Mobile Ministry Magazine

Carnival of the Mobilists #180

2009-07-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

The 180th Carnival of the Mobilists has gone up at M-Trends. Great articles for this week's reading.

There's only two weeks until I (personally) host the Carnival of the Mobilists over at my personal website. I wasn't thinking about it until this morning, and now I'm nervous.

(How to Do) Content Independence

2009-07-01T13:00:00.001-04:00

In a conversation via Twitter (yes, I know that's a bit of an oxymoron) after yesterday's post, the idea that content needs to be independent was in some respects validated, but there's that aspect of publishers and developer rights that's rarely heard in this discussion. So I asked, what would this question of content independence look like if we didn't just say "we want it" but actually proposed a "how to do it?"

So let's try and answer that. And your feedback is key (especially those of you with some vested careers in this).

Here are some thoughts I have:

Start with the content that is already within the domain of users (notes, bookmarks, etc.). This content should already be using an XML-based format that is readable in any Bible application regardless of platform (PC, mobile, Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.). This much should be done now. I'd say a commonly supported plugin that any Bible application can use that would unify formatting and content types would be enough for this.
Concerning those newer translations which are already available in the public domain through publisher agreements (thinking ESV, NET, and a few others); where can open source developers and advocates join together in coding and marketing this raw content to whatsoever persons/orgs need it? In this way, we leverage open source not so much for the cost savings, but for the people-energy that it generates. Allow the push to use the software come from the grassroots angle (small groups, the pastorate, etc.) and then also the bigger angles (software and educational organizations banding together to promote code and/or study camps for example). Use that energy to create points of engagement and interest from those outside of those groups.
Publishers have a vested interest in keeping their formats licensed, so how about instead of attaching the license to the Bibles, the license is attached to the user(s). Much like what some software companies do, publishers would allow a user or group of users to purchase a license which allows limited usage of that content; and a digital token is given that is simply asked to be reregistered a few times a year at no cost. Publishers get sales and metrics; people get content in as many ways as they can view it.

Those are some of my ideas. What about yours?

Content Independence

2009-06-30T13:36:00.001-04:00

With the new version of the Firefox web browser (v3.5) released today, I thought that it would be great to bring back up that topic of content independence. Specifically, when it comes to reading materials (Bibles, commentaries, etc.), are these items independent of a particular browser or reading application?

I don't know that it is. Sure; there are more powerful and capable devices than ever before. And we can say that there's more digital content out there than ever before as well. But when it comes to moving that content from one device to another (for example from PC to mobile), a lot of times, we are locked into one method and don't realize it until we want to move.

I liken it to many of the desktop-grade Bible applications that are out there. All of them have some excellent content available; however, if you want to take that content with you, for many of these you would have to either purchase an entirely different library (software client and content), or manage some complex tasks before it can even be in a complimentary format.

And I don't want to say it to fault the publishers and developers; truly, they do a great work in building and supporting the breadth of languages, regions, devices, and content available to date. However, I do want to call them to attention - especially in light of the move to users becoming more and more independent of a PC-based computing paradigm.

Content should be just that; content. It shouldn't be attached to the presentation layer, nor should politics allow one silo to have prominence over another. If we are truly looking to good on teaching people to the ends of the earth, at the very least, content needs to be independent of the former ideas of reader/application.

This might look like Firefox, where mobile browsers take on an ability to utilize extensions which enable more functionality (this done at the developer or publisher level). Or this could simply look like more partnerships between publishers, developers, and users towards making content available, and sharing the load for marketing, management, and support.

Whatever is the solution though, I'm not sure that many Bible publishers and software companies will be able to stand pat as they are now: using dedicated readers, coding for specific browsers only, or limiting themselves to policial divisions in the hope of keeping marketshare. If the goal is to educate to the point of making disciples, then the content needs to be independent so that the accountability (individually and corporately) can take the primary focus of ministry activity.

Sugar Labs and Reimaging Learning

2009-06-29T13:00:00.000-04:00

Here at MMM, we spend a lot of time talking about mobile technology education. And there's a good reason for that - there isn't much talk about it out here. At the same time, the idea of what makes up various learning methodologies tends to change all around us. After taking a spin through the archives here, and thinking about my own workflow methods, I started asking the question if in this more-digital time, that we are taking the time to reassess how we teach and learn various items.

One of the rabbit trails led me to looking at the group called Sugar Labs. These are the folks responsible for the operating system which is on the OLPC device. I immediately gathered from looking at their website is that effective teaching requires one to constantly reevaluate how they are learning.

For example, in a small group that I lead, we talk through the subject "how to study the Bible." However, that "how" becomes a very wide question in the context of learning styles, economics, and even attention spans. In our current study, I'm challenged with helping the team learn about different methods of utilizing cross referencing in order to understand and learn Scripture and to this I'm challenged towards really paying attention to what they are learning and then presenting the lessons in ways they can grab and excel with. To this point, I don't know yet what will be successful, but I do know that if I'm not careful to consider their eyes, then they'll miss seeing the point.

The other part of this is that I've got to look at how I'm learning. Today I'm making decisions regarding different screens that I use in my personal workflow. Those screens describe a bit of the spatial way that I learn and parse information and my environment. In this, I see that the environment isn't under my control, but I do control how I learn from it. For those things mobile, this is a key point that separates it greatly from other media.

Challenges to Real Mobile (Tech) Ministry

2009-06-28T13:00:00.000-04:00

Some weeks ago, and probably even as this post is going up, the MMM account was sent two emails, one was from a pastor in India, the other from one in Central Africa. Both looking for something that presents me with a significant challenge - they asked for someone to come teach them utilizing the mobile and biblical know-how that they have seen on these pages.

Normally speaking, emails of this sort come in and I'm quick to pray (read: forget) about them. But these two have stayed in the inbox, staring at me for a number of days. And I'm challenged. Challenged because for once, I'm not sure how to respond.

Yes, there's the literal going overseas and talking with people I've never met (but isn't that was a missionary does). Then there's also the challenge. Does MMM speak anything of relevance to those audiences that are already mobile and just looking to sharpen their edges towards what God has called them to do - connect, share, teach, and build? I don't know. And the challenge in front of me in this keeps me totally still.

And then I read this piece over at TechCrunch (Crossing the Digital Divide, Rwanda Style), and I start to see yet another challenge. That the comforts of the misplaced views of mobile-life here in the states has dulled my abilities to see what is happening in other places. I mean, this is the reality of it. Else reading this wouldn't be challenging me in the same wise that the OLPC challenge did for me the past two years.

God, I wish that I could just pick up from the day-gig, go to these places, serve Christ, and learn from people who are doing this a whole lot better than I am currently. Though God, I'm challenged with the thought that presented with the means to go, that I'll shrek back, fearful that I've been talking here a whole long time and don't really know what I'm talking about.

To this I'm challenged, to be really ministring via these mobiles, not just in those places that are comfortable.

Don't Take Your iPod To Church

2009-06-26T13:00:00.001-04:00

This is another great post series that has been going on and has recently concluded. Over at Challies the topic of discussion is simply titled "Don't Take Your iPod to Church." The series is in multiple parts (Part 1, Part 1.5, and Part 2), but all are some great reading.

And you can bet that I've made a post there. Here's my comment towards what was written in Part Two. Hope to see you commenting there (and here) :D

Twittering in Church (My Response)

2009-06-25T13:00:00.001-04:00

I responded to another of Gabe's insightful posts (Twittering in Church) because its a subject that I think needs all kinds of abilities to understand. Afterwards, I wanted to post the response here - as this is a slightly different audience - and continue some of that discussion because it hits on areas of contention that have been had online and off. At the same time, this is the kind of discussion that we should be having as a gathering (here @ MMM) of tech-enabled, worshipers of God. Here's the comment (please do read the blog posting and comments afterwards for the complete context):

Teaching what is appropriate and not is a cultural and social function [of technology]; this should be something that is done independent of the technology trends [for example in discipleship], and at the same time it [the teaching/discipling] should mind those trends and give wisdom where needed.

Simply saying that "because a pastor is preaching doesn't mean you should be texting and tweeting" is not a remedy for the issue – that is, you are only addressing symptoms of a greater thought that most likely wasn't taught. Namely: ethics (re: Proverbs and Ecc.).

It is only after teaching these ethical issues of social, technology, and culture that one can sit and make the rules that others suppose should be the case of this digitally native and very social generation. I’m sorry folks, but most of you commenting are more like myself where you sit as a late Gen X or early Gen Y-er; you aren’t native to this way of communitating and therefore your "rules" and "perceptions" will cause more problems than they solve.

To those peeved that people can text better than they can recite books and doctrine, do a better job discipling and then maybe you won't have the tech issue to harp on as loudly. And yes, I very much practice what I preach – Gabe can totally vouch for that much.

Lastly, I too am of the opinion that "church" is what happens in-between the Sunday worship gatherings. That the active acts of creating community with people in and outside of the Christian faith should be what defines church. If this action is spilling over into our use of tech, and moreso into those worship gatherings, then we need to (a) redefine and further emphasize what it means to be a gathering of worshippers, and (b) do a much better job of discipling one another towards healthy boundaries and margins, making sure that we don't miss that knowledge and understanding of this specific time and space towards technology, while sharing the implications of this change and what it needs to mean for us and those around us as we engage in this thing called church.

Understanding the Pitfalls of This Social Generation

2009-06-24T13:00:00.000-04:00

As much as yesterday's post was about what could be the future of engaging with one another, there's also the present reality that not everything is so clear cut and easy to deal with. Most definitely there are pirates, spammers, bots, trojans, and numerous other entities on this world wide web that has made it just as dangerous as it is adventurous. Check out this snippet from the piece titled Loki's Net:

Social media like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, GovLoop, and many others are very attractive venues for CNE by our adversaries because they are easily accessible, target-rich environments that can be exploited with little to no risk under cover of anonymity.

...According to a recent study conducted for one of the U.S. Armed Services, 60% of the service members involved in the study have posted enough information on MySpace to make themselves vulnerable to adversary targeting. And these weren’t only young recruits making bad Operations Security (OPSEC) decisions. The 60% group included officers and enlisted troops from Intelligence and Security postings as well as other sensitive positions posting such things as units they have deployed with, new duty stations, personal medical data, job duties, information about training, and pictures of themselves at deployed locations...

Read the rest of Loki's Net at O'Reilly Radar.

Nevertheless, knowing and being aware of how and how much you connect with one another online helps you be aware of potential issues, and from there, you can make contingency plans for if you do encounter anything of dire consequence.

The Future of MMM (Wave, Unite, and Social Objects)

2009-06-23T13:00:00.004-04:00

I've been trying to figure out how to best comment on Google Wave, but really, all I can say is that it would be great that if as a web destination, that the conversations and interactivity here could mimic what was demonstrated with Google Wave. I think that in terms of conversations, connecting, and communication, that this is the kind of rich functionality that we should be looking towards here.

That being said, doing such things is near impossible at this point. There are too many variables that need to be taken into account (I think). Not to say that its impossible, but in this case, finding out how to beat impossible is fun and taxing.

That being said, I do think that Opera Unite points a direction as to how this could be done. It would have to be something in respect to making literal connections, but allowing collaboration and shared learning to be the thread moreso than it is now.

I see the content here as a smattering of social objects that we take like pieces of Legos then going back and forth crafting out appropriate uses of them. Commenting in places; literally dialoging in others; but all together making the conversation named MMM. While all the subjects within these conversations uses these elements to further empower people and communities towards seeing "Jesus with skin on" beyond this intersection of faith and mobile tech.

Addressing Assistive Technologies

2009-06-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

Are there any readers/listeners, of MMM who deal with the issue of assistive technology needs? I'm looking specifically for someone who might have some insight into the development of better mobile-enabled tools, such as the Braille-PDA that we spoke about a few months ago. Please either leave a comment, or utilize the contact page as I'd like to speak to you directly. Thanks in advance.

The Role of Mobile in Youth Cognitive Development

2009-06-21T13:00:00.001-04:00

This is a subject that I'm working on understanding a bit more these days - in part because I sit on the line between Gen X and Y - that being the subject of the role that mobile (devices, services, lifestyles, etc.) play in the cognitive development of youth (youth being under the age of 18yrs).

There is a post over at the Next Great Thing blog which goes into this and takes a similar view to what we took here during the Parents and Mobile Kids series. Namely, that even though technology is moving faster, for these kids who are digital natives they "will still have to navigate developmental cognitive stages" just as we all have. Though the NGT blog is geared towards marketers, this article shows some of the insight within other fields which helps to recognize and better understand the implications of mobile technology within this intersection.

Bible References on Twitter with Ref.ly

2009-06-19T13:00:00.000-04:00

This was pointed out to me a few days ago and is a pretty neat service for those of you looking to share Bible verses with folks on Twitter, and would like to have them actually link to the verse.

The service is called Ref.ly (http://ref.ly) and is by the folks over at Logos. Basically, its a URL shortening service just for Bible verses.

Sure, there's a pretty narrow need for something like this, but there is a need. And the best part is that this works whether you are just posting the links to twitter, or looking for a short URL to send to someone via SMS.

Check it out and let us know (via twitter - @mobileminmag) what you think of Ref.ly. And, can you think of other uses for this kind of service?

Possible Bugs with Olive Tree BibleReader and iPhone 3.0

2009-06-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

Just a headsup that there may be two bugs that you would encounter if you are using Olive Tree's BibleReader software with the iPhone and the new 3.0 OS that is now available. Details of the issues are posted at the Olive Tree blog.

Tech After Planting

2009-06-17T13:00:00.001-04:00

My bro Jamie is at it again with another post talking about how he's gone about integrating technology in his recent church plant, and that process has gone.

This time he posts about presentation software, including some Mac vs PC aspects. Here's a snippet:

...Two years later I have consistently used multimedia to enhance our services. Using PowerPoint's to accompany my train of thought and provide visuals for our congregations. Controlling the music through iTunes acting as the dj. I have deployed a number of methods of media. Some have sailed and some have sunk. That has not deterred me. I am always looking to improve our technologies seaminglessness, quality and purpose to enhance rather than take away from our weekly gatherings...

Read the rest at the Inspire blog, and follow Jamie and his church (In the Light Ministries Philly) via Twitter (@pastorjc).

What kinds of issues have you had with using various presentation-based technology? I tend to be a "display from my mobile device" kind of person myself ;)

Not A Storefront, Just A Servant

2009-06-15T13:05:00.003-04:00

I just posted this on my personal website, but the feelings probably should ressonate here some too. Here's a snippet:

...I tend to think though that if I can display Christ in this, that somehow I can reform my heart and mind to understanding that there is a servant's heart aspect to mobile that is missed and that I'm probably pioneering to some level. Its an honest assessment that I don't always feel that this is service. There's just so much out there that I get hit with in terms of the who, what, and what's next. But when Christ isn't left out of it, mobile is a fruit to someone else... somehow...

Read the rest at my personal site (well, for as long as I'm not in the mist of moving to yet another mobile).

Just the thoughts of a guy in mobile whose faith intersects with every piece of his use with it.

Change Tech Yes, But Change Behavior First

2009-06-14T13:00:00.001-04:00

I embarked on a bit of communication cleansing this week. In the early part of the week, I answered some questions relating to ministry activities. Then some items at work had be both flustered and prayerful. And then the (near) big thing; I made a call to eliminate email from my life.

Now let me say this. Its almost impossible to do so due to MMM, Brighthand, and work responsibilities. However, personally, I can do this, and it would be hard, but possible. So I set about forwarding various personal email addresses to my mobile phone number's email address. Every mobile phone number is an email address, and messages sent to it would become SMS (text) messages.

I then set up some autoresponders for those email addresses letting people know that its best from this point out to contact me via SMS and/or IM. And because I'm stingy with both SMS and IM, I know (based on relationship to me) whom will contact me how.

So I made this change and you know the first thing I noticed? I get way too much email that I don't read. I'm speaking of newsletters and such. I just don't read them. And getting these extremely long messages as SMSes didn't help one bit to make me read them. So I've set about unsubscribing from them all.

Of course, not everything was that simple. I needed to also change the email addresses for those entities that I like to the mobile email/SMS address. That was harder than I thought it would be because I needed to click on links to verify the change, but the links were usually broken. So I had to type (copy) the link down in Notepad and then click on it in another web browser so that I could make that change. Thankfully, that only had to be done twice.

Lastly, its responding to people. Already I've had some people message me asking what is the correct email address because a SMS is too small; I simply responded that if it can't be said in 160 characters, then you probably are saying too much, or should call/visit to discuss it.

Sounds harsh, but there's a point I'm trying to make with this. We have all noticed that (certain types of) tech has gotten to the point where its ruling our lives. Where we are bending-over-backwards-and-above to see who is contacting us when, and a lot of times the messages can wait or be better prioritized. Because SMS is about as pervasive as messaging gets and not web-based, I ensure that I get the message, but the response time is still up to me. If you will, I'm changing my behavior to address the content/context, not the will of the technology.

Given this story, I'd like to encourage you to think about your use of technology. It may very well be that you need certain types of interactions for your life/work. However, if you are letting the Facebooks, tweets, emails, SMSes, IMs, and voice calls rule you, then you are no more than one of Pavlov's dogs, simply responding to a bell, rather than using your will to delegate the importance of the communication. Find better filters; then change your response to messages with them. You have only so-large of a bucket of things you can take in (directly and indirectly).

To those messaging you, they too should respect context. Not everything needs to be said in three pages (like this post), and many things need more than 160 characters. Find a balance, and then clearly communicate which methods are best for them to best reach you. You might not get rid of all the junk that comes your way, but the reduction in stress will allow you to better serve Christ and others with the tech you've resigned yourself to use.

Today's Reflection

2009-06-12T13:13:00.002-04:00

This was something that I started reflecting on today as I was in between venues. I feel that its a very important question to reflect towards, not just because of this site's mobile focus, but even in the sense of as the Body of Christ, are we really change agents, or posts from change gone by:

What happens to the church when the building is removed and the real distance between our hearts for one another becomes realized?

Question: Mobile-Only-Use

2009-06-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

Are there any of you who utilize only a mobile device (speaking of mobile or smartphone only) to communicate and connect with those around you? I'm looking to hear from you and your experiences.

Answer here or via Twitter (DM @mobileminmag)

Reposting Poll on an In-Person MMM

2009-06-10T13:00:00.001-04:00

Still looking for some responses from the reading audience towards last week's poll question:

If MMM was available to you as a small group that meets semi-locally once or twice a month, would that appeal to you?

Place your thoughts in the comments.

Carnival of the Mobilists, Thoughts on Mobile

2009-06-09T13:00:00.003-04:00

Two things of note since this is pretty much a light posting day.

First is to let you know of the 177th Carnival of the Mobilists. As usual, there are a smattering of pieces by mobile-oriented bloggers from all over. I've got a piece in this week's postings as well, though I'll warn you that it might offend a bit ;)

Then there are these thoughts/actions on mobile that I'm pondering in my head: for instance, my church is small, and we have a few college students home for the summer. There aren't many things to do towards keeping them occupied, and so I wanted to do a bit of Friday night fellowships. However, being so SMS/mobile-oriented, I'm debating on the best usages of a service like Church Texting Manager to make it happen best and keep it in a position where others can just find out about it on a whim.

Then I have some thoughts about how to handle some of the requests from friends and family towards helping them to attain a solid mobile device. Now personally, I simply go to Craigslist and find a good deal. But really, who has the time for that. Maybe something like the MMM Smartphone Guide can be done in a smaller, more search-friendly format that would make it easier for people to not just shop, but purchase devices on their own effectively.

I'm also wondering if MMM can include those who bike. You know? Just keeping it mobile ;) hehehe.

Contributed Post: Sunday School and Olive Tree

2009-06-08T13:00:00.000-04:00

As a Sunday school teacher I had tried for years to make sure I have all the recourses available to teach my students and also answer the questions they have at the moment they have them. The trouble is, it was getting harder to carry all those books. Each Sunday I was bringing 2 bibles, a concordance, dictionary and a few Christian books that helped me teach my class. These books all toted around in a bag got to be real heavy. I had to find a new way to do all this but with smaller books.

Talking to the pastor and a few members of my church I came across this company that offered me all I was asking for and the ability to carry all the books I was bringing each week, but this time they only weighed a few ounces. That right, I said ounces. The website was Olive Tree Bible Software (www.MyPDABible.com).

There are many advantages to this software verses the others out there. For one thing, it was a program that worked on my Palm OS smart phone. Olive Tree has the ability to work on palm, windows mobile, I phones, and even java enabled cell phones. The selection of books is amazing as well. You can find standard bibles, study bibles, even bibles in different languages there. In addition, they have concordances, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and even a large selection of Christian eBooks? This software was what I was looking for.

Don't get me wrong, this is not the only software out there, but it is the only software for me. I find while I'm teaching a class I can look something up in my concordance, and then with a click of the stylus the program will open up my default bible right to the book, and verse I was looking for. In addition, when I'm in my personal bible study time, I can open up a bible and a commentary and view them both at the same time. As I scroll through the bible, the commentary will scroll along with me. That way I'm always on the correct section and I can help to find answers faster.

The ability to open up multiple things inside one program and look at them side by side is important, and the Olive Tree Bible program does it for you. Whether you are a laity in your church, a minister, or a bible student, you will get the most out of this program. If you are in the market for an electronic bible, I hope that you would check out Olive Tree Bible Software before you purchase any program. I'm sure you will be just as happy as I am.

This has been a contributed post by Fred J Claus. Direct any comments about this piece to this post. If you would like to contribute a note or two about how you are using mobile technology within ministry efforts, drop us a line via the contact page.

Understanding and Applying Mobile Wisely

2009-06-07T13:00:00.002-04:00

One of many great reads from the past weeks comes from the Vodaphone Receiver. In this piece titled The Lamp Posts on Brick Lane, author Carl Honore (In Praise of Slow) talks about some of the implications of mobile technology (some of which were covered in the MMM BibleTech Presentation) and what we can do about it. Here's a snippet:

...Overdosing on mobile communication can also mess up the relationship we have with ourselves. Human beings need moments of silence and solitude: to rest and recharge, to think deeply and creatively, to look inside and confront the big questions, ΄Who am I? How do I fit into the world? What is the meaning of life?΄.

That isn't likely to happen when your mind is constantly wondering if you have new email or if it's time for a fresh tweet.

So where do we go from here? Are we doomed to a future of falling IQs, superficial relationships and walking into lamp posts? I hope not. Whenever a new technology comes along, it takes time to work out the cultural rules and protocols to get the most from it. Mobile communication is no exception: it is neither good nor bad, what matters is how we use it...

Read the rest of this piece at the Vodaphone Receiver. Then, find yourself a place of quiet reflection.

Tinkering Places

2009-06-05T13:00:00.001-04:00

This post follows the meme of many of the other thoughts posted this week, and at the same time, it plays on its own. The meme is that innovation requires space, freedom (in Christ), and a good bit of tinkering.

Tinkering? Yes. The ability to play with something for the desired effect of creating something new, but protracted over an extended period of time. If you will, using that inventor's juice and crafting a world around you that is (hopefully) better than it was the day before.

Now, I like to tinker. And if you've been around MMM since its inception (or for just the past two weeks), you might notice that I tinker all over the place. Sometimes its web design, sometimes it content, sometimes it something else entirely that points back and through here. All in all, its that "innovator's juice" that keeps me tweaking and looking for something that sparks others (to Him).

I think that is where this comment came into play best for me:

...These are problems that cannot be entrusted to technocrats or elites: complex problems have to be solved collectively. In such a world, the only way to make a better future is to have people learn to create their own futures: to develop the capacity to solve problems, to see the consequences of their actions, and to be able to act now in ways that help them reach a better future. In other words, people have to learn how to tinker with the future. Not only that, but tinkering's lack of respect for intellectual boundaries, its willingness to experiment, its emphasis on solutions and goals, and its social openness, make it a match for wicked problems...

This is from a post titled Tinkering to the Future. This author makes the statement that we have to continue to allow people to tweak and tinker with whatever we are doing now in cyberspace to create something next.

I want to take that a bit further. We should create spaces to tinker. Whether that is something as simple as learning workshops where all you do is play, or something less structured like meetups and tech-play-dates where coders, developers, parents, leaders, all galvanize around a common aim - play and see what happens.

There's a young teen that I mentor. The past few weeks has seen him playing with my phones and asking me questions about how/why I got into writing about mobile. The conversations almost seem to go nowhere, and at the same time, its a time for him to play within himself to something that might or might not be what's next for him. To me, fostering that kind of environment for him is just as important as keeping him on task about his grades. I wonder. Can the Body become a place where tinkering is not just allowed, but fostered into something new?

Amazon Kindle 2 Review: A Pastor's Perspective

2009-06-04T13:00:00.001-04:00

Last week in Philly, I had lunch with a good friend of mine who is also a pastor of a new church plant in Philly. One of the things that we tend to get to talking about is his use of technology and the many trials and successes that he encounters.

So you can imagine a bit of my surprise when the conversation turned to his Kindle 2 and how he is finding disparate uses for it - even going as far as seeing if it would be a great tool for preaching from. Here's a snippet of his thoughts:

...One thing about me is that I don't like to read unnecessary instructions. I try to see if it's as intuitive as possible without instructions and then I will refer back to the book if need be. The Kindle didn't have much of a learning curve. I toggled through everything to get a feel and wasn't initially thrilled with the feeling of getting my monies worth but I wasn't disappointed either. The look of the words on the screen seemed fake and I would find out later very eye friendly. When I finally started reading some sample materials it was just a good experience. The following days I purchased some books to try to get the fuller effect. What can I say? I loved it. ...

Read the rest of the Amazon Kindle 2 review at Inspire.

One of the things that I liked best about his perspective is that he tends to be one of those people that is not afraid to try something new. Sure, sometimes you end up with egg on your face, but as you try different things, you start to develop and appreciation for the details that God takes when He created us and the world around us.

Contentment - Modeling Jesus' Character w/Tech

2009-06-03T13:00:00.002-04:00

Great guy I met at BibleTech (Gave Taviano) published part four in a series called WWJD With Technology. This piece is called Contentment, and while its something that we've spoken about a few times here, its great to hear it said a bit differently. Here's a snippet:

...We're not really familiar with making do with what we have. At all times there's at least one things we DON'T have. The idea of just needing necessities is foreign to us. Paul gives us a dose of advice in 1 Timothy 6:6-8, reminding us that all we really need is food and a place of shelter. No matter what circumstances we are in, like Paul in Philippians 4:11-13, we usually have more than we need...

Read the rest at Gave Taviano's blog.

Other items in this series include: Piracy, Popularity, Social, and Pornography. All great topics, and some solid wisdom being passed along here. Definitely should be bookmarked for memory and lessons.