Weekend Thought: When is it too much?

Starting a church can be a difficult task. You hand and mail out fliers. You may make phone calls to invite folks to your new church, but all in all, the amount of folks coming to your newly started church will vary. It could be several families in one weekend, it could be two families in three months. Such a task can be disappointing and difficult at times . For that matter, growing an established church can be a difficult task as well. Some churches try to reinvent themselves; others might operate with the mindset of give-them-what-they-want. It seems to be the trend of churches today that are struggling to bring in new visitors to change their music to more upbeat and contemporary music, to replace all or a portion of their preaching worship services to entertaining dramas and Power Point presentations with movies clips, or to loosen their conservative standards to a come-as-you-are standard. The question is should the church accept this as a nature course of change. I would argue not.

A perfect example of this so called "modernistic church" is seen in the flyer I received today in the mail. As a matter of fact you probably already looked at the picture of it with this post. This particular church promotes a new message series entitled "I love the 80s." The "messages" are entitled "Back to the Future", "Different Strokes", "The A Team", and "The Facts of Life". Some of the things you can expect at this church are "a casual, comfortable atmosphere; a practical, creative message; fun and safe kids ministry; donuts and coffee; and quality nursery." Now some of those things mentioned are good, but why the emphasis on a "casual comfortable atmosphere" or the need to mention "donuts and coffee"? It doesn't seem that the preaching of the Word of God is point worthy for this church.

What is the purpose of church? From my studies and from my own understanding, we go to church to worship God. No where on this flyer did it mentioned the worshiping of God. Truthfully, I find this kind of promotion worldly and only focused on "bringing them in". We live in an entertainment age, where people demand to be entertained. People are even desiring entertainment in the church and some churches are quite happy to give them what they want.

When churches do that, it doesn't breed "quality" Christians. It breeds lukewarm Christians (Revelation 3:14-22) who distort the real thing for something far less in quality. It's more appealing because one doesn't have to be totally committed. They can still have their worldly fun and be a Christian. Jesus warned that you cannot serve two masters and I think we have a lot of Christians trying to do that today.

We do not find in the Bible the early church fathers using entertainment to advanced the Word of God. We find the focus of their ministry the preaching of the Word of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) As it ought to be in our ministries.

I'm not saying that technology is anathema in our churches, but it should never take the place over the preaching of the Word of God. If we have to advertise coffee and donuts to bring them in, our ministries have a problem. We are not to cater to the worldly; nor are we to come down to the muck and mire they live in. We are to lift them up out of that muck and mire and into the fold of God. To show them a different lifestyle, one that changes people, not one that allows them to have it both ways.

You might not agree with me and I understand some people will not. It is my belief that many churches have chosen to mix themselves with the world to gain numbers in the church and that the cause of Christ, the spreading of the Gospel, has been hurt by this. While the Great Commission states that we are to go until all the nations, we are also suppose to teach them the whole counsel of God.

"¹ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. ⁹ But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

¹⁰ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, ¹¹ Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. ¹⁴ But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; ¹⁵ And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

2 Timothy 3:1-17

Apple's iPhone release possible release date

According to Engadget this morning, the Apple iPhone will be released on June 11. That is also the start of Apple's Wordwide Developers Conference. Releasing the iPhone on that day should be a great way to kick off the conference. I'm definitely putting this in my calendar as I'm seriously considering an iPhone as a replacement to my aging Lifedrive and Motorola v557. Keep in mind this date has not been officially confirmed, but it does make a lot of sense to me.

Staying fit.

Since my ACL reconstruction surgery, I've added a few pounds. My normal exercising has been reduced to nothing and it's high time for me to get back in the groove. Over the last couple weeks, I've begun to start jogging again. It's been a bit painful, but with each run the pain seems to lessen.

While I jog, I will listen to a message, podcast, or music via my iPod nano. I've found this to be a very useful and fun gadget to have. Yesterday, I stopped by the Apple Store here in Buffalo and picked up the Nike+ sensor for the iPod nano. It helps a runner track their progress and see how well they are performing. I'm really excited about this gadget as I've needed something to help me track my running. This little device has worked quite well so far. I don't think I'll be posting any of my times and distances yet, as I'm well off my normal pace.

It does bring up an important point for those who work in ministry. It's somewhat of a pet peeve with me- lack of exercise. I really believe that each pastor, missionary, evangelist, etc. ought to have some form of daily exercise. Since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we ought to take care of that temple. It helps us set forth a good example to those we minister to and it keeps us healthier for the ministry. It's not easy to start, but I think the end results will be worth it. Think about it...

Tips for Google Calendar users.

I love Google calendar. So much so, that it has almost replaced my PDA's calendar. The reason for this is I can sync Google Calendar to my phone with goosync and even send appointments from my phone to gCal. Last week, Lifehacker posted some tips for Google Calendar users. I forgot to post about the post, so today I'll post about that post!

"The Web Worker Daily weblog has a great post diving into the finer points of making Google Calendar a more productive calendar tool.For example, the post points out this handy little Greasemonkey script that adds a small red line to your calendar displaying the current time (pictured above) so you have a frame of reference for how close an upcoming appointment is."

Source: Lifehacker

Google adds more software to their Google Pack.

I just mentioned spyware removal tools below and then I read about Google adding some spyware removal tools in their Google Pack. According to the Google Blog, the Google Pack will now included "Symantec's Norton Security Scan, which detects and removes viruses, and PC Tools' Spyware Doctor Starter Edition, a top-rated anti-spyware utility."
I checked on the Google Pack page, but didn't see these apps listed on the page. I didn't take the time to try and download the Google Pack, so maybe that are included, but not listed yet. Still, it's good to see companies like Google helping out PC users.

Tackling spyware.

Spyware can really cause your internet experience to stink, slow down, and compromise your computer. Today, I spent some time working on a church member's computer that had acquired some nasty spyware. It took a couple hours for me to final rid the plagued PC from the spyware. I thought I'd share some of the tools that I used today and others I've used to eliminate spyware on my PC and others. Keep in mind one spyware tool usually doesn't get all the spyware on your PC. It's quite helpful to have two or three programs that you run to eliminate spyware.

Spyware Blaster - A program that doesn't scan for spyware but rather it helps prevent spyware from being installed in the first place.

Spybot Search and Destroy - This one does remove spyware and also can begin a scan before Windows is fully loading helping you to eliminate some of the tougher spyware out there.

AVG Anti-Spyware - From the makers of AVG Anti-Virus Free edition, comes this excellent freebie that eliminates spyware and works just as well as their virus protection software.

PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.1 - CNET gives this spyware removal tool 4/5 stars.

Windows Defender - This is a Microsoft program, but I'm sure some folks may prefer to use a "name brand" application. If that's you, try this one.

All the applications I mentioned above are freeware. Some maybe a lite version of a paid program, but they can and will effectively remove spyware from your PC. So if you are having some issues with your PC and you think it might be spyware, try this apps out and you'll soon be back to safe happy surfing.

Keeping it simple, while being a gadget lover.

We, gadget lovers, can find it difficult to take our gadgets with us. I've tried carrying them in a bag with their necessary accessories and even adding some in my pockets. Still it was a burden to carry them around. So what should a gadget pastor do?

1. Limit your essential must haves gadgets - I've limited my must have gadgets that would go with me to work and when I travel. This way I won't be weighed down and worried about leaving gadgets behind.

2. Learn the essential gadgets - My iPod and my cellphone can also handle my calendar appointments. I can sync my iPod with Outlook or even possibly sync my iPod with Google Calendar if I can get the software to work right. I can do this and not have to lug around my PDA, cellphone, and iPod. (I know some of you are thinking get a smartphone!) You would do well to learn to use all the features of your gadgets before buying a new gadget. You old one might do the job and help save you from a plethora of gadgets and an empty wallet.

3. Lighten the load of accessories - that's right I've begun to back off the amount of accessories in my pockets and my bag that I carry around. I've eliminated most of my extra cables and other little accessories that I seldom use. I've been surprised as I've found these extra things weren't really necessary to begin with.

4. Leave the gadget bug behind - Saying this on the Gadget Pastor blog may not make sense or be somewhat hypocritical, but keep in mind that our time in the Lord's work is precious and many times gone too fast. As pastors, missionaries, evangelists, etc. we cannot allow ourselves to be drowned in our gadgets. Learning this one or that one, finding accessories for this one or that one, figuring out why this one is acting up, etc. it turns out to be a never ending ordeal which consumes much of our time. Make some time for you gadgets, but don't let them overtake that time you've set for them. Keep it simple with your gadgets and if it works don't buy another gadget. Keep the one you've got that you already know until it breaks!

High-tech churches

Theology meets technology at high-tech churches one of the latest news articles to focus on churches that employ technology into their services. While I don't agree with all the comments in the article, nor do I feel that technology is more important then the preaching of the Word of God, I do see technology as a tool that we can use to minister in our churches and be a help to our people. Uploading sermons, Bible studies you've done, outlines ,etc. on your website can be a help to folks and other pastors, missionaries as well. It's a definite must for churches to have at least a website covering their ministries. As for adding tech into services, that's up to the pastor how much and how far. I definitely think recorded messages is a must as many folks will ask for a sermon to pass onto friends and family.
I've posted part of the article for your reading pleasure!

"Spreading the gospel has gone high tech as more churches are incorporating technology into their worship service.

At Riverbend Church in West Austin, services combine preaching and production. The church has technical team for sound and lighting and a webmaster who uploads sermons to the Internet."

Tolerance yes! To Christianity? NO!

I'm amazed that with all this cry for tolerance in society it seems that God, Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity, is not to be tolerated whatsoever. Honestly, I'm not so amazed. Every since the church began on the day of Pentecost, the church and early Christians then were persecuted. Why would today or anytime after that be any different?
Here is the latest article I've found in news, specifically the Washington Times, regarding Christians being persecuted. This time it is happening on a college campus of where you'd think that free speech would prevail. The Washington Times article itself is entitled "It's called 'free speech'."

"Georgia Tech is perilously close to deserving the "anti-Christian" label some detractors are now throwing at it. A speech code and an Orwellian "free speech zone" have been used to prevent Christian students from voicing dissent on homosexuality. A judge threw out the code and the zone. Brochures from the school's "Safe Space" program have declared certain biblical interpretations on homosexuality to be wrong, comparable to slavery apologias. All this has landed the school in court. Within the next several weeks, we hope, the judge will send the remainder of the school's repugnant policy the way of its code and zone."

More tech, no tech...

While I'm seeing where God would have me to serve next, I've had to consider a few pros and cons to a future move. Understand I do not base where I will serve next or move on any of these things. I'm just thinking aloud on TGP.

1. Cell phone reception - Some places I have looked at have little or no cell service. While I think I could easily get by with out a cellphone, it does mean that I would most likely have to use a PDA still. Lately, I've been considering an Apple iPhone as a replacement to my current cellphone. However, if I live in an area with poor or no cell service, this would not be practical.

2. I'm also considering purchasing a laptop down the road as I'm thinking it would be much easier to have all my documents and current messages with me rather then at home. That will mean though carrying around a laptop along with any other items I might need. (Bible, books, etc.)

3. Internet service will definitely be an issue for me. I've grown to enjoy broadbad internet service and I cannot imagine going back to dail-up, but it could be a possibility. One option that I could have is internet service thru a satellite dish. However, I've never personally experienced this kind of service and so I'm not sure how well it would work in comparison to what I have now.

These are just a few things I've thought about and I'm wondering if anybody else has thoughts on these thoughts? Technology can be very useful and helpful, but some places don't need all the tech and get by without. How about you? Is technology a necessary tool in your ministry or is it a tool that sees little use? Please share your comments below.

Opera browser for Wii delayed

The Wii browser by Opera has been delayed apparently. Wired is reporting that the final version will become available sometime in April. I've been using my Wii to surf the web and for the most part its been good. A few sites wouldn't render probably, but I'm still impressed with the capabilities of the Wii console. If you haven't tried surfing with your Nintendo Wii, I'd say give it a try as it's a fun way for you to view the web on your TV.

Apple TV is official shipping and soon to be available in stores this weekend.

If you've been following Apple TV since its announcement, you're probably glad to see it finally shipping and soon to be available in stores. I for one am interested in one, but practically speaking I don't think I'll buy one until I have purchased a HDTV. I'm wondering if a lot of people will buy these things and find out that they won't work with their current TVs. I also don't see a real need to have one of these devices as I'm limited to iTunes content. IF Apple allows more content to be played (i.e. Internet videos, etc.) this could be a very useful device. Here are a few links to other views and opinions of Apple TV.

Apple TV Has Landed by David Progue, NY Times Tech

From PC to TV -- via Apple by By Walter S. Mossberg and Katherine Boehret

Hands-On Impressions: What You Don't Already Know About AppleTV from Gizmodo

Apple TV unboxing from Mac Daily News

Apple TV's official site from Apple

A portable PC on a flash drive, iPod, or harddrive with Mojopac

Today, I was searching for a way to install an operating system on my USB flash drive. I figured that it would be fun to try something like this. A while back on Lifehacker, they mention a software application called MojoPac that will allow you to use an iPod, USB 2.0 flash drive or harddrive, even a cellphone as a portable PC. You can even play games from your portable device and even use specific software like MS Office, Photoshop, etc. It appears to be a rather straight forward device and this would be a convenient piece of software to have on an iPod I would think. Not sure how much space this would take on an iPod, but it would be nice to have all my stuff available to me that I have on my home PC. Here are some more features of this product.

pick ANY Device
MojoPac can turn any USB 2.0 compliant portable storage device, including your iPod, or your USB flash or hard drives, into your Personal Computer - your MojoPac PC.

run ANY Application
You can install any of the most popular Windows applications on your MojoPac PC. You can use the same version of the applications you use daily at work (such as Microsoft Office) or at home (such as Photoshop, iTunes, IM and Games).

use ANY PC
With MojoPac, you can go to any Windows XP computer, plug in your MojoPac device, and bring up your MojoPac PC. The experience is exactly as if you are logging into your Personal Computer, complete with your desktop, shortcuts, applications and preferences.
*** Free Microsoft Vista support coming Q2 2007 for all current customers.

Privately and Securely
Your applications, browser history, and activities leave no trace on the computer you are connected to. What happens on MojoPac, stays on MojoPac.

Source: Lifehacker

Brighthand reports Palm Acquisition May Be Announced in Two Days

It looks like all those Palm takeover rumors could be coming true and it might just happen in a couple days. Brighthand is reporting that Palm might be out by Nokia, Motorola, or quite possibly to a private equity firm. It seems to me that having a private equity firm would be the best choice for Palm users as Palm wouldn't go thru too many major changes. If Palm is bought by Nokia or Motorola, we could see some major changes to the company.
The one question that surrounds this for me is will the Palm platform survive such a buyout? I must admit that my time with the Palm platform could be coming to a close as other devices like the iPhone and Google phone will be hitting the market soon. Palm has yet to refresh the design of the Treo and revamp the aging Palm OS. I've waited long enough with this and I personally will not wait any longer. If Palm can do something by June in the form of an announcement or a new product release, I may stay with Palm, but if they don't I will move on to something else. Until then, we'll have to see how this rumor plays out. It should get fun now!

Google Phone is in the works, say insiders

Now that the iPhone has been announced, it seems folks are now waiting with baited breath for the Google Phone. It has been rumored for sometime now and apparently there are some "insiders" that have now confirmed this. However, Google has yet to confirm official this "insider" news and officially report on a Google Phone. What is exciting about this phone is that it is rumored to have a low cost to it.

"SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc. is developing its own mobile phone, according to industry insiders and analysts, while a Google official in Spain last week acknowledged the company is "investigating" such a project.

Google isn't commenting directly on leaks from Europe and the United States which describe a low-cost, Internet-connected phone with a color, wide-screen design. Newspaper and blog reports in recent months have Google shopping its phone design to potential mobile phone manufacturing partners in Asia.

"Mobile is an important area for Google," Google spokeswoman Erin Fors said on Friday. "We remain focused on creating applications and establishing and growing partnerships with industry leaders to develop innovative services for users worldwide. However, we have nothing further to announce."

Our Daily Bread on your PDA

I think finding something that is suitable and enjoyable for your own personal devotions can be difficult. From time to time I change my devotions from reading a chapter of Proverbs to reading a particular book thru to reading My Utmost for His Highest to another devotional guide.

One devotional guide I have used is Our Daily Bread from RBC Ministries. It's a short thought that will challenge you for the day and suggests some Scripture reading along side it. I've found them to be refreshing and helpful in my spiritual life. You can also have them downloaded to your PDA as well, which makes them very accessible for the pastor on the go.

By the way, today's devotion is about a favorite place of mine- Mt. Shasta, CA. I spent much of my teenager years under Mt. Shasta. I loved that area as the beauty of it I've never seen anywhere else. Definitely, visit the site and take a look at Our Daily Bread, it could help bring a change in your devotions.

How the Wi Remote works.

Every since we bought our Nintendo Wii, I've been wondering how the Wii Remote works. How can it tell the difference between me swinging it like a baseball bat or a golf club? Well, Popular Science has a brief article on the Wii Remote and how it works. It's rather interesting to understanding how it can know the difference.

Source: Digg

Book Recommendation: Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie

I'm a big fan of Charles Ryrie. I love my Ryrie Study Bible and Basic Theology by Ryrie. Basic Theology has been a great help in my ministry when it comes to understanding doctrine. I've found that Ryrie does a good job in explaining the views on particular doctrines and it helps me better understand them. I'd definitely recommend this book for your library or even a Bible college students'. The book sells for $23.09 at Amazon.

"Theology is for everyone.Everyone is a theologian of sorts. Theology simply means thinking about God and expressing those thoughts in some way. But sloppy theology is a problem. As Christians, our thoughts about God need to coincide with what He's said about Himself in the Bible. With his clear understanding of the Scriptures and unpretentious writing style, Charles Ryrie has written Basic Theology for every student of God's Word, from the devotional student to the seminary student.Ryrie's name has become synonymous with dispensational theology and his texts on the subject invaluable to the Bible scholar. Now Ryrie's Basic Theology is available to you from Moody Press, the company that brings you the Ryrie Study Bible. Featuring charts, definitions, and Scripture and subject indices, Basic Theology will give you a clear and comprehensive picture of Ryrie's approach to systematic theology. Its 94 chapters are arranged in outline style for easy reference. Considerable emphasis is given to explaining the dispensational view of the end times."

Review of ZBible from Mobile Ministry Magazine

This caught my eye on my Google homepage. Mobile Ministry Magazine has reviewed ZBible which is an online Bible, especially suitable for viewing on mobile devices. This looks like it could be very useful on my Lifedrive.

"There is nothing really new about online Bibles for most of us. We are accustomed to going to places such as eBible and Bible Gateway to quickly look up a verse or a collection of verses on a particular subject. But what about when out and about and those sites, while great for what they can give, are a bit to much for a smartphone's or normal phone's screen? There is only so much that can go on a page, and well, eBible and Bible Gateway are just a bit too much..."

READ MORE

How to know if that email is true.

Have you ever received an email with some amazing store or been told to ban a product because of their attack on Christianity or that a virus named Osama vs. Bush will erase your entire hard drive if you answer the question it asks or that forwarding an email will help earn support for a little girl with cancer? Have you ever wondered if these emails are true? Quite often I've learned these emails are either hoaxes or email rumors, sometimes called urban legends.

How to spot a email rumor or hoax.

1. Note whether the text you've received was actually written by the person who sent it. Did anyone sign their name to it? If not, be skeptical.
2. Look for the telltale phrase, 'Forward this to everyone you know!' The more urgent the plea, the more suspect the message.
3. Look for statements like 'This is NOT a hoax' or 'This is NOT an urban legend.' They typically mean the opposite of what they say.
4. Watch for overly emphatic language, as well as frequent use of UPPERCASE LETTERS and multiple exclamation points!!!!!!!
5. If the text seems aimed more at persuading than informing the reader, be suspicious. Like propagandists, hoaxers are more interested in pushing people's emotional buttons than communicating accurate information.
6. If the message purports to impart extremely important information that you've never heard of before or read elsewhere in legitimate venues, be very suspicious.
7. Read carefully and think critically about what the message says, looking for logical inconsistencies, violations of common sense and blatantly false claims.
8. Look for subtle or not-so-subtle jokes — indications that the author is pulling your leg.
9. Check for references to outside sources of information. Hoaxes don't typically cite verifiable evidence, nor link to Websites with corroborating information.
10. Check to see if the message has been debunked by Websites that debunk urban legends and Internet hoaxes (see below).
11. Research any factual claims in the text to see if there is published evidence to support them. If you find none, odds are you've been the recipient of an email hoax.

Source: About: Urban Legends and Folklore


The danger of forwarding one of these emails.

If you decide to forward a potential hoax or email rumor to all your contacts, it makes available all your friends and families email addresses to just about anyone. The average person will just click forward and entire address book and then send. I seen some of these emails with loads of email addresses in them and could easily be added to someone's spamming list. It would behoove you to use the BCC option in your email message which sends a message to multiple recipients in such a way that what they receive does not contain the complete list of recipients. This can help avoiding giving your friends and families email addresses out freely, but it doesn't help the poor folks whose email addresses are already on the email, unless of course you copy and paste the main story to a new email message.

How to verify if an email is hoax, rumor, or truth.

Here are a couple websites for you to bookmark and use for the next potential email hoax or rumor comes into your inbox.

• Scambusters - Helped People Protect Themselves From Clever Internet Scams, Identity Theft and Urban Legends Since 1994
• Snopes - lots of stuff here broken down into specific categories, seems to have a lot of popups though.
• Truth or Fiction - a website to find out whether an eRumor that has been forwarded to them is true or not. My favorite email hoax and rumor site to use.

I hope this helps you eliminate some of these emails from your inboxes and outboxes. Maybe you could send a link to this post here at TGP to help others fight email hoaxes and rumors.

PC World: Living With Vista: First 30 Days

Windows Vista was suppose to "wow" us Windows users. The only thing it did for me was cause a lot of frustration and headaches. In fact, I've gone back to using Windows XP and my computer has been running a lot better. I do like Vista and the interface is rather cool, but I've had too many driver issues and I cannot stay with Vista until that changes. You would think that the hardware developers would have been ready for Vista since it was 5 years in the making. Oh well, enjoy the article.

"Last February, Bryce Parkhurst brought home a new Toshiba Satellite notebook with Vista Home Basic installed. The 33-year-old Easton, Pennsylvania, circuit designer bought the PC to enjoy music, but it soon hit sour notes. Everything seemed to run a little slower under the new operating system. His Alesis Photon X25 MIDI controller hardware no longer worked. When he tried to run his favorite DJ software, it didn't work properly; when he tried to quit the program, Vista rebooted him into Safe Mode. Any system change instigated a seemingly endless series of "Accept or Cancel" messages from Vista's User Account Control feature..."

Source: PC World

Companies see increase in productivity with technology

According to this latest study, companies and organizations can see productivity increase when they spend more money in computers and technology. I think must of us would say, "duh." Computers and technology can make us more productive.
My Lifedrive has been a huge help in me being more productive and in getting things done. If you aren't a big user in a computer or a PDA/smartphone, you might want to take the time and look at one and see all that it can do for you. I think you will definitely find that the positives out weigh the negatives.

"Money spent on computing technology delivers gains in worker productivity that are three to five times those of other investments, according to a study being published today. But the study also concluded that the information technology industry itself was unlikely to be a big source of new jobs.

The 69-page report is a wide-ranging look at the role that information technology plays in the economy, based on an assessment of existing research and the authors’ analysis. The study was done by a year-old research organization, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, whose work is supported by companies like I.B.M., Cisco Systems and eBay, as well as by the Communications Workers of America and foundation grants. It will be available at www.itif.org."

Be sure to share the way technology helps you in your life or ministry in the comments below.

Source: New York Times

Stain, stains, go away...

It happens to me all the time- stains. I hate it. My shirt, my pants, my tie, my jacket, they all collect spills and food from time to time. It's rather embarrassing to boot. Well, what can you do about stains. My Grandma gave me a stain chart when I first started college and I used it quite a bit to help me get rid of stains. However, I've lost that chart and I'm still getting stains on my clothes.
Well, I've found a site that can help me and I'm sure some of you with your stain problems. One might also want to carry a Tide-to-go pen or Shout wipes. These things should be in every pastors glove box and desk drawer. I've used both and they have met my needs sufficiently.

A Word About Stains - There's no escaping it:
	Fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones.
	Avoid machine drying or ironing until you've exhausted all stain removal efforts.
	Time and heat can set some stains permanently.
	Laundry tests show using Clorox® bleach for stain removal produces the best results.
	For washable, non-colorfast clothes substitute powdered or liquid color-safe bleach, such as Clorox 2®.
	Don't forget the prewash soil and stain removers like Stain Out®, that release stains and help detergents work more effectively.

Freeware Download: Google Desktop

Unfortunately, Windows Vista did not take to my current PC. I'm still waiting on drivers for my video card from nvidia of which they said would be able later in 2007. I think it may be- never!
One feature I liked from Vista was the sidebar. I had tried other sidebars and never did like them all that much. The Vista Sidebar worked for me and now that I'm using Windows XP again, I miss the Vista Sidebar.
Well, I had never really gave Google Desktop a real good go and so today I installed it. My main reason for installing Google Desktop is to be able to view my Google Calendar on the sidebar and see my agenda for the day. Google Desktop can do this rather easily and it looks great. Having a widescreen monitor does help with a sidebar. So if you are looking for a sidebar like Windows Vista, consider the Google Desktop. It may not have all the bells and whistles of other sidebar apps, but it does look good and seems to keep things simple.

RUMOR: Palm Treo WiMax device

Engadget has an interesting Palm rumor for us Palm fans. Apparently, Palm may release a WiMax Treo device this fall on the Sprint network. At this point the rumor is completely without solid evidence. Still, it would probably take a device like that to put Palm back on the map.

"Plant this firmly in the "unsubstantiated rumor" category and take it with a boulder-sized grain of salt, but there's one thing here we can say with certainty: whether it sells or not, Palm is in desperate need of fresh product. Like, not a new Treo with a little more memory or a slightly better camera -- we mean seriously fresh product..."

Here is some good news in regards to Public schools

According to Yahoo! News, Georgia is getting close to introducing Bible classes in Georgia Public schools next year. The article states that it would be considered a literature class and I'm sure there will be many who will attempt to knock down and discredit the Bible in these classes. I'm also sure that the ACLU will be sending their lawyers over to help those who oppose these classes.

How ironic that it's always God, Jesus, the Bible, prayer, and Christians that people seem to dislike and yet those same people preach and teach tolerance. Something isn't right with this picture.

"ATLANTA - Georgia is poised to introduce two literature classes on the Bible in public schools next year, a move some critics say would make the state the first to take an explicit stance endorsing — and funding — biblical teachings.

The Bible already is incorporated into some classes in Georgia and other states, but some critics say the board's move, which makes the Bible the classes' main text, treads into dangerous turf."

Source: Digg

Cellphones ok in hospitals according to US study

When my 2nd born was born on December 10 in Buffalo, NY, it would have been nice to have called everyone from inside the hospital building instead of outside- in the cold! We all know the rule about cellphones in a hospital especially us preachers. It's not allowed- at all. However, that could be changing according to this latest study. Read on...

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Calls made on cell phones do not affect hospital medical devices, U.S. researchers said on Friday, but store anti-theft alarms might make implanted heart devices misfire.

Tests at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota showed normal use of cell phones, also called mobile phones, caused no noticeable interference with patient care equipment, they said.

But a portable CD player caused an abnormal electrocardiographic (ECG) reading when a patient used it near one of the leads of the device, according to one of several reports in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

And at least two reports suggest that anti-theft devices set up near the doors of retail stores can cause implantable rhythm devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators to malfunction."

Source: Reuters

Change.

For a while now, the Lord has directed me to begin looking at moving on from my current place of ministry. I'm not one for mentioning things like this as I keep things to myself. My church family knows that I am looking at moving to the next place of service and seeking God's will in the matter.

I must admit that the beginning hasn't been easy. I struggle with what to do, where to go, and when it's going to happen. I'm sure that is no different from anyone else that looks for their next job or place of service.

My wife, kids, and I are excited about this and we do look forward to God providing us with the right place at the right time. I'm seeing this time in my life as God using this as a test of my faith and a showing of His Providence in my life. I always love looking back and saying, "Wow, look how God worked that all out." That to me is what makes being a Christian so exciting and wonderful.

From time to time, this process will slow down the TGP and posting news, tips, etc. I will do my best to keep up with the posts as I've found this to be an excellent way for me to relax and share things I have learned or read about. So, if you would, please pray for my family and me as we work through these next steps in our ministry.

Palm Responds to the iPhone

New York Times reports on another move by Palm to help them keep their dominance in the smartphone market. Palm has hired software designer Paul Mercer, a former Apple computer engineer. Obviously, Palm is looking to revamp the aging look of the Garnet the current Palm operating system. I must say that I'm quite tired of the current Palm look and I would welcome a new look to the Palm OS. I'm not sure how helpful Mr. Mercer will be for Palm and I don't know how much of a difference this will make for Palm.

I still believe that a Palm or Treo device can be a huge help in your ministry and if you haven't considered or even looked at one of these devices, you are missing out. A Palm device could help you stay on top of things in your ministry. We are all busy and can be overwhelmed at times and a PDA or smartphone device could prove to be a huge help during those times.

Here is an excerpt of the afore mentioned article:

"Palm Inc., the maker of hand-held computers, has hired a top Silicon Valley software designer as it seeks to respond to the challenge posed by Apple’s new iPhone.

The designer, Paul Mercer, a former Apple computer engineer, began work three weeks ago at Palm on a line of new products, a company spokeswoman said, but she declined to comment further on the project.

Mr. Mercer, 39, joined Palm with two employees from Iventor, the independent design firm that he headed in Palo Alto, Calif., but Palm did not acquire the company, said the spokeswoman, Marlene Somsak. Palm is based in nearby Sunnyvale.

Apple’s iPhone is still several months away from being available, but its flexible interface is already shaking up the cellphone industry, including Palm, which makes the hybrid phone-organizers known as smart phones."

Giraffe video conferencing robot to weird employees out .

Engadget reports about a new robot that will allow you to be away from the office, but still be able to check up on your employees. The Giraffe robot has a built-in video camera and speaker that can allow you to video conference with your employees. It also can roam the office as well. It listens, it turns, it views, it's you!
This seems just way creepy for me. I think I'd be a bit concerned that my boss had to have one of this things in the office. Of course, this could make an effective door-to-door witnessing tool- OK so maybe it lacks that personal touch.

Receipt shows possible iPhone discounts.

This news is a bit old, but still worth a mention here at TGP. One cingular/AT&T customer who traded in his old cellphone for a Blackberry Pearl noticed an interesting tag on the receipt.
The picture was taken from his receipt and it mentions a savings on the iPhone of a $150. Now, this could mean that an 4 GB iPhone from cingular/AT&T costs $650 and if you sign up for a 2 year contract it will only cost you $500. Or it could mean that the iPhone will only cost you $350 after you sign a 2 year contract. I sure hope it is the latter as that will be easier on my wallet.

Honestly, an iPhone has me intrigued quite a bit. I'm looking to replace my Lifedrive as I've mentioned before and my first choice is an iPhone. Having wifi on the device will be a huge help to me. I use a PDA to help keep track of my appointments, access commentaries and books via eBible, send email, etc. with it and I think the iPhone will be a good replacement of my Lifedrive.

Source: 5thirtyone

How to clean your keyboard

Lifehacker has posted a great tip on how to clean your keyboard. It's funny as I was planning on mentioning something similar here at TGP. The reason for it was I dropped some food onto my keyboard at work and I couldn't get it out. So I was wondering how one goes about cleaning a keyboard. My worst fear is taking apart the keyboard and breaking or losing a key. If I didn't spend so much money on my keyboards, I'd probably just buy a new one and some myself some time.

Tips for Scripture memorization

Over the years, my methods for memorizing Scripture have changed. As a child, I eagerly memorized the Word of God and enjoy every minute of it. Towards my teen years, memorizing Scripture was a chore or homework. In college, memorizing Scripture was part of a test or a quiz. Now, it's different. I want to memorize and be able to retain this for a lifetime. Not like college, not like a teenager, but more like I was as a child. Eager to memorize, eager to learn, and many of those verses never left my heart.

Today, I found a site with some tips on memorizing Scripture. As servants in the Lord's ministry, we must be memorizing Scripture so that we can defend ourselves from temptation and give a comforting word to another believer.

This website I found has a few chapters to it, so it is not some quick read. I myself have not yet finished reading the site, but I have picked up a few pointers and tips that should aid in my Scripture memorization. I know many people have their own techniques and if you would like to share please do so, as I'm sure others would appreciate any help and tips.

I know there are a couple Palm programs that allow you to use your PDA or Treo device as a tool to help you memorize Scripture. They are:

Scripture Memory System
This freeware application is based on the Topical Memory System designed by The Navigators. A desktop companion version that allows you to edit the verse database on your computer available for a separate purchase.

MyVerses
by Scott Hansen
A Scripture memory system for Palm OS 4.0 and higher devices with interactive tools, a learning counter, and a personal review schedule to help you regularly practice memory verses.

Memorize! for Palm
Designed to help you memorize scripture, including daily reminders to work on your memory verses. Also works with MyBible.

Lamp Light
A free Scripture memory coach for Palm OS handhelds. Uses a system of daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly reviews to help you remember all verses learned.

Music Recommendation: Awesome God: An a Cappella Worship Series

Finding great Christian music can be difficult, especially finding something that is uplifting and fresh. Having Godly, Christian music is also very important to raising a family in my opinion. It helps your children understand what is good music and what is bad music.
I recently purchased from iTunes, Awesome God: An a Cappella Worship Series. My wife and I both love this CD. It only cost $9.99 on iTunes and we've already listened to it many times over. The song selection is great and has been quite a blessing to us. It comes with a good recommendation and if you are not an iTunes lover, you can purchase the CD on Amazon for $18 plus shipping. I've listed a few of the songs you'll find on this wonderful CD.

1. Awesome God

2. Ain't No Rock

3. Great Are You Lord

4. We Trust in the Name of the Lord

5. Give Thanks to the Lord

6. My Life Is in You

7. Wonderful Merciful Savior

8. Lamb of God

9. Hide Me Away, O Lord

10. Open My Heart

11. Open the Eyes of My Heart

12. In Your Presence

13. I Stand in Awe of You

14. Lord Reign in Me

15. Covenant of Love

16. There Is No Other Name

17. It's All Right

18. We Will Glorify

Please take the time to share you favorite music selections with us! Leave them in the comments section below.

Could Palm be open for a buyout? Part II

Well, it looks like there is more to the Palm buyout rumor. Riding in to work this morning I heard on our local news radio station that Palm is working with Morgan Stanley on options. Is this an option for a buyout? I honestly don't know, but I do know that I have not heard any mentions of Palm on my local news radio station because of past rumors. This looks a lot more real. Now, nothing may happen, but this does make it interesting for us Palm users. Will our Palm devices be better or worse because of a buyout?

Sermon of the week: 5 Steps to Genuine Revival

Here is my latest sermon recommendation for TGP- 5 Steps to Genuine Revival. This message was preached by Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley. I'm most familiar with him from his books, I don't think I've ever heard him preach. Real revival is something that is lacking sorely in our world today. I believe much of the revival we hear about wasn't real revival, but an emotional event. The Great Awakening had lasting impacts and other revivals like it had the same impact on society at those times. I think we all could use some Great Awakening revivals in our lives and I think this message will be a help to you. The file is only 3.3 mb and the sermon lasts about 28 minutes.

May God bless your services tomorrow.

Source: Sermon Audio

Could Palm be open for a buyout?

Palminfocenter is reporting that there are takeover rumors that have continued to inflate Palm's stock. This could just be a rumor that is meant to boost Palm's stock price, but I think it could be possible at some point. I hope Palm stays the way it is, but you just never know.

The Perfect Bluetooth Mouse for those on the go

If you frequently take your laptop with you while you travel, you know how cumbersome it can being having to carry accessories for it in your bag. Well, I found one gadget that might make a bit more room in your bag. It is the Newton Peripherals MoGo Wireless Bluetooth Mouse. This mouse actually slides into your laptop's PC card slot for storage and to be recharged. This would be the perfect device to replace that mini mouse in your laptop bag. This gadget has even been featured on CNN. Reviews from Tigerdirect users also give it high ratings. At $69.99, it might be a little steep, but to help take less with you as you travel, it just might be worth it.


"MoGo MouseBT is a business-card sized, Bluetooth-enabled mouse that stores and recharges neatly inside…that’s right, inside…your laptop computer’s PC card slot when it’s not being used. MoGo MouseBT is a technologically advanced wonder, featuring patent-pending optics and a system that automatically levers the mouse up into your hand as you work. With no batteries to replace, the MoGo MouseBT recharges in less than an hour in the PC card slot of your laptop.

MoGo MouseBT is specifically designed for road warriors who hate carrying around full-sized, bulky mice, but who also despise laptop trackpads and trackpoints. MoGoMouseBT provides them with a solution to their problem, making it easier for them to work on the road.

Other mice, even those meant for road warriors, just don’t cut it. Mini-mice (the “walnut shells”) get lost in your hand and are difficult to maneuver, and the ideas of carrying a full-sized mouse defeats the entire purpose of mobility on the go, making MoGo MouseBT a natural.

The MoGo MouseBT is compatible with any laptop, either PC or Macintosh, which is equipped with a PC slot, Bluetooth hardware and software."

From Wired: CompUSA Ready To Deal?

It looks like CompUSA is planning on closing half of their stores. That means you could be looking at some good clearance and discounts in the near future. We've got a CompUSA here in Buffalo and it was just recently remodeled. While I don't go to CompUSA all the time, it still is a favorite place for me to shop and look at new gadgets.

Source: Wired