Mobile Ministry Magazine

According to a post at Chrurch Relevance LifeChurch.tv has launched YouVersion Beta. It is an online bible that lets you:
• Read the Bible in multiple versions
• Star and tag verses and content
• Associate images, videos, links, and text to verses or series of verses
• Create an online Bible journal

Versions include:
• King James Version (KJV)
• American Standard Version (ASV)
• English Standard Version (ESV)
• New Century Version (NCV)
• New King James Version (NKJV)
• Smith and VanDyke Arabic Bible
• World English Bible

This seems similar to eBible. There was not a link to the service in the story (or at least it didn't show in my RSS reader). I will update this article from a desktop later with that info and a screenshot.

Information for this post came from ChurchRelevance.com

Update with Additional Thoughts

Getting a view of YouVersion on my desktop, rather than via the Treo's screen, I can see that this is a well layed-out design. It seems to promote reading moreso than studying. If you will, this seems a site more or less geared to a reader than one who is communially studying the Word. I'd have to get a mobile device to see how it would play out, considering the issues in this site with my Treo. Nevertheless, there's another option towards making some personal inroads into reading and understanding the Word.

Labels: Bible, tech, YouVersion

This morning, I packed up and sent back the Nokia N95 to Nokia Blogger Relations. I've had it for a number of months, and have been both disappointed and impressed with it. I wanted to write some of my closing thoughts about the device, some of the software that I've used with it, and how devices like the N95 have a bigger place in ministry than we might give them credit for at times.

First, about the N95:
I was very impressed with the device's capabilities. As I spoken about many times, the sheer number of features that the N95 has can really make you sit back and appreciate where technology has come from to this point.

My most frequented feature was the TV-Out. I would set up the N95 as my evening computing device and then play music while browsing the net with either the impressive Nokia Web Browser or Opera Mini.

Doing this though revealed several flaws of the N95 (which are corrected in both the just released N95-3 for the US, and N95 8GB). The worst was battery life. While I could really get out a solid usage run from it, as an all day device it would be dead most times before an 8hr day was done. Then there was the issue of low memory errors that cut off programs in the background. That was frequent on my end and very much frustrating.

Those let downs were not enough to stem my opinion though of the N95. I would heartily recommend the N95-3 to US users in a heartbeat, even given the $700 price tag. It is designed to change your mind about what a mobile can do, and is very successful in doing so.

Software I'd Recommend:
There was not much that I installed, but of what I did, here are my favorites:
- S60 Bible Reader: uses Bible+ bibles, easy to use navigation, and little impact on memory
- Jaiku Mobile Client: the only reason I used Jaiku was because of this mobile client. Integration with the built in addy book was a plus, and the latest client release added more community involvement. I really wish there was a mobile client for my Treo, this app and service is just that good.
- TalkPlus: This application/service enables one to have a second phone number attached to their mobile without the use of swapping SIM cards. Is pretty much like a VoIP solution, but much cleaner n implementation. On the N95, it would run in the background and so I could call it up when needed. For one who recently moved, this was a life saver in some situations.
- Mail for Exchange: enables one to connect to MS Exchange servers for email, contacts, calendar, and tasks. I keep all of my info on an Exchange server and so keeping the Treo and N95 synced was pretty much a breeze with this software. It was the main source of my daily battery drain issues though. With the small battery of the N95, this was probably just a bit much.

There are certainty others out there that could work for many, but for me, these were just the best for me. Because of them, usability of the N95 approached that of my Treo in some areas. For that, I was very impressed.

Consequences of the N95:
Devices such as the N95 prove that while there is a place for computing, that most do not know that place for it in their lives. From those that need the educational window, to those who bank, to those who just want to connect, a computer is personal, communal, and persuasive.

As a Christ-follower, we are called to be examples of Christ not just in the way we talk, but in the way we live. I have seen the N95 as helping to foster in me a sense of humility towards what can be brought to the table. The device does a whole lot, and one should be hard-pressed to use EVERYTHING that it has to offer. Will it be the best in every situation? No. But it will be an example and a teaching point as to what is possible.

I learned that just simply putting yourself in the way of the Spirit of God presents opportunities for Him to use you. A device like the N95 certainly expands the scope of what is possible.

Updated from original post by adding pics, spell-checking, and addition of links

Labels: mobile, N95, Nokia, tech

In somewhat of a change from the normal post of things, a conversation I had with someone at my church last night got me thinking about ways that I go about ministering/counseling about the use of mobile devices effectively. The person eventually asked to partake in my consulting services, and in praying about how to go about serving her, I want to put here some of the thoughts that I tend to go through when I am asked about tech.

Let me preference things that I do not care to just talk tech. As I stated on my personal site a few days ago, I really just like people. But when the tech hat goes on, there is a methodology of thoughts that I work through, and are probably indictative of how we all do to some degree.

The person began by asking me if the device I had in my hand was a Blackberry. I responded that it was a Treo, similar, but different in a few respects. She mentioned that she was looking for a similar device, and it was at this point that my mind began churning:
- what is this person looking to do
- what do they do already
- what do they have
- what are they will to pay for
- do they understand the compromises of this kind of smartphone versus other options
- do they really need this, or is it just a fulfilling of 'gadget-itis'

As we continued talking, I listened to what it is she'd like to do, and made an inital recommendation based on her carrier, cost of device and service, and what would most likely just work without much thought involved in terms of maintaining it.

It was at this point that it hit me again that what I do is ministry. Not in the respect of pastoral-teaching, but more or less to the effect of "helps." My role is to help this (any) person understand enough about this technology so that it becomes a productive, yet not overt, part of their lifestyle.

In some recent thoughts, I've been really seeing a good bit of contentment about where I am in terms of mobile tech. This translates into me better listening and responding to the needs of others. I'm rarely sure that I will be 100% right, but I am sure that I am working in that line of gifting that is where I am called to be.

I guess that I write this to say that having tech, and knowing its place is one thing; but knowing also where you are in the scheme of things allows for some stability and driven-prupose that just being into something blindly cannot allow for. It is my hope that as you read postings here at MMM that you are encouraged not to just have tech, or even want certain aspects of it. But rather, that you see its place, and then in seeing its various applications, make a place for the Spirit of God to lead you into that understanding of where you are in the Body, and how you enable us all to walk closer to Him. Because really, if you have a GPS and still fall into the river, do you really know where you are going?

Labels: mission, mobile, tech

Just sent in from M. Hudson:

I thought it might be worth posting that OliveTree.com has surpassed the 100 mark in both number of Bible translations available for your mobile device and in the number FREE resources available for download. If you've never used OliveTree's BibleReader, it is an amazing app that is a must have. In my opinion even those of a non-faith position would enjoy the use of the BibleReader to access historic documents and writings.

This is a pretty cool milestone and definitely cool to recognize.

Congrats Olive Tree.

Labels: Bible, Carnival of the Mobilists, Olivetree, tech

Neat post at Digital Leadnet talking about 7 Helps for Pastors Who Hate Techology. Here's a piece:

Although it's worth acknowledging that there are an overwhelming array of choices and options when it comes to web-based ministry, we must remain faithful to our commission to "go and make disciples" and so bear the responsibility for pursuing all available avenues for doing so. Pastors and church staff take note; resisting communication technologies only minimizes our opportunities to fulfill our assignments and callings. Being overwhelmed or undereducated aren't worthy excuses for rejecting the web. In order to steward the next generation, we are compelled to speak in a way they can understand. And what they understand is increasingly digitally enhanced.

Read the rest.
Via Digital Sanctuary.

Labels: gospel, mission, tech

The 92nd Carnival of the Mobilists is now up. There is a post by myself there (linked to a Brighthand article) as well as a slew of others. Take in a great read of this week's mobile happenings at Abhishek Tiwari.

Labels: Carnival of the Mobilists

It's been a bit since posting of parts 1 and 2 of the series Software/Hardware, Services, and the Gospel, but here we are back into the swing of things with a look at two similar items, that can have far reaching effects(see part one and part two to catch up).

Online Office/Collaboration Applications/Services
The hottest area of online anything is in the area of online applications (reference TechCrunch40, and some of online applications profiled there). The most famous by far is Google Docs, which is part of the Google Apps suite. Built like MS Word, but having the kind of collaboration features that anyone can pick up, as a tool for keeping a team within the same vision without the overhead of software licensing, there is not muhc better. Other very comparable (and sometimes better) options are Zimbra (just purchased by Yahoo) and Zoho.

The key with online office applications is to use them to foster the kind of collaboration and work environment that frees people from having to do admin work more than they are out and working. For a church planter or pastor, leveraging online office applications can be an extra layer of functionality when working outside of the office, but wanting to say plugged into whatever might be going on.

Google Maps
If MMM's recent story about how GPS was used to connect with community wasn't enough to sway you, then maybe using the Google Maps web application is a more convincing case in knowing where you are can be a precursor to knowing where to be usable. Google Maps came on the scene a few years ago and has since become the preferred mapping service for several users. Google has even managed to integrate Google Maps into their other services. Whether to get directions on your laptop, or via the SMS service on your phone, or even via the mobile application, Google Maps can do a whole lot and simply.

An additional piece to Google Maps that is not frequently talked about, but when done is very slick, is the ability to use the API (application program interface) within Google Maps to create custom maps. One can do something as simple as just make a map for their fellowship's location, or taking it to the ends of the earth and mapping everywhere you and your community has fellowshipped.

Labels: mission, mobile, tech

The 91^st Carnival of the Mobilists has been published over at Marketing by Permission. In addition to the usual suite of reviews and opinions on those things mobile, there is an insightful look at some mobile software for Muslum users. All in all, another interesting week at the Carnival, do enjoy.

Labels: Carnival of the Mobilists

From Tony Dye's site there's a mention of the MinistryTECH Conference that will be happening in April '08. Best part of that post:

5 Reasons To Attend MinistryTech:

#5 If your computer cost more than your car
#4 If you refuse to sleep anywhere that doesn't have high-speed Internet
#3 If you already have 2 monitors, and still need another one
#2 If you use IM to talk to other people in the same room
#1 If, deep down inside, you really like computers more than people

I am not coming clearn on any one of those, but they are all reasons enough to find out more and possibly attend. View the MinistryTECH website for more information and to register.

Labels: mission, tech

One of the things that keeps me going with MMM is exploring with others how technology can be used to connect with one another. Yesterday, I saw a simple example of tech used to connect, and the fruits are both visible and not-yet-in-full-bloom.

Yesterday, I accompanied a friend of mine who has moved recently to Charlotte on a trip. The goal of the trip was to do pop-up visits to people who had visited our church once or twice, but we had not seen them in a while. We would take some homemade cookies, and just look to be relational with them. We did this not so much to get them to come back to our fledgling church, but to live with people so that they can meet "the Christ outside the four walls."

So he and I got together when I got off work in the evening and just took the list and our phones into his car and started on our way. He used the LG enV with Verizon Wireless's VZ Navigator service, and I used the Nokia N95 (via AT&T) and its built-in GPS as backup to go from place to place.

From a technical standpoint, things went very well. Both devices were clear and quick to show us where we needed to go. In my case, I had to key in the locations as we went along. He had mapped the points earlier and was able to access the points and then be voice-navigated to them. With the exception of a little long to get an inital signal lock with the N95, and some cases of late directions with VZ Nav, things worked really well.

To those that were home when we visited though the connection was much more apparent and clear. One person recognized me from when he visited, and spoke favorably of his visit and wanted to come back. The other woman spoke of how she found the church more for her daughter, yet ended up liking it herself. Both cases saw the ability to connect the body, with tech playing as a tool in between.

I write this account to say that (1) this is the first time I had done this with my church here and so I'll be signing up again for it. And (2) that this is a simple way that one can use mobile tech to live out the Gospel with one another.

Notes:
The LG enV and VZ Navigator service are exclusive to Verizon Wireless. The VZ Navigator service is an additional plan component that is paid monthly. The GPS used is called Assisted GPS (A-GPS) because it uses triangulation with cell towers in order to get a fix on your location and then give you directions/maps.

The Nokia N95 can be had through several carriers in Europe and Asia, and can be purchased independent of a contract worldwide. The GPS is a literal hardware GPS antenna that communicates with GPS satellites. The N95 also uses A-GPS to get a quicker signal lock and to assist the GPS in low signal areas. The GPS is free, however a data plan is needed and additional paid features via Nokia's Smart2Go maps service can be purchased.

Similar Previous Article
- Get Your Church on the Map With Earthcomber
- UPDATE: Proporta announced a keychain-sized GPS device today that would be another alternative to GPS in a device or a service such as VZ nav

Labels: GPS, mission, N95, Nokia, tech, Verizon

Cory Miller of the popular blog ChurchCommunicationsPro recently posted on his attending of the MinistryCOM 2007 Conference. Besides a good deal of networking, he speaks about how the field of tech ministry is really growing in terms of ability and depth.

Labels: mission, tech

According to a post at the Laridian Blog, Laridian has soft-launched the iPocketBible for iPhone and iPod Touch service/web app. Available in as a $1.99 monthly subscription or $19.99 annual subscription, iPhone and iPod touch users can use one of the most comprehensive Bible packages available today for mobile devices.

Here's more as was posted on the Laridian Blog:

iPocketBible is a Web application so it's very easy for us to update it and add new features. As a result, we decided to make it available to you just as soon as a reasonable amount of functionality was present. This first version of iPocketBible has the following features:

- Access to your complete collection of Laridian Bibles and reference books
- Easy Bible navigation either by choosing book, then chapter, then verse, or by entering a reference like "John 3:16"
- Easy reference book navigation by hierarchical table of contents
- Easy daily devotional navigation by interactive calendar
- Search for words, phrases, or combinations of words
- Search for words matching all prefixes or all suffixes of a particular word
- Chose a passage from a list of search results to see it in context, then use "previous" and "next" functions to see other results in context.
- Set bookmarks on your favorite passages
- Words of Christ in red
- Extensive online help

Coming soon:
- Highlight verses using several highlight colors
- Enter your personal notes on any verse
- Quick word look-up for dictionaries (rather than navigating the table of contents)
- Context-sensitive verse look-up for commentaries (again, rather than navigating the table of contents)
- Track your progress through daily devotionals and Bible reading plans
- Synchronize all your personal data with PocketBible for Windows. Notes, highlights and bookmarks entered on the desktop will show up on your iPhone, and vice versa.
Strongs numbers in Bibles that contain them (they are currently there but not displayed)

This is a pretty substantial Bible offering for iPhone and iPod touch users. Those using the Nokia N and E-series of devices might also be able to use iPocketBible as the rendering engines for the browsers are the same (albeit no touchscreen, so navigation might suffer).

You do need to purchase a bible along with having the subscription plan. However, if you already have made purchases through Laridian previously, those resources will be available to you automatically (you only have to pay for the iPocketBible service).

More details are at www.iPocketBible.com.

Thanks to Matt Miller (Palmsolo) for posting this -- amazing what you can find out when connected with Jaiku and other social networks.

Labels: Bible, iPhone, Laridian, mobile

Matt Miller, aka Palmsolo, is hosting the 90^th Carnival of the Mobilists at The Mobile Gadgeteer. This edition seems to have a few more subject areas than other recent ones and will provide a good slew of reading and knowledge-sharing.

Labels: Carnival of the Mobilists, mobile, tech

Last week, we started a series looking at software/hardware and services/applications that are solid tools for using to share, spread, or live out the Gospel. Our first two items were email and the Bible software suite offered by Laridian. Our next two items are:

- Blogs
- WordSearch

Blogs
Blogs are a weird addition into this overview because they sit as a software service, but it is their application that makes them profitable to various ministry functions. Whether you are using a blog as a living writ of testimony, or a means to reach out to your congreation, blogs have the ability to take down some of the barriers to communication and also foster an engaging arena of social exchange that is not as fearful as talking on the phone, or meeting face to face. Blogs are not a replacement to interpersonal communicaiton, and should be used as an accent to already exisiting closer communication. Popular blogging services are Blogger, Wordpress, Movable Type, and TypePad.

WordSearch
WordSearch is one of several Bible software packages that aids in research and studying of the Bible. One of its highlights happens to be its ability to allow one to study side-by-side various versions at the same time. One of the MMM partners, Trailblazin' Ministries, uses WordSearch as a component in preparing devotionals for that website. WordSearch, like many other desktop Bible packages, offers several layers of use for casual, professional, and academic uses. And it is in that versatility that it can be a successful package for a home or minisry setting as it can be just as easily used by the pastor, as well as those younger in the faith.

So far in our list we have blogs and email as general areas, and Laridian and Wordsearch as software services/suites. Later this week or next, look forward to the next installment in this series, and do feel free to comment on any of these towards how you are using them (or similar) or if you have an item that you'd like to see highlighted here.

Labels: Laridian, software, tech, WordSearch

All About Symbian has posted a compairson of email push serices/applications for Symbian devices. Though, this compairson will work for nearly any mobile device (smartphone or laptop). This is a very good review, and seems like the winner might be the best yet in getting email to oneself fastest.

A solid reason for using a PUSH rather than PULL email solution is that instead of going to get the email, the email sits and waits for you. This keeps you from doing incessant checking of email (draining time and battery life) and also allows you to take control of the way that email plays its part in your life.

Labels: email, mobile, tech

At the very core of who we are, we want to be in relationship with one another. We look for common interests and experiences, and then draw on those plus other variables to be in relationship with one another. I've seen that, the use of mobile tech while being a very personal thing (from the wallpapers, to ringtones, to big screens to read and watch, etc.) is something that could be better used to facilitate those relationships.

Now, you might think, why would I want to use something like a computer to connect with people that I always see? I don't think that the place for connecting with tech is there though. Its in that next layer of relationships. Those where we might know someone, but not spend as much time in their presence. And this tech is not at all a replacement for that time together, but a tie that keeps us from losing touch with one another.

I've been really thinking hard about my use of being onlline, in social networks if you will, and those people that I interact with thru those networks. Never is it a person that I see much of, and most often it is a person that I see very rarely. But then when we do see one another, there is not that aspect of having to start from scratch because we've already been cultivating relationships in that time in between.

Instead of just saying, "use your tech to be social", I want to give you a few things to think about doing that might help keep the social as a piece of your tech networks:
- have a business card with your blog address and email (maybe even IM name) on there and post pictures often
- do not be afraid to ask members of your social network where you can meet offline to equate faces with avatars/names
- use a people-centric social network that allows for the variances of life to not disrupt it (if you will, don't use the social network service as a hub, but as a spoke in the relationship, make the hub something tangeable so that even if the hub isn't doable, the spokes are there to assist temporarly)
- do not be afraid to ask people what motivates them to keep in contact with others (there's much to learn)
- teach (youth) others how to use social networks for public-effecting prorgams and how to build personal network from those (for example, start a Jaiku group on history books recently read and link to local and national historcal resources, then go somewhere or meet somewhere together)

These are just a few items that have come to mind, but just ways were we can keep the solo time from being the only social time. We are desgned to be social, and as believers, sharing our faith means that we have to live out parts of our lives with others. So go out, be a witniss to the hope that you have; and let all your relationshps be windows into how you live unto Him.

"At the intersection of faith and technology"

Labels: mission, tech

According to the Laridian blog, PocketBible for Windows has been updated to version 1.003. This is a free update for registered PocketBible for Windows users.

So don't wait, go get PocketBible for your Windows computer and start reading.

Labels: Bible, Laridian

Carrying on with ministry overseas can sometimes be a big challenge. Aside from language issues, there can be issues with powering devices, or in the case of wireless devices, just using them.

But what happens when the hurdle is a bit more than just something a few home-remedies can fix. When the problem isn't the tech, but the country itself. In a recent story at GigaOm, this situation was described when a writer spoke about the difficulities in working in China.

Now, while this story talked about how this would hinder the use of tech in China or similar countries, I tend to think about it from the perspective of enablement. Yes, we are not required by any moral law to give empowerment to anyone, are we any more required to take it away?

Labels: mission, tech

Caught this post earlier today and kept it up till I could write on it. It's a great example of where a specific device, and its accompanying software, can meet a purpose that can have far reaching effects. In this case it is the Nokia E90 Communicator and the field of Journalism. The device is a good bit more capable than many (its larger than the enV to those who have or have seen one) and in the right capacity could be really useful.

Personally, I have been looking at this device for sometime as a replacement for my Treo and desktop. There are a few wrinkles in the device, but other than that its solid.

Labels: E90, Nokia, tech, Treo 680

Great post over at Church Tech Matters on building a tech ministry team:

...I have walked into a built in team, a group of people that have been at the church much longer than I have and know many of the ins and outs of how things work. Of course me, being the new guy, I tend to not be as concerned with ‘the way we’ve always done things’ and see things from more of an outside perspective. I have suggested some things and people have outright said ‘we don’t do it like that’ and my response is usually something like ‘I understand, but let’s give it a shot...

Labels: mission, tech, usablity

As I've talked about before on here, I was looking forward to the Palm Foleo (near-laptop) device. If for no other reason being that it would allow me to keep the smartphone as the center of my computing life.

Well, it seems that Palm is changing course and is now cancelling development of the Foleo to concentrate on the smartphone side of things. One part of me wants to remain optimistic, but there's a considerable other side that is just disappointed that something 'genre changing' couldn't happen.

My hope is that Palm is able to knock something out of the box before the end of this calendar year, else there might not be much a Palm to talk about other than the one that turns the history books.

Read the entire announcement on Palm's Official Blog.

It's been a few weeks since I've posted about the Carnival of the Mobilists, but that hasn't meant that it is not still going on. This week the carnival makes a stop at Wap Review. Excellent coverage on those things mobile from both a technology and culture standpoint from all around the world.

I love the ducks.

Labels: Carnival of the Mobilists

This weekend I did a small design tweak to MMM. Cleaned up a good bit of things, and moved some measurements around. A nip/tuck if you will. Outside of viewing on Treos (the optimized mode kills the layout of this site), things are a good bit more readable (in my opinion). I'd like to you know your thoughts on things, and from there, (and my the blessing of a graphic designer), who knows what can happen here :)

So that means all you RSS junkies have to come out and visit at least once, pretty plesae :D

Far be it from me to keep everything a secret here for long, but I am working with one of MMM's partners on a task that will change MMM's backend from being Blogger-based to using Movable Type. Of course in this kind of change, doing a redesign was also a part of the equasion and I even found a website whom I wanted to emulate their design (it was just that clean and effective).

I've decided not to use their design, however, in speaking with that site's owner, I was given an idea for a segment here at MMM that would really be effective in helping all of us do a bit more with our mobiles and time as it relates to living the Gospel around us. So call this part one of a (hopefully) five-part series where we will be covering two items (software, hardware, and/or services) and how they can help you be more effective in sharing and living out the Gospel. So with that all said, let's get into the first two items:

Software: Laridian's MyBible Bible Reader software for PalmOS, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Windows desktops, and (soon) iPhone.
Sharing and growing more intimate with God is the name of the game with Laridian's offerings. From being able to read the Word anywhere, to doing comparative studies of difficult passages, Laridian has some of the most comprehensive offerings out there. Download at the Laridian website (www.laridian.com).

Service: Email. Short of talking face to face, email is the most ubquious aspect of a service that we use to connect with one another. From Google, Hotmail, and Yahoo, to smaller offerings, to Exchange hosed offerings, email is a big mover of the Internet, and using email effectively can bolster relationships with those you might not have face time with. I do caution, there is nothing worse than sending a ton of forwards and never a personal note; keeping items personal, to the point, and withou excess fluff makes email a more usable and less a burden to the reader.

Ok, so that is part one of our look at software/hardware and services that help better share the Gospel. In part two we'll take a look at two more items.

If you have software, hardware, or a service that would be effective in talking about in this series, please use our contact form to let us know. In the meantime, get out there and share Christ with someone.

Labels: Bible, Laridian, mobiles, reading, tech