How to Clean Up Your Mailbox

Search for large email messages.

• In Outlook, scroll down to Search Folders on the left side.
• Expand the Search Folders and you will see the default Large Mail folder.
• This will search your mailbox for items that are larger than 100KB and display them
• If you need to save the attachments from these messages, open the item(s) and save the attachment
• Delete the items that you no longer need and this will significantly reduce the size of your mailbox

 

Create Custom Search Folders

 
Like the Large Mail folder you can create additional search folders. A search folder that displays messages older than 120 days can be useful for finding those items that are no longer necessary to keep in your mailbox.

1. 
   
   Create a New Search Folder
   1. Right click the Search Folders item in Outlook and choose New Search Folder

1. 
   
   Create a folder that will find items older than 120 days
   1. 
      
      Scroll to the Organizing Mail section and choose Old Mail
      
      
   2. Click the Choose button to change the range of what will be included
      
   3. Show mail older than 4 months will give us anything older than our target of 120 days.
   4. Click OK on the Old Mail dialog box, and then OK again on the New Search Folder dialog.
   5. Review the items returned in this list and delete any items that you no longer need.

Configure AutoArchiving

 

1. To configure AutoArchiving in Outlook 2007, go to Tools | Options and open the Other Tab. To configure Outlook 2010 click on File | Options | Advanced and click the AutoArchive Settings button.
   
2. The default settings for AutoArchive are to run every 14 days and move old item to an archive file that will be stored on your computer
3. Do NOT archive items to your computer. These will not be backed up and if you need to access this data there is no guarantee that this file will be available when you need it.
4. Set the Clean out item older than to 24 months or greater. This will be the default setting for every folder.
5. For each folder in your mailbox, including the calendar, right click and choose properties
   
6. Click on the AutoArchive tab and set the policy for this folder
   
7. Set each folders policy as needed. Careful planning should be used when configuring AutoArchive to ensure needed data is not archived to a local drive or permanently deleted.

 

Example AutoArchive Settings

 
I have all folders by default set to "Do not archive items in this folder". I use mailbox rules to sort mail as it arrives, so messages that go to groups like alert messages are moved to individual folders. On these individual folders I then set "Archive this folder using these settings" and choose "Permanently delete old items", after specifying an appropriate period of time for these to expire. This combined with Search Folders allows me to easily manage my mailbox size.

 

 

Word 2010 Allows Blogging = Sweet!

I am writing this blog from the comfort of Word 2010. Now I can edit and post content straight from the best word processor ever. Very nice. J

A heading to see what it looks like.

 

Some different fonts.

Are you only a Christian when God is around?

http://read.ly/2Chr32.31.nkjv

God tests Hezekiah to see "all that was in his heart". A few verses prior we read that King Hezi had to repent of his puffed up view of himself. Here God allows the king to encounter the princes without his help, and now the true heart of the man will be shown.
His church friends are not around, he is there being praised for all the wonderful riches in "his" kingdom. What will he do? Will he remember the God that delivered him with the power of an angel only a short while before? Or will he so soon forget what God has done and how God has caused these blessings to fall upon him?
But isn't this where we all have been? Out in the world,away from our Sunday friends and suddenly it is hard to tell that we are any different than those around us. Who do we praise for the things God has given us? Just chalk it up to our talents and hard work, or do we give praise to the giver of all good things?

May God help me and you my friend to give honor where it is due. To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Please don't die

Ezekiel 18:31-32

It doesn't matter how much you have done wrong. Starting now live for God. He will forgive you if you leave off sinning and start living right. His son, Jesus, made a way for your mistakes, your evil deeds to be forgiven. Will you accept this forgiveness and live? If you look for him you will find him.


- Rocky

Some Free Wallpaper

Here is a collection of some desktop backgrounds I made up. Enjoy.

From Backgrounds	From Backgrounds
From Backgrounds	From Backgrounds

Michael Jackson's Death

Let me start by sending condolences to his family. At only 50 years old it appears this was very unexpected.

It always makes me sad when I hear of people like Michael Jackson passing from this world. Only God truly knows Michael's heart, but from outward appearances it seems he did not know God. And this is what troubles me. Michael Jackson had a lot of things in this life. He traveled the world with fame and fortune, lacking no finery at any point along the way. The sadness though is that these things often keep us from obtaining the one thing we really need, Jesus Christ.

The Bible warns us that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Riches cloud our ability to see ourselves as needy. There is nothing wrong with being rich, but often the riches are loved above all else, and this makes them wrong.

Jesus warns the rich young ruler that his riches were keeping him from heaven. The young man was a good and righteous man on the outside. He worked hard, was faithful to his family and church, but his true worship fell on accumulating wealth. When Christ asks him to sell all that he has and to give it to the poor the man cannot bring himself to do it, and goes away saddened because he is not a follower of God.

The man had a very good reason for being sad, but it seems his sadness came not from being outside of God's family, but rather from being unable to take what he thought would be a prestigious and gainful place next to Christ. It seems his sadness was more from a heart of self pity, instead of a heart of repentance for the greatness of his sin and the strength with which it held him.

Let us check ourselves as we hear of this sad news. Remember the God who gives you all things, and remember that he has given the one thing you need, forgiveness from your sins if you come and accept Jesus Christ. John 3:16-18

Happiness is long life, riches, and honor

Proverbs 3:15-17

15 She (Wisdom) is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.

This is one of many places where we read that keeping God's commands leads to happiness and long life. I have heard many argue that this just cannot be, and that God's commandments just aren't fitting for our society today. This however is just not true, following God always leads to a peace that passes all understanding.

Let's look at three things that we all want to enjoy, drinking, sex, and money.

Drinking

Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding. At the last supper he passes wine to the disciples and drinks some with them. He speaks in a parable about keeping wine in old skins and new skins. Jesus was certainly no stranger to this alcoholic beverage.

Although he drank wine while on earth we have no records of him going out to get drunk, nor of him being found drunk at the many parties and places he went to. He perfectly enjoyed a good drink without losing himself to the drink. He knew the proverb that says not to look on the wine while it is thick and red, and the commandment not to be drunk, but instead to enjoy all things in moderation (Proverbs 23:30-32; Ephesians 5:17-19; 1 Corinthians 6:11-13).

The Bible does not forbid us from having a drink or two, or even one glass of wine with dinner. A good wine with dinner can make a very enjoyable combination. A deep red wine with a good steak, or a nice white wine with a plate of fresh pasta. Just the thought makes me hungry. These things are great together, and God has made us to enjoy the tast of these combinations on our tongues. Not only that, but he made the grapes, cow, and wheat and told us to eat them.

This does not mean though that we should go out and drink away at the newest bar. Why? because losing ourselves to the wine (beer) will lead us to do things we would not otherwise have done. If you have ever been drunk, or around somebody who has, then you know what I am talking about. "Remeber that time we were drunk and we...." "I don't really remember, all I know was I went to the party and the next morning I woke up over there". But what happened in between? Did you crash the car? Sleep with someone you didn't know? Lose your temper? Get in a fight? The list goes on.

Sex

If you have ever read the Old Testament, you know that the Bible has a lot to say about sex. In some cases it gives graphic details. But, the Bible gives us some clear teachings about when we are supposed to partake of this pleasurable activity.

The seventh commandment tells us that we are to obstain from adultery. We find later on in the New Testament that Jesus expands this command to mean keeping our minds pure from sexual/lustful thoughts about another human being (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-29). In the book of proverbs men our told to be filled with love from their own wife (Proverbs 5:18-19). God made men and women to desire intimate relations together, and he gave us a wonderful and perfect way to enjoy them.

When we go outside of these bounds that God has placed around the marriage bed, then we find that sex becomes unpleasurable. While the act may still be enjoyable, the results don't bring happiness. How many young girls do you know that have a baby and no husband? What happened to their lives? Things probably aren't going so easy for them. What about the broken hearts of those who have become involved this intimately and then broke off the relationship? What of the law suits and child support payments to a woman you are no longer with?

Look at the Old Testment account of David. He pursued sex outside of what God gave him, and the son that was born died, the later sons turned against him and each other, and David kills a man to cover up what he had done. Does this sound like fun?

Money

The Proverbs have much to say about money. They tell us that a man's gifts make a way for him before kings, and you can be sure that way involved some payments. They also tell us to work hard that we may be able to afford a nice home and clothes, and a family. God has intended for us to be paid for our work, and has given instructions on paying a worker according to his work and ability. Jesus speaks of a good servant who takes his money and invests it wisely earning a great reward. All of these things and more tell us that God has intened that we earn money and save it up so we can enjoy some nicer things in this life.

We are given stearn warnings however that loving our money will only lead to losing the money we greedily hoarded for ourselves (Ecclesiastes 5:9-11). The more we get and pursue the more we begin to worry about losing it. Will someone steal it? Will someone kill us to take it away? Or, what is most common in our pursuit of wealth, we work away the days with no time for family, friends, or God, instead we work more and more in order that we may have more wealth. Our friends are bought, our family is gone, and we stop thinking about God altogether. Look around you at work some day. How many of those with big checks have had their marriage end in divorce? Those same people, are they always at work, pursuing the next big thing? What enjoyment does this bring?

What about the many get rich quick schemes we see on TV, at the gas station, tacked to a telephone poll? How many people have poured out their savings or taken a loan to get started with their work from home program that ends with only making the program owner wealthier. When we start focusing on making it, and not on just getting by with what the Lord has given us we fall into many foolish traps (1 Timothy 6:9-11).

There is nothing wrong with any of these things. God has given us grapes, and has even commanded that we pass the cup of wine at his table. God has given us sexual desires and has provided a wonderful fulfillment in marriage. God has given us money that we may buy and sell and provide for our families. Yet with each of these things when we put them above him and begin pursuing them above what is prescribed, we find our addiction leads to pain.

I want to live a long, rich and honorable life. I am and will enjoy all of these things that God has given me. What about you? Do you want to enjoy the blessings of these things in a way that will keep you from foolish pain?

The pharisees made fun of Jesus and his commands, but in the end they received the dreadful end of their sins, death for eternity in hell (Luke 16:13-15). Will you go out and drink yourself silly in the name of good time, only to shame yourself, friends and parents? Will you give yourself intimately to any you choose, and wind up with AIDS, broken hearted, or with a fatherless child? Will you pursue money above all else, only to find yourself outspent, without a savings because the stock market crashed, and alone because you have no time for anyone except work?

There is a better way. A way that will allow you to taste all of these beautiful things. A way that leads to peace, joy, and happiness unending. Jesus said he is the way, that we come to heaven through him and that for all eternity. Come and enjoy him.

What is hope?

2 Corinthians 5:1

What hope is there in this life? Why do we get out of bed each day and do the things we do? What drives you to keep on? Money? Fame? Good looks? You will get old, your money will get spent, and your fame will get passed to someone younger and new. So what then drives you? What will give you hope as you lie on a hospital bed a few inches from death?

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. God who before the mountains were formed purposed to send his son for you, wants you to know that there is hope. He promised that all those who come to him will find peace and rest. He promised that He will go before us and make a place not built with human hands, a place that cannot be destroyed, a place that cannot be described for its magnitude and wonder is beyond our imagination. This place he says we can one day come to if we will but believe.

There are times in our life when all seems dark and gray. Those days when we have failed again, when we have let our loved ones down, or when we have lost something dear to us. Yet, we have a friend who will be there for us. A friend who cannot die, and a friend who brings us life. When we walk through these valleys we need not be afraid if he is with us. His hands are strong and there is none on earth or in heaven that can take us away from him.

One day we will stand before him. On that day we will give account for our lives. If we have believed HE, he himself will welcome us home.

Happy Easter!

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:24

Happy Easter. In yesterdays post I talked about sin and focused on what Jesus bore on the cross. Today however let's look at what this means for us.

If we are guilty of breaking God's law and are going to be damned to Hell for eternity, we need help. Hell we are told is a horrible place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, a place where we will forever reap the payment for our sins.

But, God in his mercy has made a way for us to be freed from this punishment. Instead of eternity in Hell he offers eternity in Heaven. Heaven is described as the new city of Jerusalem, a wonderful and awesome place beyond our comprehension.

How then do we get this mercy and enter into Heaven? Jesus bore our sins on the cross and there he died paying once for all the penalty for our sins. His death payed the debt we owed.
Jesus came to earth with the purpose of freeing us from our sins. He knew from the beginning that his life on earth would end in his taking our place on the cross, shedding his blood to free us from Hell. He willingly laid down his life so that we could live.

Imagine for a moment that you owed 200 million dollars to someone. The money was theirs and you took it by some illegal means. Your punishment was to pay them back while in jail, and you would not be released until it was paid in full. It would be impossible for you to pay that debt back. Your hope of ever seeing another free day would be gone.

That is exactly how we stand before God. The Bible tells us that if we break just one of God's laws it is as if we broke all of them. In this state then we are hopelessly condemned and deserving of Hell. We have no ground upon which to argue our case. The law states that we are guilty and only mercy can set us free.

Now imagine that your 200 million dollar debt was paid by someone. The guards come and release you from prison. You ask them how this can be since you have only paid a few dollars back and they tell you that John Smith paid your debt.

This is what Jesus has done for us. God's law clearly condemned us to death. But Jesus came to earth perfectly kept God's laws and then died in our place to pay the debt we owed. Best of all, he not only died, but rose again from the dead conquering sin so that we may live in righteousness.

Our debt is paid. Our sins forgiven. All we have to do is repent and believe. Do you believe? Come to Jesus this Easter day and celebrate, truly celebrate what he has done for you.

What is a Christian? Does it even matter?

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:24

What is a Christian? I think the first question is why does it even matter? Do we need to be saved, and if so from what?

The verse above tell us that He (Jesus) bore our sins. So lets start with that. What are our sins? Sin is simply defined as any breaking off from God's law, whether by deed or by thought.

Many of can say we keep God's law outwardly. That is, we don't kill people and we don't do drugs. But what of this idea that our thoughts even condemn us? We are told by Jesus that if we just lust after a woman in our minds we are guilty of adultery, or if we are angry with another without good cause, we are guilty of murder.

Let's expand on this concept. Have you ever been driving down the road and been cut off by someone? What was your reaction? Did you respond kindly in word and deed? What about in thought? Yes, they cut you off and that is rude, but what was your response? Did you kill them with your mind?

Now let's consider our outward deeds. Do you know any of the 10 commandments? Here are a few:

1. You shall have no other God's before me.
4. Remember the Sabaath and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.

Of these three which have you broken? Where were you last Sunday? Church? Football game? Sleeping? Working? If Sunday is now the Lord's Day, then what should be done on that day?
What about your parents? Have you ever talked back to them? I am willing to bet that all of us at some point have disobeyed our parents. Think back to highschool.....

So, we are guilty of breaking God's laws. If not in deed at least in thought. And if we are guilty then God tells us that the punishment is eternal punishment in Hell. Since we are guilty of breaking his laws, then we are deserving of the punishment that he tells us will come to those who break his commands.

Good works, faith without works is dead.

Discussed this today with the high school sunday school class. Let us walk in good works.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

I am posting this from ping.fm. Just trying it out.