Mobile Ministry Magazine

Wish that I could take credit for the title, but this belonged to someone else. And their post on the subject is of the kind of thinking and assessment that we must do often. Here's a snippet:

The reason is quite simple and something I did not quite realize until my friend pointed it out to me. People are increasingly using technology not out of choice but out of pressure. And there are a lot of people who are simply addicted to it, they need to check their Twitter feed, Facebook profile and mailboxes every few minutes and see what is happening, because it's the "in thing" and also because of the constant pressure of being available 'online'.

Read the rest of Enabled or Enslaved by Technology at Aditya Singhvi's Phones blog.

I'd also like to call attention to my comment as it directs this post towards this blog a bit more appropriately:

...my faith is the filter that I use. Its the discipline towards being a Christian that I use as the main filter for determining the value of the technology, its connective need/want, and the implication. Can’t say that I’m always perfect in my application, but like living the rest of life through a faith-based filter, there’s a lot of walking forward, backward, repenting, and relearning.

Assess, but also use your filter.

Labels: accountability, addiction, integrity, misuse, stewardship, tech

Ah, now this is some cool software that's really work chatting some about - Covenant Eyes has released for iPhone and iPod Touch mobile devices.

Basically, this is an alternate web browser that replaces Safari and uses the Covenant Eyes service in order to foster accountable web surfing between accountability partners. I've got a friend who's recently downloaded this and he's said that its been a great addition to his mobile lifestyle.

Covenant Eyes for iPhone and iPod Touch is available via iTunes. The application is part of the paid service and cannot be used without it. You will also need to read the follow-up instructions via the Covenant Eyes user guide after installing.

As a side note, MMM is interested in hearing about how software such as XXX-Church and Covenant Eyes has helped your spiritual lifestyle choices. Its not easy to overcome the temptations of web life, but when you have, those stories can encourage others. So do comment here towards your victories and let's hold up one another in this area.

For more information, visit the Covenant Eyes website or connect with them on Twitter (@CovenantEyes).

Labels: accountability, Covenant Eyes, discipliship, iPhone, iPod Touch, software

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?

Labels: accessiblity, accountability, Bible, content, open source, software, tech

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.

Labels: accessiblity, accountability, Bible, community, content, software, tech

Some months ago, we posted about the subject of contentment in Christ being a key area to understand and grow into as we engage our lives with digital devices and connected services. To that end I want to just open the conversation on this item again and ask how you've been doing in this area, and if there's something that you'd like to see MMM do more of to encourage you towards contentment in this area?

Labels: accountability, contentment, devotion, Devotions

One of the prevailing themes with mobile technology, whether we are talking of devices, software, or usage, has to do with control. Unfortunately, we don't always get an understanding early in our faith with God that we don't have a lot of control over things in our lives; that's something that comes later. As we grow and mature in the faith we do understand more than the control over life that we do have is something very small in terms of the scope of things, though has very large reprocussions. I am speaking about controlling how we react to life around us.

A lot of the exhortation found in the New Testament about us and control has a lot to do with reacting to life after we now have our framework in the life of Christ. From Jesus telling the young ruler to sell all he has and follow Him, to Paul exhorting the church of Corinth to be mature in their use of spiritual gifts, to the many exortations to simply rein in the sensual desires in order to be better presented holy; control is a theme we see that weaves in and out of other areas. However, many of us struggle with control because of lack of maturity, or willful ignorance.

I find that a lot of the struggle that people have these days with mobile technology have to do with control and access. Control from the perspective of how/when to use it, what can I do with it legally/illegally, and how should what I want to do be governed by what I believe.

So how do we address control? No, not how should the devices and services help us address it, but how do we take personal responsibility towards these issues of control?

Here are some things to think about:

• How does your use of mobile devices or your preferred mobile software demonstrate healthy control with work, ministry, and personal relationships?
• When do you find that using a mobile device is harder not to do than other moments? Is it profitable?
• Do you get positive value in using your mobile device or service in its prescribed functions, or do you prefer tweaking it (legally or illegally) to get that value?
• Based on what you know about the life and times of Jesus and the disciples, how would they respond to the same technology in repect to increasing the reputation/light of Christ to those inside and outside of the faith?

Take the time to chew on this. Accountability and responsibility has its roots in control. Good control is a model of God's hands working effectively, bad control casts a tainted light to the name by which we are called.

Labels: accountability, discipliship