Mobile Ministry Magazine

I came across this ebook browsing I think about 18 months or 2 years ago. Published by Zondervan (Grand Rapids, Michigan), Streams in the Desert was originally published in 1925 but has been recently updated. Cowman was a missionary with her husband to China & Japan in the early 1900's. Cowman wrote this book following the death of her husband after 6 years of caring for him when he became sick. It's no surprise then that Cowman knew all about trouble and heartache and the 366 daily readings are a gold mine of encouraging Christian devotional writings incorporating poetry, references to scripture and remarkable little stories that could only come from experiencing many years of trouble, pain, suffering and through it all being sustained by God and his scriptures. If you follow the Christian path, you can expect trouble in this world - the New Testament makes that clear (e.g. see Matthew 24:9). Other than the Good Book, I have come across few writings as enduringly calming and helpful as this one so far - having had some persistent troubles in recent years. Cowman makes use of writings from a number of learned Christians she has known and the result is a fountain of wisdom and reassurance flowing from every chapter. It has become my most regularly read book - a 'days chapter' being read most days. Even if I'm struggling top get into the Scriptures the writings in this book will often provide much needed wisdom and turn me, to paraphrase how the author put it 'to learn to see things from Gods perspective' - his thinking is not like ours, especially in times of trouble! The daily readings are not long either - so carried on your PDA it's ideal for a few paragraphs of quick encouragement, on the train, in the Dr's waiting room, in 'the bathroom’ (!) - I must have read this book in bits more places than maybe any other! So, I highly recommended for mobile reading

It's reasonably priced at ereader.com ($8.99) and you'll need a copy of the eReader book reader software which you can download (www.ereader.com) there too for free -there may be other ebook sellers selling it too (let us know if you find it cheaper!) Also I've seen it for sale at the likes of amazon.com in 'hard copy' form should you want it as a gift or just the old fashioned way :-)

Here's the ereader.com link : http://ereader.com/product/detail/5831

Article by Adrian Stephenson (UK)

This was said before I probably even thought about Mobile Ministry Magazine; quite prophetic in some ways, and very much siomething to keep in mind on others.

"The internet causes billions of images to appear on millions of computer
monitors around the planet. From this galaxy of sight and sound will the
face of Christ emerge and the voice of Christ be heard? For it is only when
his face is seen and his voice heard that the world will know the glad
tidings of our redemption.”

Pope John Paul II
Message for 36th World Communications Day

Hello all;
Once again, I want to thank all of you who are visiting Mobile Ministry Magazine. I hope that the posts here are informative, and at the same time challenge you in your walk to be a moon (that is, reflect the light of the Son).

Just a note about the constant updating and the like; I will update MMM only 6 days a week. That way, I and other contributors can have a day to just spend in rest and prayer, and it also gives you the reader to catch up and comment on the postings of the past week. Don't get me wrong, it is not that I don't want to update MMM all the time, I just realized more than anything that even though it is the Internet, it doesn't mean that God's principles of sowing and reaping don't matter here either. To sow a spirit of rest, as well as reflection is how I walk my life offline, and how with this ministry that I will be conducting online.

That now said, scroll down the page and catch up on something from earlier this week. There might be something that you missed before..

Last thing: there will be some other updates to the MMM this coming week as I have gotten a fair share of really good requests. I will do my best to follow through on those that will keep MMM the front end of the magazine. Issue two will be coming soon (sooner if there was a page layout on my T5, from where I am posting this). If you have any suggestions concerning downloadable formats, like Plucker, RepliGo, PDF, etc. just let me know and I will do what I can to make those availiable.

All of you have a blessed weekend. See you on Monday.

Greetings and many blessings to Pastor Steve and Andrew; who both have prayed much and contributed much to helping develop MMM. You may even be seeing some posts from them soon (if they so choose to bless the site).

To Trev and the rest of represent the body of Christ. I thank you.

Sitting at the forums for Holy Culture Radio; I am always struck by the faith testimonies of the many artists there. Some of them have the story of being down to nothing but the rhymes in their heart, and then seeing that God is in control, they move with Him and have moved themselves and otherrs towards eternal life with the King. Probably the most infulential issues of faith concern a brother whom I've seen in ministry many times. His name is da T.R.U.T.H. and he reminds me of myself with his kind of testimony. He wasn't strung out on drugs and girls, but was more than anything a head case. I was a lot like that, I studied a lot to try to prove that God doesn't exist. All that did in the end was make me tired with a bunch of information in my head. Now saved almost 8 years, I see that the hardest hurdle that I have is faith. For all that I know that is true about God, I did so much to create the arena where faith was the subject of what I can prove, rather than what is true. As you walk through MMM, I urge you tto evaluate how you've grown to approach God. Are you coming to Him in faith, not wavering? Or, are you sincerly looking to please Him - not just with technology - with everything that is within you. Something to think about as you take that PDA to another person to show them that you can make phone calls and send an appointment at the same time.

Something that I realized on the trian to Philly today is that one issue that I should also cover on this site is the different power accessories that one might need when traveling. Unfortunately, I found myself without fresh batteries for my palmOne Universal Keyboard. Now is the time that I wish this keyboard would have been able to connect via IR and via the multi-connector at the bottom of the T5.

In other more soul-worthy news, I am preparing a piece for the site based on a review of the Redeemed Thought CD that I talked about earlier. Those brothers did a really good piece on that CD concerning truth and maybe getting them an apearance on MMM is also something that could happen..

To all that have been giving feedbackk towards MMM, thanks and blessings to you as well. Things will happen when they do. Peace and blessings.

Been paying around with a logo for MMM. So far my thought border on too complex, but I wanted to share what has been going thru my head. Below is the design that I have come up with today (diffent day can mean different design). Three links but one logo(kinda like the Trinity, ya know).

Logo in JPG
Logo in PNG
Logo in SWF

Just wanted to call your attention to the sidebar. It has gone thru an early life reorganization as you can tell. If there are any links that would beneift the Body, shoot me an email and I will make it a note to check it out, pray, and then post.

Was on the way home last night reading the BBC News on my PDA and came across Hosea 4:6 being proclaimed by media. Ok, so not exactly, the article was about how parents who are not net-literate creating environments of failure for their children in net-literacy. When I read that I was like, "wow!" You mean to tell me that when people don't how how to navigate in the world due to their parents, they are set up for failure? Ain't that some living Word for ya.

Was on the way into work thuis morning and while listening to the hidden track on the Rerdeemed Thuoght CD (www.redeemedthought.com), I was convicted of something that is not commonally done on many website forums that I've visited. Namely, the subject was confronting the issue. Meaning that as a believer, you has as much a right, if not more so, to stand for the Gospel that has saved you. It was a great self check for me, as I have found more and more lately that the content and/or attitudes in some forums is a lot less than pleasing to God. We have as much a responsiblity online to confront issues pertaining to faith and Godlines, as much as we do offline.

That is not to say that one should go seeking out every place that someone, or even a complete forum, is walking contrary to Ephesians 4:28. It does mean though that we have been given clear instruction to be holy, as God is holy.; and to be distinct from that which is unclean. If this means having responses that speak towards wisdom and sound council, or just sending a person message to a brother or sister who spoke something in heracy, we have a responsiblity to be holy. That is the issue, and more than just being users of technology, we have to be people who confront the issues alive in technology.

At the crack of midnight, about 45 minutes from the time of this posting, Apple Computers will be releasing an updated version of their OS X (ten) operating system called Tiger. Kinda weird when you think about an apple with stripes. In any respect, if you are in the market for a computer, right now is a great time to get an Apple. Click the here to be taken to Apple's website and see what all the growling is about.

In starting Mobile Ministry Magazine, I already feel that faithfulness will be key to seeing this through. So far, I have had a few friends and family members commend me on starting this resource, but I know that nothing will happen here unless God gives the increase to this seed. For me, this is my hand to the ground with the talents that I have been given. My hope is that you recieve anything that God would need for you to receive as soon as you visit Mobile Ministry Magazine.

In terms of any ministry endavor, faithfulness is most definitley key. You have to be able to see past the unanswered questions to the vision that got you started moving in the first place. It is great to have those times of peace where everything is working for you (as the Paul says in Romans 8:28); but we must also be mindful of those times when the road is hard that faithfulness is key there too (James 1:3-6). Getting past those time will make us better handlers of the tools that we have, and give us the ability to be a blessing to others.

Just a little something to think about as you use your technology to glorify God today: God was faithful to provide this talent/gift to you, what will you do with it to bring glory to His house?

The iPod has been a topic of news lately since people are being robbed in major cities by people who identify them by the white ear buds (really, see CNN talk about it here).

But with all that beautiful music flowing, one has to ask another question, what would you put on your iPod, or other music device. For me, nothing but music that sings praises is the norm. Really, its scriptural, and less stressful. I listen to a good deal of Gospel and Holy Hip Hop, but I like just about all types of meat-heavy Christian music. Always good for thinking, and even better for worship.

Note: That last link will open a Windows Media file.

The Morning Commute
Being in the DC area, I have plenty of time in the morning on the commute to work to see different technology in action. There are some people who go old school and just read the newspaper. There are others who pull out their BlackBerries and read and compose emails, there are even a few people who I see reading on their handheld.. It's kool seeing these types of technology used, but as I sit and write this, I wonder what will come next.. I know that wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and WiFi are already increaing enough in use that trains and buses are becoming mobile networks for many commuters. I look at the idea of eBooks and think that newspapers could easily fit here. I think about people sitting on trains and buses in discussions about the Word or other edyfing topics and using tech to look up the meaning of words or furtherr emphasize a point. I don't know, maybe it is just me, but I see tech everywhere as something that should empower all people, not just those that can afford it..

So what do you think, place your comments via the link below and let's spark something.

Choosing Your Tool
One of the questions that I get quite often is how does one choose between all of the differenent laptop or PDA models that are out there. When you look at the field of what's availiable, it can seem like a never changing sea of devices. And even after getting the device, you have things like what internet service provider you will use, or what kind of backup software would work best.

It's that reason why for a place like Mobile Ministry Magazine. We don't aim to answer every question that you have, but we will give you more than enuogh information so that you can make a well inofrmed decsion. One of the worst feelings to have is buyer's remorse, Seeing something that you just bought now usurped by something better never makes a purchase feel right. But, if you can do your homework and choose wisely out of need, not just the latest and greatest, you will always choose the right tool for the job.

A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
-Proverbs 28:20

When looking at just the book of Proverbs and how it address the actions of the rich and the poor, the actions of wise people and fools, it makes me wonder more often why more people do not take it seriously that how they govern their finances can reflect how they govern their lives. I know that for me, I have taken some hard knocks and it has only been since I have owned a PDA that I have come to understand finances and they way your vision for life is tied into them.

With that said, I recommed a really neat program if you are looking to get a hold of your finances. Splash Money, a personal finance program, helps you to see where your money is going as you make deposits, gifts, and withdraws. It has an excellent budgeting feature, and along with the desktop part of the program, allows you to print reports of what you did in the last month. Splash Money is by no means as full featured as Quicken or MS Money. What it is is a program that you can install to your PDA and that will allow you to carry a digital checkbook so that you can immidiately see where your money is going, and not wait until that report comes at the end of the month. Another neat feature of Splash Money is that if your bank supports connecting via Quicken, then with a wireless handheld, you can use Splash Money to conduct tranactions within your account.
A full review of Splash Money can be found here. The Splash Money website can be found here. There is no time like the present to get your finances in order. It will enable you to be a blessing to others.

Once again I would like to welcome you to Mobile Ministry Magazine. This is a website geared to help Christians who are mobile with technology, get equipped with the books, programs, purchasing info, and principles to reach the ends of the earth with that technology.

I am Antoine. I am a website developer and writer for the PDA websites BargainPDA.com and 1src.com. I don't know how I find time to do all of that and still do MMM and website design on the side, but I have a ton of energy and this is one of the places that I release it.

As you can tell from the side menu, there are links to previoius stories, as well as links to places of interest. One of the things that I have talked to quite a few Christians about is that when they get on the web, that they are saturated and eventually have no place to go. The links list on the right side there is to help you from getting stale (and possibly fallen into temptation) while on the web. There are links to good discussion forms, news sites, and other links soon to come. If you come across a link that you would like to see over there, shoot me an email to mobileministry {at] antoinerjwright.com and I will check it out via inspection and prayer and if it floats, it will be there. I may not be able to put up every link immediately, but if you send it, I will look.

That all being said, stay tuned for the next few days as I will be putting up some more book reviews and some software news that might help some of you who are in the market for a mobile computer, whether that would be a PDA or a laptop. There is a world of tech out there, and we will help you use it to God's glory. That's the vision, and that's my promise.

So you have a new PDA and have no idea where to go to get some really good info on your device. Or maybe you just figured out that you can download programs and would like to know what are the most popular ones. Maybe you are in the market and want to know what other people around the world do with handheld computers. Well, if that is you, check out Palm Addict. One of the largest communities of PDA/handheld computer users that you will find on the web. Palm Addict has some excellent user commentaries, fresh news on anything PalmOS (and other handhelds thrown in there too), and links to plenty of accessory makers. I have been visiting Palm Addict many times a day for a long while now. I really don't know when I started visiting. I just know that if I miss a day, there is a ton of info to catch up on. Palm Addict also has a great forum where there are plenty of wisdom nuggets to be found. So, if you have a PDA and want to know just how crazy people can be about them, check out Palm Addict - who knows, you might become on yourself ;)

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

It seems like going online, trying to find music or discussions that follow this principle is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Sometimes its just hard to find a place online that is just a great place to get some quality "something." But if you have a minute, check out Holy Culture Radio and see what edifying communication can really do for a person. With internet radio shows prodiuced by Victor Padilla and others, these brothers (and sisters?) manage to fill a niche for Christian programming that (in my opinion) rivals what one would find on TBN and other Christian broadcasts.The shows are in Windows Media format, so for now Mac users are not in the loop with this. I am going to be doing some testing soon with Pocket Tunes for the PalmOS to see if one could stream the radio show to their PalmOS PDA (if this works, I'm getting a Treo 650).

So, even if you are not into Holy Hip Hop (or don't know what Holy Hip Hop is), Holy Culture Radio can more than fill your need for some holy communication.

If you have some news that would be beneficial to Mobile Ministry Magazine, drop me a line at mobileministrymagazine@gmail.com and I will be sure to post the info as well as attribution to the person who sent it in. This website is not just the front end to a magazine, but to a community. And what better way to commune when others are bringing food to the table (check how Paul spoke of communinion in 1 Cor. 11 and see how it benefits the body when we come together to serve one another instead of just eating). So send your news in, I'd be more than happy to post it and start the MMM community tasting MMM in the mouth of God :)

Description from eReader.com:
The challenge every man faces... The fight every man can win

From the television to the Internet, print media to videos, men are constantly faced with the assault of sensual images. It is impossible to avoid such temptations... but, thankfully, not impossible to rise above them.

Shattering the perception that men are unable to control their thought lives and roving eyes, Every Man's Battle shares the stories of dozens who have escaped the trap of sexual immorality and presents a practical, detailed plan for any man who desires sexual purity -- perfect for men who have fallen in the past, those who want to remain strong today, and all who want to overcome temptation in the future.

Includes a special section for women, designed to help them understand and support the men they love.

Other Comments
I am reading this book now and find that it is an incredible resource and very challenging to the depths of who I think that I am. I recommend this to any brothers and sisters who are dating or engaged. Even though this is more written towards married people, the challenges and the potholes that you will see before they are a problem will bless you in preparation of married life, and removal of sins and habits from your life. Check it out by clicking this link.

Before I made it to bed on this first day of Mobile Ministry Magazine going to the web, I started to ask myself why did I have it so urgently to get MMM up and on the web. And more so, why now. I have a really nice writing gig with BargainPDA and 1src, two very well visited PDA websites. I also have a new job that is nearly perfect since it is website development. I am also getting ready for my fiance to return from a missions trip and marriage to her. So, why now. What the heck made me start typing in the middle of the day and thinking that this could be done.

First was my condition. For a while now, I have been on the web looking. Not for anything in particluar, just looking. I see a ton of websites, some informative, so filled with enough ad banners to make your eyes sick. I even have visited the occasional site with nothing but ranting and misinformation. I look at that and think, "that is not the reason why I am online. I am here to make a difference." When i first got into website development it was because of the convicition on my heart from Acts 1:8 and the burning desire in my heart to reach every corner of the world. Problem was, I had not been out of the country, and could not see it happening. So I prayed, and then opened my eyes. The answer was right in front of me, a webpage. webpages can reach the ends of the earth, if I can't why not use them.

So many years of website designing and trying to do freelance website designing on my own as ended to this point. I don't know how long MMM will stand. I only know that I have been given a commission to go to the ends of the world and teach and preach the gospel. And along the way, I was given another charge, equip others to do the same. So that is why I am here doing Mobile Ministry Magazine. And I hope that you, and maybe someone that you are praying for, can benefit from something that you would find on this site.
Peace and blessings: Antoine

You can download the first edition of Mobile Ministry Magazine by clicking here. If you have suggestions for topics to cover in future articles, click on the comment link and suggest something. I will be sure to attribute it to the person who suggests it.

Welcome to Mobile Ministry Magazine. Please bear with me as in the upcoming weeks, there will lots of interesting content coming forth that will bless and equip you in mobile technology.