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Number 1

I like Podcasts.  Really.  Wait Wait Don't Tell Me is a satirical comedy about the weeks news broadcast on your local NPR stations to approximately 3 million listeners. A further 1 million download the podcast version to listen later - for me it's while I drive around the 400 or so miles I do each week.  And for us Brits living far far away (or anyone with taste and culture really) the BBC has an amazing variety of Podcasts that I listen to. More political humor here, and a review of the days sport here.  It is not all about the mainstream shows though, I subscribe to Rob Bells church sermons here, and enjoy tech podcasts from TWIT here.

Number 2

I also like apps.  I have the iPhone and had an iPad (both things I like btw) and it is the apps that make those devices so brilliant.  I've one in particular I'd like to share. BibleXpress.  It is the best Bible app I know.  Not web based which can be important if you go to camps and other events off the grid like me.  There are 7 diverse translations - including The Message and English Standard Version.  The ability to book mark passages in folders like "hospital" or "favorites" or "sermon prep" or verses referenced during a seminar or something is a valuable feature for me. But this app comes into its own on the iPad. It is about the best Bible I have ever seen. One advantage of this app too is that it goes seamlessly across the iPhone and iPad platforms.  It does cost $29.99 (so the price of a real Bible), but there is a lite version with the same features, just without the copyrighted Bible versions - which you can then buy individually. 

And . . .

It is not all good though. There is one thing I do not like! I know I can be accused of being an Apple fan boy. But, here's the thing. There are some things apple does that makes me wonder what else is out there, so every now and then I go take a look. The kindle has got my attention, especially since the recent price drops. But you can't go into a store and pick one up and just play with it. But you can go into a Barns and Noble store and pick up a Nook, their equivalent, and play with that. Coming from the apple world, it is just awful. I know it is much cheaper. But let me tell you, it is much cheaper. I kept hitting things that didn't do anything. Only the bottom screen is a touch screen, and in the few minutes I played with it, the whole interface drove me crazy. I am sure I'd get used to it, but it felt like such a step backwards, I saw no reason not to take one step further back, and stick with an actual book - which I still like, as even the iPad does not let me underline and scribble on a good read like I like to.

There are quite a few things going on in and around my world - here are a few of the highlights:

You can visit and download all 4 parts of "Losing Your Religion" here.  This has been a sermon series I finished last weekend, and has been well received.  I am expecting to do a bit more on this topic in the future.

Upcoming Messages:

Sept. 4 - Leading with your head v's leading with your heart.  The answer is of course both, but I'll look at the trouble we get in when we do it all wrong.

Sept 11 - As our country remembers 9/11 and reflects on much of what is wrong with our world, my church is holding a community service day. Before we go out, I'll be sharing a message called "The Minuscule Difference".  We might only make a small difference in the pain and suffering of this world. But you know... it is only a small difference that brings it in the first place.  I hope this message will both be difficult and easy, challenging and inspiring all at the same time.

Just for fun:

I am planning on attending Youth Specialties in San Diego this October. I will also be following this up with a short trip to the channel Islands for a little time away.

God is Good.

Verse: I Chronicles 16.34

God seems so hard to see sometimes. But he wants to reveal himself to you.  Dueteronomy 4.29 - "But even there you can look for the Lord your God, and you will find him if you look for him with your whole being".

God is good. In this verse in Chronicles, David is giving thanks because the Ark is back safe and sound in Israel. And David sees that God is good because despite all that has happened, God is still there.  For Gods love lasts forever.  

We look for goodness and love in a lot of places that are what we might term - conditional. And this leads to pain - for the people we want love from, in turn need love as much as we do. So we end up playing tricks, and manipulating, and doing anything to get our own way and feel loved. God is bigger than this. God is good.  And has a "no matter matter what" clause to his love. 

Want to see God?  Check out his true, lasting, goodness. For he is good. 

I took this sign while waiting to order my subway sandwich one day. It's not the customers only part that caught my attention - nor the picture of the man and woman on the same door. It's the small print at the bottom of the white sign that says:

"Please Help Keep It Clean".

What a great philosophy for life. You don't have to be religious to see how this can bring value to a community. In fact it is my experience that religious people often have a real problem with this idea. In a world where we think Jesus'll take care of it, and one day everything will be ok, we forget that the greatest gift Jesus offers is to partner with him. In caring for the world, each other, and yes, even offering salvation. 

So today, I take this well intentioned sign a step further. And offer to be part of your community. And invite you to be part of mine.