Blackberry “Bible”  – Great site with shortcuts and countless how-to’s:

Cellspin- Send audio, video and other media to your blog for free

iSkoot- Skype for Blackberry

Google Apps for Blackberry – A MUST have for every blackberry

Crackberry – Great tool for lots of free Blackberry apps and themes

Viigo  – Online News and Information Resource

Twitterberry – Twitter application for the Blackberry

Audible – Resource for obtaining and listening to audio books, many free options available.

YouVersion – Fantastic Bible and Theological Research and sharing tool (free)

Slacker Radio – Free “create-your-own” radio station without commercials.

NeoReader – Tool that creates and reads graphics and sends to URL.

Googletalk for Blackberry – Allows Googletalk instant chats from the blackberry

Nintendo – Nintendo’s Orginial Zelda for the Blackberry

Facebook – Facebook Blackberry Tool

Blackberry Freeware

Language translator

MobiPocket – Blackberry eBook reader

Tellme.com – Free access to lots of information by voice commands

I’ve had a blip.fm account forever, but just recently found a fondness for it. Initially, I thought "who cares what music I’m listening to". I’ve been surprised to find how great of a tool music can be for "You Engaging Others". Seems lots of people enjoy connecting through music. I’m not one who likes to keep webpages open to use these tools, so I was happy to find Blipster. Blipster is a great tool for your desktop that allows you to use blip.fm easily.

Tags: blip.fm, blipster, music, sharing

I found this site called the “Overflow Show”, which seems to be a great ministry option for podcasters.  Here’s how they describe themselves:

The best ideas from the 40 best books on evangelism in the world. The Overflow show is a free 5 minute audio podcast for christians which teach us how to naturally "overflow" into our non-Christian friends’ lives with the gospel. Each show is different and brings new and helpful ideas. Topics include: how to transition to talking about Jesus; intellectual answers to objections about our faith; and many more. From answering questions, to removing doubts, the Overflow Show seeks to give you confidence and connect you better with non-believers.

I’m looking forward to listing to this in the future!

Tags: evangelism, lifestyle, overflow

I’ve tried lots of different tools for writing blog post.  I’m accustomed to using the interface of WordPress, but it’s sometimes quirky and I would prefer a desktop system app for writing.  Recently I’ve found two great application that I really like and they are – free!

The first is a great add-on for Mozilla Firefox  It’s called ScribeFire.  It has many great features, including the ability to open in your Firefox browser and bring information in from the page you’re viewing. Here’s a quick video I found on YouTube:

The second and far cooler application is Microsoft’s Live Writer application.  It’s VERY user friendly and just as easy to use as Microsoft Word.  I am actually writing this post using Live Writer.  So far, I think Microsoft got this program exactly right.  You can download it for free, on Microsoft’s Writer Zone page.  Live Writer allows you to easily embed and center videos, graphics, tables and more.  Frankly, I think it’s much easier than the inherent WYSIWYG that comes with any of the blogging systems.  Best yet, the Live Writer also lets you switch over to  HTML if you so desire.

There are great tools for new authors too.  Easy to setup and use – give ‘em a try!

Tags: blogger, live, realtor, tools, writer

He Knows

The night before last I was looking through my bookshelves in search of that “perfect” book.  My spirit was looking for a certain something and the shelf after shelf of Christian-ese, Church “structure” and how to be a good person.  Jennifer and I are avid readers and we’ve got two rooms of bookshelves between the library and my office.  Nothing spoke to me…  I grabbed the Bible (go figure) and decided to read through it. 

For whatever reason, I started and ended with one verse:

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. ~Ezra 7:10

I spent some time, as I feel asleep, asking for guidance in where my reading should go.  I’ve been very frustrated with how Christianity is practice and perceived.  Frustrated where the politics and religion have began to merge and where the church has neglected the example of Christ, in lieu of creating it’s own soft and comfortable theology. 

He knew my heart…

The Gift

Yesterday at work, I was waiting for package from UPS and I actually received two.  The second mystery package was from Amazon.com (my favorite place next to Borders!).  I opened the box and found a gift wrapped book.

I love surprises….and books. (Yes, I took pictures before even knowing what it was)  This book was from Julie Emery, who is a friend on Twitter and acquaintance from work.  I’m very grateful that she thought of me and Jennifer and sent this book.  I opened it up and by the first few pages realized this is exactly what I was looking for! 

Irresistible Revolution – Shane Claiborne

The book is called Irresistible Revolution, by Shane Claiborne.  I haven’t finished the book, so I don’t know if I can support all the ideas, but I have thus far connected with it.  This line specifically:

My activist friends call me conservative, and my religious friends call me liberal.  What I often get branded is ‘radical.’

So, I am only in chapter one, but I’m sure I’ll be writing other thoughts provoked in this book.  I like not being put into categories.  Categories are dangerous.  Religion is dangerous.  But, danger is only dangerous if you’re on the wrong side of the revolution! 

I recently have been observing more and more “Christian” bumper stickers, and feeling my spirit just shudder.  really…  I am not sure what part of scripture has convince Believers that offending those who are not following, on the rear-end 1982 pinto.  I really want to know – why do Christians feel that offensive slogan are going to drive others to the mercy seat?

Please understand, my faith is too large to be reduced to a sticker.  Anyone who has actually read the Word (and not just the overheads on Sunday mornings) understands that Christ ministered through His life and how he engaged people.  He built relationships and encouraged us to do the same. 

You cannot build a relationship with your vehicular chastisements.   Personally, my driving ability is never 100% perfect and I’d rather those not of my faith to judge the Church by my inability to always maintain the speed limit…

I’ve collected a few bumper stickers, and would you to view them through my eyes: 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ~John 3:16

I am comforted by the fact that God knows me, and chose to love (to the point of death) me anyway.

  Anti-Abortion bumper stickers are the worst.  Do you REALLY think you’re going to change this difficult choice, by referring to the desperate woman as a murderer?  Of course, I don’t believe in Abortion, but it is only the power of Christ (not a sticker) that will sway someone away from this decision.  If anything, angry “Christians” yelling at this person will convince them even more that it’s the “right” thing to do.  After all, who wants to make angry, hurtful, judgmental people happy? 

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. ~ John 13:25

What does this even mean?  With the exception of those who care about Church politics, this is non-sense.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves ~1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

I am not convinced that you can be a Libertarian and have any statement such as this.  My understanding is that Libertarians believe that they should be self to self governance and do not need a government to oversee them.  Yet, most Christian movements believe in the total depravity of man.  If we believe that we are total deprived with Christ, than how could we not need some level of governance?

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ~1 Timothy 2:1-2

I like this… I’m glad that Christ is not religious – He’s relational.

This was mainly just for fun, but the truth of the matter is, that Christ did not use one line sarcastic and offense bumper stickers to build relationships and to show His love for others – and neither should we. 

This is yet one more example where the Church has lost touch with it’s true mission, which is to love others and to share the Gospel.  You can’t minister to those who you’ve offended and I’ve yet to meet anyone who said they came to Christ, because you said they were otherwise going to hell on the tail end of your car….

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. ~Philippians 4:8

Submerse Yourself

You’ve just heard a great sermon on Sunday and now you wish that you get that feeling of being fed throughout the week.  I’m with you!  There is nothing that is more difficult in the daily walk than feeling disconnected from your church family.  From time to time social media friends will contact and me about how I stay connected throughout the week.  So, I am creating a list of a few of my favorite places to read blogs, listen to podcasts and music.

iTunes Rawks

First, I would suggest that you go download iTunes for free.  Even if you don’t have an iPod or iPhone, you can still use the download features of music and sermons.  Most all teachings are free.  Here is a quick video on how to get the podcasts into iTunes.

Great Places to Start

If you are looking for a free and easy place to find a particular song to list to and maybe share, www.Blip.fm is a cool place to start.  Also. www.Tangle.com is a family focused Christian video site, like www.YouTube.com.

For Ministry, I recommend checking out the following:

Matt Chandler – The Village Church (Amazing Ministry and the best teaching I’ve ever heard)

Frontline Ministeries in McLean Virginia

Desiring God – John Piper

International House of Prayer Ministry (IHOP) – Just Awesome!

The Bible Gateway – Complete Bible online with Various Versions

Christian Social Media

Dwell Deep – Kathryn Wells

Thinking Christian

Those are just a few to get you started!

Be BLESSED!

Do not Hide your Light

On March 1, 2009 I shared my heart in a sermon regarding being in the world, but not of it and what that really means.  My premise is that too many Christians have missed that fact that Christ’s mission was to the non-believer and that he was effective because (well other than being God) He engaged people and built relationships. 

The church of today is far too content to “play church” on Sunday morning and to turn their nose up against those who don’t believe; forgetting that the only difference in some of us is that we yielding to the call.  I am the chief sinner amoung you and I struggle every day with religion.  Organized Church has become the land of the Pharisee and not refuge for the broken sinner.  We must stop play-acting for our Church friends to the exclusion of the rest of the world.  Life-style evanglism is the most effective tool we have go show Christ’s love.  Not yelling from street corners, not rebuking young scared girls in front of clients, not “preaching” hatred against our elected officials.  We are called to be more Christ like.  Read the references in the slide to see how Christ engaged the “sinners’.   BTW:  We are all sinners….

One of our first steps is to know when to take a stand. This video clip is a great introduction to not being afraid of “man”, but in being a “light to the world”, even when it’s not comfortable.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.789723&w=425&h=350&fv=viewkey%3D91afd072f75c83d0cbc4]

Here are my slides and references from the sermon:

[slideshare id=1086182&doc=onlinejustliveitjudgement-090301064129-phpapp01]

Tags: judgement, matthew, no, rathbun, sermon

I wanted to share with you the oil painting that Jan Beveridge did, at the request of my wife. Jennifer had seen me identifying for this painting elsewhere. It’s one of the best images I’ve seen and the easiest for me to understand. I’ve often seen Christ as needing time to ponder the looming evil and I can seem him thousands of years ago thinking of us, today. It’s very inspiring to know how much He really cares for us.