Running a Development Server on Dropbox

I have found a very useful way of running a development server across computers using Dropbox. Since Dropbox sits as a file folder on your computer, you can put anything you want into it. I have done this by using Xampp to run a development server I can access from any computer that I may access to. Let me explain how I've done this. These instructions are for Windows, but may be modified for Mac or Linux, depending on what Dropbox supports.

1. Visit DropBox to sign up and download their desktop application.  Yes, that is a referral link and I'll gain a small amount of extra space for you signing up through that link. Once you're signed up, you can do the same.

2. Visit Xampp and download one of the Xampp for Windows files (or whatever OS you're using that Dropbox might work with).

3. Run the installer and change the installation directory to that of Dropbox (typically C:\Users\{username}\My Documents\My Dropbox).

4. It'll create a directory called xampp in that folder.

5. Navigate to the apache/conf folder and open the httpd.conf file in a text editor. Look for all instances of localhost and add :8080 to the end so that it reads localhost:8080. This will ensure that you can run this alongside the default Windows localhost which runs IIS, if it is turned on.

6. After this, navigate back up to the main xampp folder and find the xampp-control.exe file. Double-click it and run the apache and mysql instances. If one stops, something went wrong. You can check the error logs under their respective folders. If no errors, then navigate in a browser to http://localhost:8080, which should redirect to a xampp folder if everything worked. On each machine you anticipate to be working from, you'll need the Dropbox application on that machine logged into your account.

Another option, which I've used before is to install xampp onto a USB disk, which works just as well. I like this option, because I don't have to carry a USB disk with me.

Any problems or further suggestions, let me know. Also, I've installed both Drupal and Wordpress and been able to access and develop them from multiple machines.

Livestream of Gabe Lyon's New Book, "The Next Christians" on Feb. 17

Bookmark this page and check back here on Feb. 17 for the live stream, moderated by Tim Keller, of an interview with Gabe Lyons, about his new book, "The Next Christian." Preview below, to be replaced by the live stream on Feb. 17.

Watch live streaming video from WaterBrookMultnomah at livestream.com

Uncontacted Amazon Tribe

This is really cool. I've taken a lot of anthropology courses and so, when I see stuff like this, I think it is awesome. This is yet another unreached people group in the world that needs to hear the Gospel. Who wants to go?

You can view larger images and the full story at MSNBC's Photoblog.

Deepak is Left Speechless

[Book Review] "Stories about Jesus" by Gwen Ellis

Disclaimer: I received this book free as part of Tommy Nelson's Booksneeze program in order to provide a review.

This is another children's story book about Jesus, but it's a good one. In it, the author has taken 13 well-known stories about Jesus, and condensed them to one page in a format for toddlers to understand. The stories chosen include, Jesus growing up, Jesus' baptism, Jesus healing a sick boy, Jesus raising a girl from the dead, walking on water, welcoming children, Zaccheus, a blind man being healed, stopping a storm, looking for the lost sheep, finding a coin in a fish, healing the lepers and one thanking Him, and Jesus going back to heaven.  Gwen Ellis doesn't water down the story, nor does she offer her opinion on what the story says. She has, however, put questions at the end of each story to ask your toddler or preschooler, to provoke thought about the story. I read it to my 7 year old and my 3 year old, and they both enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the book, as well, and thought it was well-handled. Most children's story books about Jesus or the Bible tend to annoy me as they like to water down the Bible because they think that a child doesn't understand it. That's what I appreciate about this one. The binding is in a board book style, so your infant can even look at it and not destroy it. Overall, if you're looking for a short Bible devotional for your toddler, then I would recommend this one. Just a reminder that this is a short book, but your toddler or preschooler will love it. It might be too simple for older kids, but the questions do help direct the line of thinking.

Southern Baptists, Americanism, and Mosques

Christianity Today reports that Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, has quit the Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM), of which he is a charter member. The ICOM was created by the Anti-Defamation League as a response to the challenges against mosque-building since the Summer of 2010. What's interesting is that Land states that he did not quit because of a change in convictions, but because he needs to represent the views of the SBC. He writes, “While many Southern Baptists share my deep commitment to religious freedom and the right of Muslims to have places of worship, they also feel that a Southern Baptist denominational leader filing suit to allow individual mosques to be built is 'a bridge too far.'”

Let's look at that statement there. Basically, despite whatever conviction that Land holds, it matters not, because a number of Southern Baptists feel that he's promoting Islam? What if this was a commission on the study and prevention of HIV/AIDS? If a number of Southern Baptists felt that he was promoting homosexuality, would he quit then? This debate has been at the forefront of the news this past year, as we have seen protests against an Islamic and Cultural center in New York City, vandalism at a mosque construction site in Murfreesboro, TN, and other such protests and vandalism around the country. Why the sudden outcry against he building of mosques? A lot of the comments I've seen made by Christians this past year over the issue of building mosques have been downright unChristian and unAmerican. Yet, these very Christians are suggesting that it is unAmerican to allow the building of a mosque.

The First Amendment says the following:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Okay, so, could someone explain to me the law that prohibits the free exercise of religion? I don't see it. I've seen many articles and comments that Muslims cannot be good Americans. I've known quite a few Muslims who were very good Americans. I support their right to worship in their religion. It would be unAmerican and unChristian for me to do so. The apostle Paul respected the Greeks when he went into Athens and proclaimed that they were a very religious people, even acknowledging their "unknown god."  They respected him for it and wish to speak to him further. If we're going to stand up and say that Muslims do not have the right to build their mosque and worship there, then what right do we have to build a church building and worship there. Why not just ban religious worship entirely? Hindus are killing Christians in India, but where's the outcry against Hindu Temples?

I reference Southern Baptists in this issue since they are the largest denomination and that is who Land represents. I attend and am a member of a Southern Baptist church. What we do not need to do, and what I think Land has done, is to put our Southern Baptist identity above our Christianity. We do not need to put our Americanism above our Christianity. That being said, those who oppose those these mosques based on some idea of "creeping Sharia" are being unAmerican and unChristian. We should welcome this opportunity with open arms and proclaim Christ to Muslims, not hostility.

What's interesting to note is that Islam in America goes back to the very founding of our nation. The Treaty of Tripoli, with regards to the piracy off the Northern coast of Africa, states the following:

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

So, all this talk of us being a Christian nation is simply false. Yes, a lot of our founding fathers, were Christians, but a lot of them were also Deists, meaning which, they believed in God, but did not believe that God intervenes in worldly affairs. It was this Deism that framed our government. How should we, as Christians, respond and act, then? We should respond as Jesus, and subsequently Paul, did. Not with hate and misunderstanding. Jesus and the apostles always went into the synagogue first whenever they entered a town. They proclaimed Christ crucified and resurrected to the Jews. They were hated and often run out of town, but the Gospel was proclaimed. We are not proclaiming the Gospel by denying the right of a religious group to build a house of worship. The same could be happening to us. 

In summary, let us put aside our denomination (incidentally, I can find nowhere that that the Southern Baptist stance on mosque building is that they should not be built), and put aside our nationality, and proclaim Jesus Christ to those that don't know him. To not do so is to disobey Christ when he tells us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them all His commands (Matt. 28:18-20). We are mocking Christ when we deny others religious liberty for the sake of nationality or a false Christianity.

Abortion Issue as Gospel Ministry

Following the Life-Giver from LIFE International on Vimeo.

(via Randy Alcorn)