Mobile Ministry Magazine

Since moving to using the N800 and N75 as my computing devices, I've had a bit of a quandary when its come to using the devices for Bible study and church. One main issue has been search. Its not so much of an issue on the N75 with the S60 Bible reader - this Bible reader is a lot like the Bible+ reader that has IMO the best user interface for searching for verses when you know the verse you are looking for in either term or address.

The problem comes when I am using the N800. There, I am usually writing notes and want to go back and forth with Rapier and Bible Gateway (yes, I use both at the same time). While I can get to many verses or notes, its cumbersome, and I have gone to the point of putting the devices down and just listening out of frustration.

I read a post about how one can look up Bible references from the web with Logos and it really hit that what I needed (in some cases) was just a better way to get the verses down do that the N800 can give me what I am looking for.

The way that Logos works, according to the post, its pretty much as simple as pointing Logos to the web page where you want to pull the verse from, and then the library shows the verses in another screen. This method really works best when you have a web page that has all the verses listed, and then the browser is open to that page, and the person is in Logos - kinda like one of those options we talked about before.

Here is a bit more detail about the process:

Libronix will quickly find all the Bible references mentioned and add them to your verse list in the order in which they appear on the web page. You can then decide how you'd like to view them. The default is to show only the references without the text. Double clicking those references will open them in your preferred Bible allowing you to read them in their contexts, compare them with other versions, or dig into your study Bibles and commentaries. If you'd like to see the text of the verses along with the references, you can select "References and Text in One Column" or "References and Text in Two Columns."

In looking at this just in the context of Bible software. It would seem that the best way to take advantage of this is have some sort of outline in some kind of container (RSS) that a program could use and then using the ability of that program to take notes, one would have all the verses they need and could just concentrate on listening to the lesson and engaging in the discussion.

Labels: Bible, Bible+, internet tablet, Logos, N800, Rapier, S60 Bible Reader, software, study

LJ posted on his blog another perspective of what we posted on earlier in the week about a Hybrid Bible Reader and what that would look like. Given his perspective of working with Logos and WordSearch a good deal, he brings some needed understanding to the table as to how this can work. Here's a snippet of this post:

...As an avid user of Bible software (circa 1999 or so & using WORDsearch 5 and e-Sword), I've come to find that there are a lot of things that I like in one application, but is not found in another application. Then, there are also those things that I don't like in one software that isn't an issue in the other. Throw into the mix the world of Web 2.0 and you have an entirely different ballgame. Now with the likes of eBible.com and others, one is easily able to share their thoughts on the Word with the world at large, layman and scholar alike. So, just imagine if all of the good was combined into a single application, or at least brought as much of the best of all the worlds together, that's what I mean when I say the "Ultimate Bible Software Application...

Read the rest of the post at the Trailblazin Ministries blog.

Labels: Logos, mobile, software, tech, WordSearch

Aside from my own disappointments in not getting there, the 2008 BibleTech Conference is underway. Updates are coming from the Logos blog as well as PalmSolo.

Do make sure that if you have any questions towards what's happening at the conference that you speak up in one of those discussions.

Labels: BibleTech, community, Logos

My bro had pointed me to the Logos blog and a post where they are speaking on an upcoming version of Logos for the Mac. From a usability and user experience aspect, it looks just great and really looks that it will make studying on the desktop a bit easier for those that prefer to do studies electronically.

This got me thinking (again) about using electronic devices for study, and what really is effective about it. For example, one can have a lot of resources at their disposal, but unless used correctly, you will not get much good out of it.

In looking at the Internet Tablet and how I want to use it for reading and study, I've settled on only wanting two Bible versions: one for casual reading (the ESV) and another for more indepth studies and discussions (the NET Bible). Because of the connected nature of the IT, anything else that I'd need would be accessible though websites such as CARM, eBible, YouVersion, etc.

I'd like to be in the position of studying effectively more often than not. Using a few materials as a gateway that have solid user interfaces and resources makes that possible. After that its just a matter of using it. I'd like to get to the point of linking within my notes to verses, bookmarking/tagging sections of the Bible for easy retrieval, and then effective search capabilities that go beyond just looking for a verse - but all the tags, bookmarks, and verses that correspond to the search term. Its my hope that such will enhance and make reading more like there being a slew of offline documents right in front of me.

Lately also, I've been looking into the resources at the Sword Project website. Besides being open and mostly free; the development there is just on the content, not on an application in particular. This means that instead of worrying about whether I will be able to use the content again, I can just concentrate on reading (on most devices) and go from there. Notes, tags, and bookmarks are another story, but that'll come.

If I can get Rapier installed on my tablet, I'm pretty sure that I can get there. But with products like OliveTree, Laridian, Logos, Wordsearch, and others, its pretty cool to know that there's some means to use electronic resources effectively. Its just a matter of studying on the tools and methods that would work best.

Labels: Apple, Bible, Bible+, internet tablet, Laridian, Logos, Olivetree, software, Sword Project, WordSearch

One of my biggest (and really only) gripes with WORDsearch is that there is no way for me to natively type in Greek or Hebrew when I am using their word processor or taking notes. Within the past year or so I have gotten heavy into using the original languages in my studies, and I have wanted to use them in my notes as well. In WORDsearch the only way in which I was able to put Greek or Hebrew into my notes or studies was to copy and paste from another window within the program (i.e. from the Strong's Dictionary). This was very frustrating for me, and I couldn't seemingly figure out a solution to the problem. Throw in the fact Logos has a built-in utility to do this kind of thing, and you could see where this was going.

Well, tonight I had my first Greek class at church, and it went rather well. It's very exciting and I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead of me. But, in class tonight, the teacher, my friend, Cliff Beveridge, was asking how we felt about using the church's e-learning website to submit our homework. I had no problem with that, until I thought about how in the world would I type in Greek without copying & pasting? Then on the drive home from church, it dawned on me that Logos had made available unicode keyboard mappings for the ancient languages that were easy to install.

So, I get home from church and search their website to find them (Windows Keyboards for Ancient Languages). I downloaded the ones for Greek and Hebrew and installed them. I then created hotkeys that would allow me to switch easily from one language to the other (i.e. I can type Left ALT+Shift+2 and my keyboard mapping will switch to Greek, with Left ALT+Shift+1 switching back to US English). I opened up Microsoft Word to give it a try and it worked beautifully. From there, I thought for a minute wondering if this would work in WORDsearch 8 as well. I opened up WS8, clicked to open a new word processor window, changed my keyboard mapping to Greek and started typing away with the Greek characters showing up. I even tried Hebrew (Left ALT+Shift+3 for me) and it automatically switched the formatting from left to right over to right to left. Awesome!

Who would have thought that my company's number one competitor would provide a simple download that would allow me to make my use of WS8 all the more proficient and easier?! I'm glad they did, I'm glad it worked, and as a result my studies will be much more fruitful and efficient. The only thing that I need to do now is work on learning all of the Hebrew keys, as I'm already pretty familiar with the Greek. It's awesome how stuff like that works out. A great way to end a productive weekend and a really long day.

Originally posted @ Trailblazin Ministries Blog

Labels: ancient languages, Logos, Windows Keyboards, WordSearch

Israel Anderson wrote in on the previous article about the Bible on the iPhone to let us know that he has created the website/web applicaiton God's iPhone (the Bible for iPhone).

According to the website/web app:

This is a minimalist site for iPhone users, like me, who are looking for a Bible application for the iPhone. I will be developing this site LIVE so that you can use it right away and send me feedback. That also means things may break or not work right. Let me know if something isn't working for you or if you think there's a better way. This site will look plain weird on anything but an iPhone. I am a missionary with YWAM. If you would like to support my efforts through your prayer or financial support, I will be very blessed.

I'll be trying this really soon on the N800, but it looks pretty solid and a neat resource for using the Word online.

Ok, enough from me, go to http://www.godsiphone.com and get in the Word via whatever browser you have :)

Perosnally, I would love to see a company like Laridian, Olive Tree, eBible, Logo, or another get behind Israel and help with the support, content, and development of this web app. It's really got potential to bless folks on more than just iPhones.

Labels: Bible, eBible, GMPSoft, iPhone, Laridian, Logos, mobile, N800, Olivetree, usablity

As some of you know, I have a pretty intiamte relationship with Bible+ as it is one of the first Bible readers that I used on a PDA and that I am also the person who's responsible for the current site's design and upkeep. One of the things that I had just kinda fell into today was redesigning the Bible+ front page (it's not done yet) but upon checking the links to one of the reviews that we had listed for Bible+, I saw that one had been recently updated (well, recent as in December of last year).

Bible Software Review (BSR) took a look at Bible+ and updated its findings on the program after version 3.2 was released late last year. If you are looking for a solid review of this free software, its worth taking a read.

In addition, there was a recently published review of Logos 3 (June of this year) at BSR. I wanted to quote from the article, but its really a deep and impressive piece to read. I encourage you to read the Logos 3 review, and other software reviews, feature articles, and blog at BSR.

Labels: Bible+, Logos, review