The power of DO!

December 16, 2011 in Apps, iPhone, Software, Technology with 0 Comments

This week I was looking for a new productivity app that was cloud-based that I could use for various projects.  I spent some time looking through the Google Apps Marketplace and stumbled past DO.  After just a few minutes of checking this product out, I was loving it.

Photo Courtesy of do.com

Here are a few things that I found very useful with DO:

  1. Cloud-based.  I frequently work with clients on web design/maintenance projects and having a product accessible anywhere is extremely useful.
  2. iPad web app.  Yes, having a dedicated app for the iPad would be great, but I find this web app very functional and works extremely well.
  3. iPhone app. This is a great start for this app.  One thing that I would like to see (and I believe it is coming in a future update) is the ability to create a project from the iPhone app but for a quick way to create, update and monitor activity, this is great.
  4. Google Apps Integration.  After a few hours of working with this product, I contacted the IT Administrator at our church about adding this to our domain. I also added it to a couple other Google Apps domains that I manage.  With Google Apps integration, you can easily attach Google Docs and integrate with your Gmail to create tasks etc.
  5. Ease of use.  As much as I love products like Omnifocus, Nozbe, etc., there are times when they can be downright cumbersome to either figure out or share information with others. DO makes it easy to share information, tasks and notes with coworkers.
  6. Price.  It’s FREE!  How cool is that?  Take 30 seconds and sign up for your account.

Tweetbot price lowered to $0.99

December 10, 2011 in All Things Apple, Apps, iPhone, Technology with 0 Comments

Tweetbot Demo by Tapbots
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If you hate the new version of Twitter’s iPhone app that has been completely redesigned, which revolves around four concepts: Home, Connect, Discover and Me, then checkout Tweetbot – a popular Twitter app for the iPhone, which comes with a brilliant user interface.

Photo Courtesy // Tweetbot

Tapbots – developer of the Twitter app has made the decision to switch even easier as they’ve slashed the price of their iPhone app. It’s now available in the App for $0.99 instead of $2.99.

Tweetbot includes the following new features:

  • Multiple Timelines. Quickly switch between your lists as your main timeline.
  • Smart Gestures. Use Twitter more efficiently with time-saving and configurable gestures.
  • Native Push Notifications.
  • Customizable Navigation. The last 2 tabs are customizable and unused tabs are easily accessible.
  • Support for multiple services like Read it Later, Instapaper, Cloudapp URL Shortening.
  • Save drafts, add locations and POI’s, attach photos and videos, manage your lists, and much more.

via iPhone Hacks

 

My only request on Tweetbot is that they would develop an iPad version of the app.  I have several Twitter apps but Tweetbot has become the go-to app for the past several months.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Good Work Ethic + Good Prayer Ethic = Miracles

December 9, 2011 in Life, Spiritual Life with 0 Comments

Copyright Unkown

This idea of going big or going home is central to Batterson’s new book, The Circle Maker. Debuting next week, it tells the story of Honi the Circle Maker, an ancient Hebrew who drew a circle in the sand and stood inside it until God ended a drought in Israel. Honi’s dedication, Batterson argues, has huge implications for what takes place in contemporary prayer today.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Batterson suggests that supplication before Christ requires taking a stand before his throne. It’s only when we persevere, he proposes, that our prayers are finally answered.

CP: Your upcoming book The Circle Maker is derived from the legend of Honi the Circle Maker. What appealed to you about Honi’s tale?

Batterson: The Jewish people understood the power of story. When I read this story – a true story mind you – it inspired me to pray with more faith.

I’ve always believed in the power of prayer. One prayer can accomplish more than a thousand plans. That isn’t a magic formula, but it’s an idea that if you pray, keep praying and then praying some more. There’s a difference between “praying for” and “praying through.”

We’ve lost our ability to persevere through prayer. My church, for example, has the core value of working like it depends on you and praying like it depends on God. If you take a good work ethic with a good prayer ethic, miracles happen.

CP: Why is prayer so important?

Batterson: If God is omnipotent and hears our prayers, then is there anything else that has the potential of prayer to change things? I think the answer is no.

There’s nothing you can do that has greater power or potential than prayer. Prayer is the difference between you fighting for God and God fighting for you. When you pray, God fights for you, goes before you, blesses you and prepares good works in advance for you. The greatest tragedy in life is that some prayers go unanswered as they go unasked.

via Christian Post

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Just in this article I picked up some great quotes…One that I love is “If you take a good work ethic with a good prayer ethic, miracles happen.” Incredible line.  There are many people that will live by one or the other.  The might focus on all work and no pray…or all pray and now work.  What are your thoughts on this and will you be as anxious as me to grab this book?  Leave your comments below.

 

 

 

 

Twitter Changes for iPhone app

December 9, 2011 in Apps, iPhone, Technology with 0 Comments

Twitter: Yours to discover
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Twitter has released their update for the iPhone app that is based on the following for things: Home, Connect, Discover and Me.

Home is where you start from: a personal collection of Tweets from the sources you care about. The Tweet details show rich information such as replies, retweets and embedded images. 

Connect is the place to see who followed or mentioned you, retweeted or favorited one of your Tweets. It’s where you keep the conversation flowing. 

Discover is where you can tap into the stories and trends people are talking about in your world. You can also find friends, browse interests, and explore hashtags here. 

Me puts you and your interests front and center. From here you can exchange Direct Messages with your followers.

via iPhone Hacks

 

Flipboard for iPhone is released

December 7, 2011 in All Things Apple, Apps, iPhone, Technology with 0 Comments


I have been anticipating the release of Flipboard for iPhone.  If you are not familiar with it, you should be!  It was previously only available for iPad and from the first time I used it, I was hooked.  Flipboard puts all of your newsfeeds in one place and presents them in a magazine-like spread.

One thing that is new for the iPhone version is Cover Stories.   Here is an explanation of Cover Stories from Flipboard.

With Flipboard for iPhone we’re introducing Cover Stories — one place to quickly catch up on some of the most interesting news, updates and photos being shared with you right now. The more you interact with your friends and the stories being shared, the smarter Cover Stories gets. You can refine what appears here by adding content to your Flipboard, muting anyone you’d rather not hear from, and connecting to your social networks. Cover Stories will be coming to your iPad in the near future.

You can download Flipboard for iPhone now in the App Store…it’s FREE!

 

Preparing for Worship X2

December 7, 2011 in Ministry, Multi-site Worship, Music, Worship with 0 Comments

Within the past couple of weeks, our church leadership has been presented with the opportunity/challenge of going multi-site…really fast.  No…like…really fast.  A local church in the Orlando area has voted to become a satellite campus of Faith Assembly starting 2012.  In the next few weeks, I will be sharing more of what our thought process and strategy is from a worship ministry, and how that process will need to remain fluid as we adapt to what works and discover what does not.

Things we know:

  1. There is alot we don’t know…I am the first to admit that I am on a new journey and am being stretched in new areas.  There are mistakes that I will make and learn from and also decisions that I will be thankful I made.
  2. We will start this journey approximately one month from today.  On January 8, 2012, we will begin leading worship with our team at the new campus.
  3. We will have live worship (rhythm section & vocalists) at our new campus made up of people from our current team.
  4. We are actively recruiting new members to be involved at both our current location, as well as, our new campus.
  5. Not long after we begin our second campus, we will be relocating our main campus 6 miles south of where we are currently at (If you thrive on change, now is a great time to be involved in Orlando Faith Music and Faith Assembly | Orlando).

I will be blogging through some of this process and how certain decisions are being made.  I welcome your comments and would love to hear how your church is handling worship in a multi-site model.

Upcoming Topics will include:

  • Recruiting for growth
  • Auditioning process for Praise Team and Band
  • Scheduling and rotating of singers/players
  • Cultivating Culture

 

Packers Stock goes on Sale

December 6, 2011 in Life with 0 Comments

Photo © Reuters/Darren Hauk

In just a few short minutes, Packer fans started grabbing up the latest stock offering to own a piece of the Green Bay Packers.  The last stock offering was in 1997 and sold around 120,000 shares.  This offering is said to be limited to 250,000 shares.  These shares have no dividend, will not appreciate and on paper aren’t worth anything.  HOWEVER…to a loyal Packer fan (which I am), this stock is priceless.  If you want to learn more or purchase a piece of history,  click here

 

Copyright - Green Bay Packers

Alfred App

December 6, 2011 in All Things Apple, Software, Technology with 0 Comments

I am always looking for apps or utilities that can increase productivity or at least shorten the steps that it takes to do something.  A few months ago I came across the great utility, Alfred.  Alfred is a launcher for OSX and within a couple keystrokes you can launch your favorite app.  But it doesn’t stop with just launching apps…you can also search the web, amazon, wiki, maps & more.

If you want to check it out, you can find more information here.

ProTools 9.0.6 Released – Lion Support….finally

December 1, 2011 in Music, Recording, Software, Technology with 0 Comments

Well, it is here…the ProTools release for those who have already spent the money on upgrading to PT9 and don’t want to shell out another $300 for PT10.  Avid has released 9.0.6 that includes support for Lion.

You can read more about this update at http://pmatt.me/ukXktV

Tether your iPhone – get it while it’s hot! UPDATED

November 29, 2011 in iPhone, Technology with 0 Comments

If you are looking for a way to use your phone’s data plan without jailbreaking your iPhone, this could be a solution. I haven’t used this as of yet and cannot make any claims for or against. I’ll bet AT&T has something to say though.

That didn’t last long…Within hours of Apple approving the app, “iTether”, it was gone!  iTether was an app that allowed you to tether your computer and phone and use your phone’s data plan for free wireless.

I was about to purchase the app while it was available but didn’t trust that it would work for two reasons:

1. The reviews were pretty mixed.  Some said that the app worked great and others said that within a few times of using it, they had verification errors on the app.

2. With the rate that AT&T has been cracking down on MyWi (my personal favorite) users, I figured that they would quickly find a way to either kill the app or the data plans of the end user.

Here is a further explanation on the matter:  http://pmatt.me/vM0bQR

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