Review of the Children’s Bible
One of the hats I wear is Children’s Pastor, and as a technophile I was intrigued when I came across a suite of apps published by a Spanish company, Barcelona Multimedia: Children’s Bible, Children’s Bible Advent Calendar and Children’s Bible Daily Prayer. In this review I’ll discuss the Children’s Bible, the backbone of the suite.
It’s a cross between a Bible comic strip and animated children’s Bible storybook. While the publishers website says it’s aimed at 7-13 year olds, in my opinion it is better suited to younger readers and family devotions. It works on both iPhone and iPad, but is much more suited to the iPad’s larger screen. Continue reading
First Impressions: Bible Reader for Mac
I think my brain just exploded. Bible Reader has just launched their first desktop App. Sorry Windows users, it’s for Mac OS 10.7 Lion.
Bible Reader, in my opinion, has been one of the best mobile Bible study apps available for years. I only stopped using it because I needed the ability to sync modules and user notes between my devices and Macs. Once Accordance came out with a useable mobile app this was a no brainer, but now it’s not so simple.
If you’re a Bible Reader user you’ll find the Mac version remarkably familiar. At first blush they’ve done an excellent job of porting the user interface to mobile friendly Lion. The resources palate works very similarly and you can sync all your purchases, notes, bookmarks, etc. But it’s not a BR for mobile clone and does adapt to the Mac where appropriate. For example, your library is in a familiar iTunes like sidebar and includes access to your online account and the bookstore (very clever on their part, but you can hide it). Search and the verse picker are in the toolbar – and yes, the verse picker is the same as the mobile version. Basic font adjustments are a click away allowing you to change the font size and margin width (which you’ll want to do if you’re reading full screen). Also you can add a bookmark with one click – same icon as the mobile version. The Greek text also pops up parsing information by clicking on a word. Continue reading
Review: Speaker for the Dead
Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Speaker for the Dead continues the story of Ender, 3000 years after the events of Ender’s Game. Ender Wiggin has become a pariah, the Xenocide who annihilated an entire species. “The Speaker for the Dead” has gained revered religious status. Little do people know that Ender Wiggin and the original Speaker for the Dead are one and the same and that due to the effects of relativity on space travellers, he still lives. When Ender is called to speak the death of a number of people in the colony of Lusitania he uncovers a truth that can unite three species, endanger humanity and spawn a second genocide.
I found this book engaging and imaginative read. The characters are compelling, the speculative science intriguing and the questions about what is happening kept me reading to the end.
And, once again, this is a superbly narrated audiobook.
Book Review: Ender’s Game
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve heard about Ender’s Game in a few places and thought I’d try it out. I downloaded the 20th anniversary audiobook from Audible. Haven’t read Orson Scott Card before so didn’t know what to expect.
First off, the narration was superb. It is dramatized in a few places in a way that intrigued. The narration as much as the story drew me in. Continue reading
iOS 5 First Impressions on iPhone 3GS
The Apple servers were overloaded early yesterday when I upgraded my iGadgets, but basically everything went smoothly. After playing around a little here’s my initial assessment of iOS 5 on the iPhone 3GS. It’s pretty much the same on the iPad. (I won’t do an in depth review of features as these have been done better in other places).
Happy with:
Performance – I haven’t noticed a change, so no worse. I believe some tests are saying it’s better. Continue reading
Why Are We Sad at Steve’s Death?
Every death is sad. Everyone is someone’s parent, child, sibling, friend. If we truly have no one at the end, that’s tragic. But most deaths go unnoticed and unmourned by most people. I, like most who mourn his death, didn’t know Steve Jobs. Yet people are weeping tears and feeling empty because of his passing. I’m usually somewhat cynical about these things, but this time I’ve been affected by it.
At the most superficial level, of course, Steve touched millions of lives with his technology. Continue reading
RIP Steve
I’ve been feeling kind of sad all day.
Sadder still that Steve didn’t know Jesus.
Rest in peace, Steve.
Review: Eragon
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eragon is the eponymous tale of a teenage farm boy living with his uncle and cousin who one day discovers a dragon’s egg. When the dragon chooses Eragon as her rider, they set off on an adventure that sees him a fugitive of the Empire. Mentored by the local storyteller, Brom, he learns about magic and the history of Alegaesia and discovers that being a rider is a mixed blessing. He has an uncommon bond with his dragon, Saphira, but is feared, honoured and manipulated by people.
This is a very imaginative, detailed and well written novel. We’ve been reading it as a family and everyone from the 9 year old daughter to the 13 year old son and their parents have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Review: Vintage Church
Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Vintage Church is classic Mark Driscoll (cowritten with Gary Breshears) – classic systematic evangelical theology delivered in a contemporary, relevant package. What I particularly like about Driscoll is he’s unapologetic about defending a historic, biblical, evangelical faith. He is obviously familiar with church history, drawing on major Christian thinkers and coupled with a deep knowledge of Scripture writes with authority.
Driscoll grounds the church firmly in Christ and from there discusses matters such as leadership, the sacraments, unity, discipline, love and mission. I particularly found his discussion on missional churches helpful. But what really stands out to me is his argument that multi-campus churches are, in his opinion, the way of the future. He argues for it convincingly without in anyway discarding traditional churches or small congregations.
Apart from the last couple of chapters on multi-congregational and missional church, much of his discussion holds no real surprises, at least for anyone familiar with the subject matter. But I would highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn’t studied ecclesiology in any depth.
