, newborn babies, far-off travels and jaunts abroad, engagement parties, birthday bashes, reunions, bridal showers, road trips, graduations, honeymoons – it’s all there. Yes, we want our 300 closest friends to know we had fun camping or how hilarious we looked in our graduation cap. It’s the story of our lives.

But it is validating. It declares and confirms for everyone to see that our lives have our culture’s official markings, from the diamond ring to the white picket fence.

REASON #3: Represents our Best

We are addicted to putting our best face forward. No longer is that reserved for meeting the in-law’s, job interviews or first dates. With Facebook, everyone has a forum to post their most flattering profile picture, to document their growing intelligence with a log of their recent literature conquests, and to update everyone on their ever-evolving life on the status reel. It’s an easy way to shove all the great and impressive things to the forefront for all to see. Very rarely are relationship rejections, failed classes or lost jobs so eagerly broadcast.

REASON #4: Allows Social Laziness

It’s incredibly easy to jet someone a quick note about going for coffee, meeting up at a friends house or even just to say hello, but I wonder, if Facebook were revoked for a month, how many conversations wouldn’t happen? Would phone calls replace all those notes and comments? Often times, it seems to feed a social hole with very little interaction required. It can negate real conversation and true bonding, in turn lending to social laziness.

In the romantic relationship realm, it grants you the opportunity for cowardice. No bravery or mature relationship skills are actually required if communication is largely based on Facebook. This is so dangerous for a generation already growing up into staggering divorce rates. Who wants to have that hard break-up conversation or get up the courage to call when Facebook exists to do it for you? No wonder there are so many relationship debacle stories that play out over Facebook – it’s an easy out.

REASON #5: Sense of Community

There’s no denying that Facebook gives us a sense of community. With Facebook chat, event invites, groups (anything from memorial tributes to travel clubs) and communication with long-distance friends, we feel connected. But are we truly building healthy community when friends can be added and deleted friends out of our lives and there is a computer screen between us and everyone else?

Why do you love Facebook? Why do you loathe Facebook?

Maybe, like me, you’re on both sides of the fence. Or maybe you’ve never really thought about it. Which brings me to my big, fat point: The key to using Facebook, and social networking sites in general, in a healthy way is awareness. So many people follow trends and jump on bandwagons in a heartbeat, no questions asked.

Take five minutes and ask yourself:
How much time do I spend on Facebook? Are you comfortable with the amount or does the number look way too high?

What is it that I mostly do on Facebook? Message friends, make plans and log off? Or scroll down the news feed, flip through some pictures, check to see if your ex-boyfriend has written anyone and then wander around from page to page for awhile? Be honest.
Hint: What you do on Facebook is a giant clue as to why you love it.

What makes me feel good about being a part of Facebook? Is it that people see the best of you? That you feel validated? That you love being able to keep in touch with so many people? There’s no need to go back to the rotary phone, just acknowledge why you’re on it and what kind of fulfillment it gives you, good or bad.

In a certain light, Facebook is just another guilty pleasure. People moan and groan about how lame it can be; yet keep their profiles, still write on friend’s walls and check out acquaintances photo albums. It seems cool to boycott the big trends, but these same people check their walls before they go to sleep. Or most of them do anyways.

Regardless of what group you lean towards: the lovers or the loathers don’t be ashamed, just be aware.

Think you might be addicted to an online community? Find out if there’s more to life than MySpace.

Google published a free online comic to describe their approach to their browser, and say elsewhere that “What we really needed was not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that’s what we set out to build.”

In my own brief testing, Google Chrome seems to run fine, but I don’t see why I’d use it instead of Firefox.

Are you happy with your current web browser? Will you try Google Chrome, and what would it take to get you to switch? Post your current browser favorite in the comments and why you use it!

Download Google Crome here (Windows only)

How well would you cope if all of the data on your computer was suddenly inaccessible? Or what if your credit card numbers were stolen online?

Unfortunately these are ever-present dangers. But there is free software available that will allow you to safely protect your computer.

In the past, running anti-virus software was enough to keep you protected. But nowadays, there are at least three components you’ll need for proper PC security:

• Anti-virus
• Anti-spyware
• Firewall

None of these programs will guarantee that your computer is safe, but here are 10 free software applications you can use to help protect your personal data from harm. (Note also that many of these programs are intended for personal/home use only.)

Operating System Updates

If you are using Windows (like about 90% of web users) you need to make sure your copy of Windows is kept up-to-date using Windows Update. This protects you against any vulnerabilities or bugs that have been discovered in the operating system. The best solution is to make sure automatic updates are on, but if you choose to update manually, Microsoft recommends that you check for new updates once a week.

Spyware

Probably the largest threat to your computer is spyware. Spyware can add annoyances to your web browsing like extra popups or redirecting you to inappropriate websites. Most dangerously, it can allow unscrupulous individuals to steal your personal information including credit card numbers or banking data.

Windows Defender
Windows Defender from Microsoft won’t interfere with other spyware apps, so it’s a good idea to have it running even though it is not the most effective anti-spyware tool available. If you have Vista, make sure it’s turned on by going to Start > All Programs > Windows Defender, then Tools > Options, and under Administrator options, select or clear the Use Windows Defender checkbox. If you have XP, you can download Windows Defender for free from Microsoft’s website.

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware is described by CNet as a “surprisingly effective freeware antimalware tool.” Its free version is fast and generally very effective at identifying and removing spywar, trojans, and other troublesome software. (Note that realtime protection is only available in the paid version.)

Spybot Search & Destroy
Spybot S&D is lightweight and frequently updated. It scans your computer quickly compared to many other anti-spyware applications, and includes optional real-time (constant) protection. However its interface can be confusing so you’ll have to take a little time to learn how to use it.

Anti-virus

Viruses used to be the most common computer threat. Today viruses are less common than spyware, but it is still necessary to run anti-virus software to keep your computer protected. Most anti-virus software continually scans your computer as you work so that you will immediately be alerted to potential threats.

Avast! Anti-Virus
Avast! is oddly named but it doesn’t take up a lot of system resources and includes “anti-rootkit” protection. (Rootkits are programs hackers use to access systems.) Free registration on the Avast! website is required to obtain a license key to use this software.

Avira AntiVir
A third option for virus protection is Avira AntiVir, which requires no registration to download and use. It does not scan incoming or outgoing email, but it is usually fast when doing full-computer scans and runs constantly to keep you protected.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AVG was one of the first free anti-virus applications and is a reliable standard. Its newest version includes some new features and a new interface but has been criticized for slowing down your computer a bit more than previous releases, so it’s best for reasonably fast/recent computers.

Firewall

A firewall moderates the data that is allowed in and out of your computer. Hardware firewalls (such as a router) prevents data (except the types that you choose) from entering or leaving your computer. Software firewalls can also monitor which programs are sending and receiving data and allow you to prevent individual applications from doing so.

Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall is included with Windows XP SP2 and Vista. Since you likely already have it, you might as well use it, even though it is less effective than other free solutions. To make sure it’s running, in XP go to Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall … in Vista, go to Start > Control Panel > Security > Windows Firewall.

Comodo Firewall Pro
Comodo Firewall Pro is the highest rated free firewall program as judged by an independent security organization.^[1] It also includes some basic virus protection and spyware protection, but it should not be used as a replacement for those programs. Comodo is a good choice if you’re looking for a full featured free firewall solution.

Web Browser

The final software recommendation to keep you safe is using Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome as your web browser instead of Internet Explorer. Although IE9 presents many significant improvements over previous versions, Firefox and Chrome (or Opera, another free competitor) are web browsers which include built-in security features to try to keep you safe from “phishing” sites (fake sites that try to trick you into entering personal information) and are not vulnerable to certain types of attacks that Internet Explorer is.

Final advice

Of course the very best way to avoid spyware, viruses, and hacker attacks in the first place is to be cautious! Carefully choose which websites you visit, don’t click links in email or instant messages, and don’t install any software without researching it first. If you keep these guidelines in mind, you’ll be on the right track to keeping your personal computer and your data safe!

Related Readings:
Learn better email etiquette
Why do “good” people do bad things

[1] Matousec Transperent Security, “Firewall Challenge: Results & Comments” n.p. Cited 22 July 2008. Online: http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php