Shore Youth Ministry

Logos for Mac

The one downfall to having a Mac is the lack of support for Logos Bible software. Since I am in seminary, this software is a very important part of my studies. Over the last few months I have been testing the alpha and beta versions of the new Logos for Mac, but was only mildly impressed due to its lack of features (duh, it is a beta!). But great news has come from Washington state today: Logos is taking pre-orders for Logos for Mac! According to the company’s email: “Logos for Mac is finally here.  Pre-orders are being taken and the rumor is that it should ship in time to slip under the Christmas tree.” I am one excited Bible nerd!

Short rundown of links:

• Here is the video trailer/short run through of Logos for Mac.
• Pre-orders for new Logos libraries are available: Bible Study, Leader’s, Scholar’s, Scholar’s Silver, and Scholar’s Gold (my favorite!).
• For existing Logos users, you need to purchase the Mac Software Engine. Bummer you have to spend more money, but the $60 is worth unlocking thousands of dollars of resources on your Mac.
• Read my review of Logos Bible Software (for Windows).

Unnecessary Technology

During the election coverage on Tuesday evening, CNN tried out some new “holographic” technology. With this, Wolf Blitzer was able to talk to a 3-d projection of commentators located on the other side of the country. [insert obligatory Star Wars quote here] Here is a clip from the broadcast:

I understand that CNN wants to be on the cutting edge of broadcasting technology, and they want to show it off on Election Night, arguably the most watched night for that network. However, was it necessary to have Blitzer stand and face a “holograph” of a commentator? What made this format an improvement over the original format (two talking heads)?

Personally, I found this to be distracting. Even now, after watching the video several times, I have no idea what the female commentator is talking about. Rather, I am focused on the technology and the finished product.

On the other hand, most of the networks used a multitouch wall to display and manipulate results on a map. Some used this technology in an effective way, zooming in on counties and regions of battleground states. Being a very concrete visual learner, this use of technology helped me a great deal.

The same thing can be said of the use of technology in ministry. You can have an awesome setup of technology, but if it becomes a distraction to communicating your message, it is not worth it. (Also, if your message is nothing more than technology, without any content, that is not worth it, but that is another post).

Just because you have the technology does not mean you have to use it. Make sure technology is a tool to help communication, not a distraction from communication. Make technology a help, not a hindrance.

On a side note, here is SNL’s take on election technology, mocking the networks’ use of multitouch video walls:

Crossover for Mac

Crossover for Mac is this amazing software that allows you to run Windows programs and play Windows games all on a Mac. Unlike Boot Camp or Parallels for Mac, however, Crossover does not require a copy of Windows! I just downloaded this program, and have yet to test all my favorite Windows programs on it, but I have high hopes for this. In a ministry setting, this could be a very cost-effective program. With one computer (obviously a Mac), you can run all your favorite Mac software, along with those Windows programs you can’t live without (like Logos and MediaShout), all without paying for a copy of Windows XP (who would by Vista?).

Best part of this deal: for the rest of today (October 28, 2008), Crossover for Mac is FREE!! Go to this website and enter your email for a registration code. Awesome! I will post a review later on Crossover for Mac.

How do I Organize Materials?

Welcome to Packrat Week! This is the fourth in a series of posts about the art and science of gathering material for sermon prep. Be sure to check out the rest of the series here.

How do I Organize Materials?

Over the past two days, we have introduced a “packrat” mentality when it comes to sermon prep material, what these materials look like, and where to find them. But how do you collect these materials? And what do you do with them once you have collected them?

Both of these questions depend on whether you wish to store them in a physical or digital format. There are pros and cons to both formats. Having physical copies of the resources is more tangible and can allow you to collect materials at all times, but it can be slow to find exactly what you are looking for. Digital format allows for quick saving and searching, but you must be at a computer (or phone) to save and search your files. My college youth ministry professor was a 20-year veteran of a physical filing system, yet he begged us to use a computerized system. The system you use is entirely dependent on your preference, but I would recommend a digital system, if only for ease of searching (plus it is green).

Collecting Materials

For a physical system, this is very straightforward. If you see a neat ad in a newspaper, tear it out. If you see a cool photo or interesting story in a magazine, tear it out. Found a great game idea on your friend’s blog? Print it out. Just like any good GTDer, you should place your newly collected materials in your Inbox, ready for processing. For physical copies, it is smart to write down the date you found the resource, along with source and a potential category.

For a digital system, collecting material may take a little more upfront work, but will pay dividends in the end. If you find a physical article or picture, scan it in (preferably as a PDF) and give it a descriptive label. If there is an interesting article, email, or blog post you would like to save, I suggest printing the page as a PDF. Windows users can use doPDF to create a fully searchable PDF copy, while Mac users have PDF printing built in. If you find a photo or graphic online, you can save the picture (again, with a descriptive title) right into your filing system. Mp3s and videos are the same way.

Remember, you are collecting materials you may use someday, so feel free to grab as many as you can. When I started out, I set a goal of collecting 5 resources a day. This can quickly turn into 10-20 new resources per day as it grows into a habit and a part of your Internet browsing.

Organizing Materials

For physical storage, the most common way is with alphabetized file folders. Label each folder with a different topic (example: “Friends,” “Relationships,” and “Jokes”), placing your new resource in the folder it best fits in. Don’t put it into two categories; this will only add more paper and make you more confused.

Digital storage systems do not need to be as organized as the physical counterparts, due to the immense power of search applications. Mac users can use Spotlight or Quicksilver (my new favorite app) to quickly find materials, while my favorite Windows search app is Google Desktop Search. Even with these powerful search programs, I still prefer organizing my resources. On my laptop, I have a Resources file, which contains approximately 200 different categories, all with their own folder. I try not to have nested folders, as that can become very confusing. And since ease of use is the reason you are using a digital filing system, confusing is not desired.

Tomorrow, we will learn how to mine these goldmines of materials and resources in order to help shape and improve your message.

(photo credit jazzmasterson)

Online Radio

A great feature of this Internet “fad” is all the free Web 2.0 resources. They are not just great for personal use, but also for youth workers on a small budget. One extremely useful tool is an online radio. Rather than paying for cds, mp3s, or a subscription-based service, you can use one of these as an online jukebox for your events. Here are some of the best:

• Pandora. My personal favorite, Pandora is an free (ad-supported) online radio station. Simply pick an artist, and Pandora selects similar artists and songs to your radio station. Don’t like a selection? Just give the song a thumbs down, and Pandora will never play that song for you again. Want to vary your music?  Combine a few of your stations into a QuickMix. And although I do not have an iPhone, I have heard Pandora’s app is amazing.
• Last.fm. This website does a great job of mixing music with an online social network. Providing websites for each music group, Last.fm lists bios, albums, and other info along with music.
• Pure Volume. Similar to Last.fm, Pure Volume provides a social community for musicians and groupies. Although Pure Volume only has a few songs per artist, you can make a playlist of multiple artists. This website provides a great place to discover smaller and indie bands.
• Sirius Satellite Radio. Although not free (unless you have a Sirius radio and subscription), Sirius has a fair amount of radio stations available online, including the two Christian music stations.
• Other online stations. Many radio stations now provide an online feed, including some great Christian stations. You don’t get the choices like the stations above, but I enjoy listening to other stations and finding new music. Great stations I listen to include Radio U (Columbus, OH) and Star 99.1 (North Jersey). Your local station may have an online feed as well.

Making Presentations

Marketing genius Seth Godin recently wrote Nine Steps to Powerpoint Magic. Although some tips are geared more towards business professionals, these tips are very helpful for those in youth ministry. Here’s a peak at the list:

Pay by the word. Here’s the deal: You should have to put $5 into the coffee fund for every single word on the wordiest slide in your deck. 400 words costs $2000. If that were true, would you use fewer words? A lot fewer? I’ve said this before, but I need to try again: words belong in memos. Powerpoint is for ideas. If you have bullets, please, please, please only use one word in each bullet. Two if you have to. Three never.

Check to make sure you brought your big idea with you. It’s not worth doing a presentation for a small idea, or for a budget, or to give a quarterly update. That’s what memos are for. Presentations involve putting on a show, standing up and performing. So, what’s your big idea? Is it big enough? Really?

Check out the rest of Seth’s article here: Nine Steps to Powerpoint Magic.

Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast

I recently subscribed to a slew of new podcasts because of my weekly 3 hour round trip to seminary. One podcast I listened to last week was Andy Stanley’s Leadership Podcast. The first episode is about assumptions in ministry. Andy Stanley gives personal examples from North Point of assumptions held in their ministry that held back growth and development. He said that ministries typically do not evaulate programs until something stops working (i.e. the money runs out). Two takeaways from the first episode:

• Acknowledge what’s not working
• Own up to why you’re not willing to do anything about it.

This podcast is a worthwile download for anyone involved in ministry leadership. Can’t wait for the next episode! Here is the podcast: Website & iTunes

Evernote

The latest edition of the Youth Pastor Toolbox is a phenomenal web app called Evernote.  I first heard about Evernote through some other people raving about this tool.  After using it for about one week, I am just as excited about it as them!  Basically, Evernote is a idea-capturing web application.  At first glance, it is very similar to Google Notebook, which I had been using to capture things online.

Evernote really pulls away from Google Notebook due to it’s extensions. First, there is a desktop app (for both Mac and Windows) which allows you to seamlessly work with all the notes and notebooks.  Second, the Firefox extension allows you to highlight whatever (text, picture, link) and add it to a notebook in a few short clicks.  Third, Evernote is built to work easily with mobile phones.  Rumor has it that the Evernote iPhone app totally kicks butt.  And, for those of us not cool enough to own an iPhone, you can send text or picture messages to Evernote and add them to a notebook.

I have been using Evernote for only 1 week, but already I am using it way more than I ever used Google Notebook.  Here are my notebooks:

• Youth Ministry Ideas  (illustrations, sermon series ideas)
• Youth Ministry Administration
• Grad School
• Honeymoon (ideas and planning)
• Blog (post ideas and outlines)

Be sure to check Evernote out.  Even if you don’t become a crazy addict like me, it may help organize you and/or your ministry.

MacBook Pro: One Month Later

I have had my Macbook Pro for over one month, so I figured I should give a progress report on my adaptation to the Mac cult world. After an initial bumpy start, I finally have a MBP that works.  Here is my report:

The Good

• Feels Great. I enjoy typing and working on this computer, something I could not say about previous computers.
• Versatility. I am using the computer for more things than I could ever imagine.  It is my alarm clock, waking me with any song I chose.  Then I can read the front page of any newspaper in the US. I can even keep track of my finances.  Every day I continue to find more things I can do with this computer.
• Use as Work Computer. At work I have a desktop computer I was using for everything.  However, I am now using my MBP for email, writing, video & photo editing.  I do not have our shared calendar on it, so I must still use the PC about once a day.  Boo.

The Bad

• Sync with cell phone. To my knowledge, the Mac does not have a built in sync for my Windows Mobile cell phone.  Since switching to an iPhone is not an option (Verizon has control over my soul for one more year), the next best thing is Sync Mate.  Although in beta, Sync Mate is a free program that syncs your phone to your computer.  It works great, but still does not have all the features I want, like syncing tasks or notes.  Hopefully these changes will improve over time.
• Rewires Your Brain. As I said, I use a Windows computer occasionally at work.  When I use the PC, it takes some time for me to get used to working with it.  When I go to open a new tab in Firefox, I will hit Alt-T instead of Control-T, just because the position has shifted on the Mac.  When installing programs on the PC, I long for the ease of just dragging a program into the Applications folder.  And the Dock feature is 10x better than going to Start->Program Files->program.

The Ugly

• Logos Bible Software. As I have posted before, I have Logos Scholar’s Gold.  My main hesitation in the past to purchasing a Mac is the lack of Logos. But since they came out with Logos for Mac, I am now able to use Logos on my MBP.  After some time installing and setting up the program, I got it working.  Since it is in alpha release, a ton of functionality is still missing.  I miss the powerful searches, all the right click options, and the note files (my favorite tool).  Here is hoping they come out with a full release soon.
• Still Learning. Having used Windows almost exclusively my whole life, it has been an adjustment to learn all the little tips and tricks that OSX has to offer.  Some I have picked up quickly (like command-Q to quit), while others have taken some time.  I was just about to write how the lack of a delete function (not backspace) was a negative, but then I learned how to do it (fn-delete).  Tricks like that will just take experience.

Overall

I am loving my MacBook Pro.  I no longer view working on the computer a chore or a job, but rather something I enjoy.  Although I never see myself becoming a Mac elitist, I can safely say that this laptop is my favorite comupter. Ever.

Logos Bible Software: A Review

Last week I gave in and purchased Scholar’s Library: Gold from Logos Bible Software. What a great purchase it was! I am loving it!! I use it every single day, and it greatly aided me in writing a recent paper for Grad School. Although I am still a novice when it comes to using the software, I am slowly learning all the tricks and tools found in this program.

Three Things I love about Logos:

• Power. This thing is powerful. Within one minute, I can search my entire electronic library of hundreds of books. The paper I had due last Monday was on 1 John 2:12-17. I type in the reference and hit search, and within seconds I was getting information back from all kinds of sources. The same type of research in a physical library would have taken me hours (and likely not as in depth).
• Language Tools. I am just wrapping up my first year of Greek studies. Before that, I took Hebrew in undergrad. This software has taken all that I learned in those two years and made them instantaneous. Rather than taking a great deal of time and effort into parsing a verb, I simply hover the mouse over a Greek/Hebrew word, and the parsing is shown. Then you can double click on the word, and the lexical form and definition appear. So easy.
• Notes. This was one part of Logos that I was not expecting: how useful the notes would be. If I am reading a text, and want to add my own comment, question, idea, or reference, I can. It is as simple as 2 mouse clicks away. These notes appear as a little yellow graphic at the start of each verse. When clicked, these graphics take me to pages and pages of notes, previously scattered throughout a few Bibles and books, but now brought together under one roof. I find myself marking and noting things more on Logos than I do on my thin-margined physical Bible.

Now I don’t think that Logos will ever replace all of my books (I am still getting used to reading whole books on a computer screen, and my favorite commentary, EBC, is not on Logos). However, if a book is available on Logos, I am now more likely to buy it from them instead of a physical copy. Logos is perfect for research, writing, and general Bible studying. It is an ideal tool for youth workers as they prep for a lesson (my primary use). Next update for me is the Sermon Builder Addin.