Recent discoveries around the web.
Thinking About Being on the Praise Team?
5 Secret Tech-Savvy Tips For Traveling Abroad
Bluetooth Bulb lets you switch on, time, dim and color your lighting from your phone
10 Most Interesting Lawsuits Against Apple
Ten hidden controls of the iPhone headphones
How To Design A Home Workspace For Two
Here are some of my latest finds.
7 things the Christian iPad needs
20 Common Grammar Mistakes That (Almost) Everyone Makes
Will Kindles Replace Bibles in Hotel Rooms?
How I Found A Working iPhone At The Bottom Of A River
The Case for Coffee: All the Latest Research
Ok, so I finally got an iPhone, and I’ve been giving Siri a workout. Everything I need to remember, I tell her, and she reminds me at the appropriate time. I’ve used cell phone reminders before and actual notebooks on a regular basis. The older I get, the more I have to use something, but I’m definitely seeing an increased level of use with Siri.
It all got me wondering if we are training our brains not to remember things because we have an electronic device with us at all times that will remind us. I know the human brain evolves and transitions over time according to our general life style and how we use it. Will it one day stop remembering people’s birthdays and when to take out the trash? We will eventually have to tell Siri to remind us to take a bath?
Image via Wikipedia
When Apple first introduced the iPhone, I thought, “that is way too expensive, I’ll never spend that much for a phone.” But after two dud phones by reputable companies, I was tired of taking chances. Despite a company’s overall reputation, they have so many models on the market, you just don’t know what you’re getting. I’ve learned that the hard way. I knew I could count on Apple, so I finally bought an iPhone. Granted I did not pay any where near the list price of $650, but it’s still the most I’ve ever paid for a cell phone.
The difference here is quality, not name brand. It’s like that with the church too. Take this statement supposedly made by Martin Luther more than five centuries ago.
“The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays — not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”
Christians should always be viewed as giving quality effort no matter what we’re doing. It’s the quality that counts, not the label.
Some of the week’s best links (and last-minute gift ideas):
new iPhone case mounting system
If you’re like me, you rarely carry cash any more, which at times can be inconvenient for both the buyer and the seller. Wish your church could just swipe your credit or debit card for Supper Club or to purchase a DVD of a service or a T-shirt? Wish your band could accept credit cards to sell CDs, T-shirts, etc.? …Without the expense and hassle of credit card services?
Here’s your answer – The Square Card Reader by Square Up allows you to receive credit card payments from anywhere via your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Just install the free app, plug the free card reader into your device’s audio jack and swipe. The only cost is 2.75% per swipe. No monthly fee. No contract.
I can imagine a whole host of independent contractors and organizations benefiting from The Square: freelancers; performers selling their recordings, T-shirts, etc.; farmer’s market and flea market proprietors, small business owners.
In addition to the card reader, Square Up recently added the Register app that turns an iPad into a cash register. No more investing in expensive equipment just to calculate and track sales. It even keeps a record of your inventory.
Customers can have receipts emailed or texted to them. Sellers can view sales reports from the recorded transactions.
As a church, we certainly don’t want to advocate credit card debt, but at the same time many could reap the benefits of the convenience of The Square.
Image by marcopako via Flickr
The long anticipated announcement of the iPhone 4S came this week. Probably the most anticipated smart phone announcement ever. But it hasn’t always been that way. Apple fans were, of course excited about the first iPhone, but many others scoffed and criticized. It cost too much. Why is Apple making a cell phone? Just recently even the CEO of Sony Ericsson admitted they should have taken the iPhone more seriously.
An even more skeptical reaction occurred when Apple introduced the iPad a couple of years ago. Even Apple fans didn’t see much use for it. I thought it was a little silly myself, especially the name. But last Christmas I decided I couldn’t live without one. Now I’m rarely without it.
Steve Jobs and Apple are an excellent example of ignoring the cynics and moving ahead. Innovation has to do that. Every great inventor and innovator throughout history has been laughed at and criticized for their ideas.
All that makes me wonder how many times we as individuals and the collective church fail to be innovative because of people’s reactions or their anticipated reactions. I’m not advocating not listening to good counsel and advice, but too often we just don’t want to deal with negative, critical people so we stick with the status quo or move like molasses waiting for everyone to get on the bandwagon. By the time we reach the goal it is no longer innovative; everyone else is doing it, and we’ve lost the edge God wanted to give us.
God is innovative. Everything he does is fresh and new, when and if we let him lead the way. Ignore the scoffers and move forward with wherever you feel he is leading.
from my notebook 