Mobile Ministry Magazine

I'm currently in a place where I'm having to evaluate my use of Bible software and which one is going to best suit my needs at the present time and in the future. In doing so, I have embarked upon a 30 day challenge to use Logos Bible software as my primary application. In doing so, I will chronicle my use of the software and share my thoughts at the end of the challenge. Here is a snippet of my opening post outlining the reasoning behind the challenge.

What's the reason for this challenge? The reason that I came up with this challenge is because my needs and wants for Bible software are changing, and doing so rather rapidly. When I first started studying the Bible and using Bible software, I was someone who only occasionally made use of commentaries and dictionaries, but never even dared to try to use the original language tools that I had available. I would, of course, dabble into the Strong's Concordance from time to time, but that was about it. Since that time, I have come to appreciate such resources and have made considerable use of them in WORDsearch's software to the best of mine and its abilities. Now that I am actually learning to read the original languages (Greek and Hebrew), my desire to do more with this knowledge has grown tremendously. What sense does it make to learn Greek and Hebrew and then not make use of it in my study? Therefore, I am now wanting to make the best use of this knowledge so that I: 1) don't lose it, 2) continue to learn more about it, 3) better understand the text of the Bible, and 4) better communicate the truths of God to His people. With these changing needs, I figured that it would be best to evaluate which software applications would be best for making this happen...

Click here to continue reading this entry and to follow me on my 30 day challenge.

Labels: Bible, Logos, software, WordSearch

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

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

Just caught this at The Digital Sanctuary.

Labels: Bible, software, WordSearch

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