THE Guide to Evernote - [T3]

Okay, okay... So maybe this isn't THE guide to Evernote. But it will get you started.
Maybe you heard Adam Faughn rave about Evernote. So you created an Evernote account. You downloaded the apps.

Now what?

Well, this is my practical guide to using Evernote. I've been a user for the last few years, and in trying and abandoning a lot of things, I've come up with my own personal uses for Evernote. I'm going to share those with you.

Now keep in mind that just because I do or don't do something doesn't mean that you and Evernote should, can't, or could do the same. This is just what I do. Feel free to experiment on your own.

Here we go!

The Evernote App

Really my favorite part of the Evernote experience has been the mobile app. The latest edition of the iOS app is incredible.

Some things I use the app for:

• Voice notes for sermon ideas, writing ideas, or anything that's coming to me "stream of consciousness." I'll then transcribe it in the desktop app, if there's a need.


• Document Scanning using my iPhone's camera. The latest version of the iOS app actually has an option for processing pages when you photograph them (by cropping down to the page and increasing the contrast). Couple that with Evernote's OCR (Optical Character Recognition), and any image of words becomes searchable.


• Quick Notes remind me of thoughts, ideas, quotes, and other things. I can tap one out in a hurry on my phone.


• Access to ALL My Notes means that I always have my repository of Evernote clippings, images, audio, and text notes available to me, no matter where I go.

Some of my favorite extensions/apps:

Evernote works well with a lot of different apps. There are also quite a few web browser extensions available which let you "extend" the usefulness of Evernote outside the app itself. Here are a few I like:

• Web Clipper (Chrome) - If I see it and want to keep it, I clip it.


• Clearly - Gets all the "junk" off of a webpage, so I can read clearly. Also has links to clip what you are reading.


• Skitch - Allows you to make annotations to images. Very handy before a trip to Lowe's.


• IFTTT - Stands for, "If this then that." Allows you to create "recipes" for things, using web "channels" (Google, Facebook, Gmail, Craigslist, Twitter, Google Reader, Calendar, etc.). You can set up certain "triggers" to automatically send things to Evernote. Haven't used it much yet, but it has some neat possibilities.

Be sure to check out the "Trunk" for more apps that integrate with Evernote.

Some of my notebooks:

Notebooks in Evernote can relate to notebooks or file folders in the physical realm. Here are a few I keep, and find handy:

• Ministry Log - I keep a notebook of ministry related notes, including my weekly log, sermon planning notes, contacts, etc.


• Kindle Notes - when I read a Kindle book, I'll go to kindle.amazon.com and copy/paste my highlights and notes into notes in this folder.


•  Illustrations - When I come across a good illustration, I will clip/photograph it and place it in this folder.


• Articles - interesting articles (doctrinal, etc.) that I read and find will be clipped and placed in this folder.


• 2013 Ideas - This is sort of a rotating folder - ideas for the year go in, and hopefully come out and go into use.


• Seminars - When I go to a workshop or seminar, I usually transfer my notes into Evernote for safe-keeping and ready reference.


• Media Work - This is the hub of my media work. Ideas go in and get added to as my time allows. Evernote is a great stewing pot.

Some of my lists:

Outside of my wife, and Siri, Evernote keeps me on track and on task. Here are a few of the lists I keep:

• Weekly "Ministry Log" - This contains a checkbox list of all of the things I MUST get done in a week. I have a note file for each week. I also keep track of visits, and other ministry related things that take place over the couse of that week.


• Sermon Planning Notes - I have a note file for each month. I'll use this to do my sermon planning (a few months in advance), and then I'll keep the notes so that I know what I've preached on a given Sunday.


• Ideas/Plans - Exactly what the lists suggest. Except these might be audio files or images. Anytime I get an idea, I put it into Evernote. This is where the mobile apps are handy, and it's also one of the single most valuable things about Evernote - I never forget a good idea!


• Books I've Read - I keep a dated list of the book title, author, and a few of my thoughts and observations from the book. If I take written notes, then I might snap a picture and add them to the file.


• Others - Member contact information, WiFi access information, any random snippet of information that doesn't warrant having its own word processor document.

Things I DON'T use Evernote for (but you might):

Since I've been using Evernote for the last few years, I've had some time to experiment with different ways of using it. Some things just didn't work for me in the long run. That's not to say they wouldn't work for you.

• Writing Sermons - Yes, Evernote has a rich text editor, and I've used it in the past for sermon writing. But it can be finicky when it comes to outlining. But it could be one way to use a "cloud based" service to work at home and in the office.


• Archiving Sermons - I've found that Google Drive works much better for this, because of its searching capabilities.


• "Margin Notes" - For quite some time I was using Olive Tree Bible Reader. OTBR would allow you to sync your "margin notes" to Evernote. Well, that was great, until they stopped supporting it for a while. In that time, I switched over to a MUCH improved Logos Bible app (which syncs to my desktop version of Logos, too). Even if you don't use an app, though, you can Evernote WOULD make a good repository for your Bible study notes. Just make a note for each verse, and use the search to find the reference when you need it (Tip: Be consistent in your usage of abbreviations).


• Anything LONG - Evernote is great for lists, and short snippets of information. Anything that's long form, though (e.g., a book) likely needs to be written in a word processor.

I hope this gives you a start! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

-Daniel

DOCTRINE - [One Word #3]

Does God have a "line in the sand?" If so, which side are you on? Find out in this edition of One Word.
http://youtu.be/TT5KRRanyuE

If you can't see the video above, click here.

Home Discussion Guide:

1. Think of a time that you saw someone draw a "line in the sand." What was it for? Which side of the line did you stand on?


2. What is God's "line in the sand?" (cf. 1 John 9)


3. What happens when we cross God's "line?"


4. What are some ways you can cross that line?

YouVersion Live - [T3 Video]

The YouVersion Bible app will allow you to create a "Live Event" so that you can share your sermon/Bible class notes, scriptures, and even ask questions, via your audience's mobile phone. Watch the video below to find out how to set it up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U74JYpfnRPk&feature=youtu.be

Click here for the YouVersion user guide I created for our members.

-Daniel

FAITH - [One Word #2]

"(8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God," - (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV)

Without a doubt, Ephesians 2:8 is one of my favorite passages. It speaks of salvation, by God's grace, and how it is the gift of God. Thanks be to God for that indescribable gift (cf. 2 Cor. 9:15)! I'm sure I'm not alone in that feeling.

But I'm afraid there are two little words that get skipped over... watch and find out which ones! [*Be sure to check out the discussion guide after the video!]

http://youtu.be/-k47zkH_udY

Home Discussion Guide

1. Do we have a "part" in our salvation? If so, what do we do? (cf. John 3:36)


2. Read through Ephesians 2:10 - For what purpose were we "created in Christ Jesus?"


3. Read James 2:14-26. Discuss the difference between a "living" faith and a "dead" faith.

LOVE - [One Word #1]

Some of you may remember the One Word podcast that was a part of the Equip Network. I loved being a part of that work, but unfortunately both Jacob Evans (my co-host) and myself were unable to continue recording.
Now, though, One Word is back, except this time it's available as a <10 minute video. I'll be releasing one each week, so be sure to subscribe to either this blog (see the links at the top of the page) or to my YouTube Channel to keep up with each episode.

So how can you use these videos? Watch the video first, then check out the ideas below.

http://youtu.be/32jHvXPy9mQ

If you are unable to see the video above, click here.

How can you use these videos? Here are some ideas:

• Gather the family together and have a family devotional by watching the video, having a short discussion, and saying a prayer.


• Have a Bible study with someone, and use these videos as conversation starters.


• Share this video (and the others) with someone who you know needs to hear them - use Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, etc. to your advantage.


• Set up your iPad/iPhone/Android/Laptop during breakfast and have a spiritual meal to start your day, along with the physical one.


• Watch this video as part of your personal devotion time, then incorporate something you learned from the message into your prayers.

Of course there are lots of other ways you can use these (and other) videos. These are only suggestions. I pray, though, that this work will be a blessing to you and yours.

Let me know what you think!

-Daniel

Search Your Notes in Google Drive - [T3 Video]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYhzXoxeG8Y&feature=youtu.be
I hate losing my notes. I'm a little paranoid about that. That's why Dropbox and Sugarsync have been so amazing.

But I feel like I'm just too close to love them. I'll be moving on... to Google Drive.

Technology Bootcamp - The What and Why

This last weekend I had the privilege of doing a Technology Bootcamp for the Main Street Church of Christ in Pikeville, KY. Josh Allen, the preacher there, was kind enough to sit down with me (via Google Hangout) and talk about his impressions of the weekend.
http://youtu.be/NIeAqNzbGqo

[Note: If you can't see the video above, click here.]

If you would like to schedule your own Technology Bootcamp, then simply send me an email and let me know. I'd love to do the same for your congregation!

-Daniel

That's Not What I Meant...

I have a degree in communications. You would think that clearly communicating ideas would be my forté.

That isn't always the case.

Sometimes words just don't sound the same coming out of my mouth as they did in my head. I'll take the blame for those times.

But then there are the times that I have carefully weighed my words, I have spent time thinking about what I'm going to say, and I executed that plan flawlessly.

Except the listener apparently heard something besides what I actually said.

What Last Night Means for This Morning

I still remember the somber mood that morning.
I could see on my parents' faces that something was wrong. Everything seemed hopeful the night before. I remember them being glued to the television, and sending my sister and myself to bed as they continued to watch. I hadn't heard them fighting; So what was the matter that Wednesday morning?

He Still Speaks; A Tribute to Jay

Some of my best memories as a small child growing up in Atwood, Tennessee involve the Rogers family.
I remember Wendy baby-sitting my sister and me at their little house in Atwood. I remember Tim going off to the army to learn how to jump out of planes. I remember him coming back. I remember when they moved to Trezevant, and playing outside with Daniel, and with all of his Power Rangers (I think he had every one) and NERF guns (of which he also had every one). I think there was even a "Stretch Armstrong" that got mangled in their somewhere. There were a lot of good times.

And then there was Jay.

LOW Tech Bible Tools - [T3]

I love technology; But not as much as you, you see. But I still love technology; Always and forever.-Kip, from Napoleon Dynamite

While at times I can echo the sentiments of Kip singing to "La Fawnda" (sorry for the Napoleon Dynamite reference), I know that everyone doesn't "love" technology. This is especially true when it comes to Bible study.

Some folks just don't like using a "digital Bible." They want to use a "real" Bible [Q: Does that mean a digital Bible is an imaginary one?]

The Temptation Myth

There are some things that are really best learned by doing.
You can read as many books about golf as you want (if you want), but there's no substitute for actually hitting balls on a course. You can watch people swim, but you won't learn for yourself unless you jump in the water. There's no way I could have truly understood fatherhood until I became a father myself.

Surely there's no substitute for experience. But that is only true part of the time. You see, temptation doesn't fall under that "experiential" umbrella.

Social Media for Evangelism: CLEAN UP YOUR TIMELINE FIRST!

Click here for the first part of this series - "The Power of Share."

Keeping Your Timeline Clean

With the announcement coming last week that Facebook now has at least one BILLION users, the possibilities for evangelizing using social media are thrilling!

But I want to remind you that social media isn't a "magic bullet." It's not going to do the work of evangelism for you. At some point, face-to-face interaction is going to have to take place for a conversion to happen. But new media techniques can help get you to that point with people who you might otherwise have never met.

Pop Quiz; Subject: "What You Believe" - Ready?

I hate moving. Really. I do.
It's not just the packing, the loading, and the unpacking. It's the forwarding of mail, the changing of addresses, setting up billing for utilities, and updating things like insurance and my driver's license.

This week I finally got around to changing my Kentucky driver's license to an Illinois driver's license. I took the required materials to the clerk. They checked over everything. I signed some papers. I thought I was finished.

"Now you'll have to take the written test."

Say what?

Ten Things to Remember about Sin (Part 2)

Click Here for Part 1

6. Sin enslaves.

When we lose God as our Master, we will of course become the slave of another master; Sin. In John 8.34, Jesus says:

(34) Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (John 8:34, NKJV)

Sin is all consuming. With nothing to stop it, sin leads to sin, which leads to more and greater sin, until a person is absolutely and completely controlled by their impulses and desires. They can’t stop, even when it hurts. Even when it kills.

Ten Things You Need to Remember about Sin (Part 1)

There are some things that we know are dangerous, yet, we need constant reminders of their danger. Take “texting and driving” as an example.
You may have noticed the television ad and billboard campaigns in the last few years designed to encourage people not to “text and drive.” Of course the danger is that in the two or three seconds a person takes their eyes off the road to send a text message they miss some danger on the road ahead and have an accident.

It’s tempting to text and drive. When someone sends me a text, I want to read it. I want to communicate back to them. I haven’t met anyone yet who argues that “texting and driving” is safe. Yet, knowing this, people still do it.

Sin is a lot like that; Tempting and dangerous, yet

Social Media for Evangelism: The Power of "Share"

Yesterday I had the opportunity to participate my first "Skypture" (my term for a lecture given over Skype). The topic was one that is near and dear to me - Using Social Media for Evangelism.
Think about this: Nearly a third of the world's population has internet access. Of those 2.3 Billion people, nearly a billion of them are Facebook users. That's nearly 1/7th of the entire world's population who is available just through Facebook. Consider as well the statistic that 500 YEARS of YouTube videos are watched on Facebook every day. If you follow the logic and simple math, why wouldn't we use things like Facebook and YouTube as tools to "go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (cf. Mark 16.15)?

The DNC and Psalm 14

"Oh If I had a little blue box to put my Savior in… I'd take Him out… and put Him right back again?"

Well that seems to be what the Democratic Party has done with God. First they take Him out of the platform and upset people, then they put Him back in and upset more people.

Let me be honest. I never knew He was in their platform to begin with. Likewise, I could't tell you much about what is in the Republican Party's platform (yet). But I don't choose what makes it to the news, and this one's been all over it, so that makes it fair game for discussion.

LIVE-Disciplined

I know you've seen them.
They are the little yellow, silicon bracelets embossed with the word "LIVESTRONG." They are supposed to promote "cancer awareness" and support research. They bear the name of bicyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG Foundation.

The name of his foundation is a play off of his own name. The story behind it is meant to be inspiring. Armstrong not only beat cancer, but also won seven Tour de France titles.

Because of his athletic success there are many other things named after him. There is

Introducing: Jesus, the Son of God - [Sermon]

Has the following ever happened to you:
As an adult, you are standing next to one or both of your parents, and they are having a conversation with one of their old friends who you haven't seen since you were a child. Still with me? Good.

While they are talking, your parent's friend seems to be oblivious to your existence. They might even be shooting you those "why are you standing there and not leaving us alone" glances. After a short time listening to them talk, your parents finally motion to you and ask, "Do you remember my son/daughter, (insert your name)?"

??? - [T3]

I'll only put a few words here this week. But I want you to respond.
Church workers:

What are some of your "tech questions?" I could go on and on about the things that I have, use, etc. But what do you want to know?

Put some questions in the comments section. They might just turn into a Tech Tip Tuesday.

See ya' next week!

-Daniel

Moving to Mac - [T3]

As I wrote in a previous article, for many years I was a "die-hard" PC user. You would think that making the switch to a Mac would be a long, difficult process.
It's been anything but long and difficult.

Today I want to take a little time to detail my transition from using PCs for my work to using the iMac that's now sitting in my office. If you are a PC user and are contemplating making the switch, these are some things you might like to know.

The Battle for Our Children

It is a difficult thing to keep your faith as a young person in this world. I know. I am one, and even growing up in the church of Christ there were times when I had doubts and questions.
Here are the battles we face as young people today, from our perspective:

The skirmishing begins at an early age. We are quietly assaulted in our "science" classes with pictures of these really neat and exciting looking creatures called dinosaurs. We are then told that these creatures existed millions of years ago, and are now extinct. We came along only a few million years ago, and we are the product of chance, natural selection, and evolution. We are a big cosmic accident. Of course, adults are the ones telling us this, so we believe them. Adults would never give us the wrong information or lie, right?

"You Can't Use the Bible For That!"

“But Pharaoh said, ’Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.’” (Exodus 5:2)

A few months ago I wrote a rather heavily read post on my blog in response to an article I had found titled "Ten Things I Wish the Church Knew About Homosexuality." If you read through the comment section of that post, you find that there are obviously some people who disagree with my conclusions.

I don't bring that up to rehash it again, but because part of my Bible reading this morning made me think about one of the claims I heard (and still hear) during the discussion of homosexual marriage and the Bible, and any other socially accepted sin:

“You can't use the Bible for that!”

Well, what is the “that?” Is it telling people what constitutes sin (i.e., homosexual activity, or any other sin for that matter)? Is it the idea of following moral standards in voting policy and law into place? Maybe it's this:

“You can't use the Bible to tell me what I can and can't do!”

I think that sums it up. Why? Well, for the same reasons that Pharaoh insists on ignoring God in our text (Genesis 5:2).

Pharaoh didn't recognize God for who he is. He indignantly asks something to the effect of, “Who is this ’God,’ and what makes him think he can tell me what to do!” That's the same problem that the aforementioned people have today (cf. Romans 1:21).

They don't know God. They see the Bible as a book of superstitions and stories. I have to admit, if the Bible was merely a book of fables and myths, I would whole-heartedly agree with their position. Why make policy and moral judgments based on fairy tales?

But that's not what the Bible is (cf. 2 Peter 1:16). Pharaoh foolishly rejected God and His commands. Things didn't turn out so well for him.

How about you?

My New iMac - [T3]

“Mackintrash.”
I just typed the word out, and my iPad deleted it automatically. But it's the opinion I used to have of Macintosh computers, and it described my feelings towards Apple, too.

I have been a hardcore PC user since the beginning. Even before Windows. I cut my teeth on an old Tandy (from Radio Shack) typing command lines to have the computer carry out various functions. To me, a Mac was overpriced and over-rated. I could buy half a dozen PCs for the price of a Mac.

I had a friend a few years ago who offered to sell me his Mac G5 for $400. I passed, because of principle.

I currently have a 27” iMac sitting in my office.

Victims of Calvinism: The Mentally Handicapped

Let me tell you about Rita.
Rita had a beautiful smile. Rita always wanted to say, "Hi," to whoever she saw. Rita was a sweetheart. Rita was 46 going on four.

Rita was the first mentally handicapped person I remember knowing. I had never really noticed anything wrong with her when I was a very young child, although some adults would tell me that she was "special," or "different." But as I grew, I too noticed that Rita didn't act like all the other adults.

The same is true of Margie, a lady who attended the Sweetwater church of Christ when I was the preacher there. She always wanted to give me a hug when she came through the doors. Her smile was infectious. She has the reasoning ability of a young child.

Wine in the Bible - Part 2

This post is a continuation from yesterday's post (read it here). Yesterday we looked at God's view of alcohol consumption. Today we take a look at the wine of the Bible.
The first thing you have to understand is that even the intoxicating wine of their day was different from the wines of our time. R.L. Harris writes:

“The strength of natural wines is limited by two factors. The percentage of alcohol will be half of the percentage of the sugar in the juice. And if the alcoholic content is much above 10 or 11 percent, the yeast cells are killed and fermentation ceases. Probably ancient wines were 7–10 per cent.”^[1]

Wines today range anywhere from 8-20%, depending upon which type you examine.[2] Obviously, that’s a significant jump in alcohol content over the “natural” wine.

God, Morality, Alcohol, and Your Responsibility - Part 1

Many of you may aware of the upcoming vote on July 17, 2012 to legalize the sale of alcohol in our county. This law will not just legalize the sale of alcohol in restaurants and gas stations, but also the opening of liquor stores, and given the right circumstances, even bars.
There are several reasons given by those who are in support of passing the law. Many of them appeal to the practical nature of people. Of course we all want to do something that “makes sense.” It seems to make sense that if our kids can already find alcohol easily (even without it being sold in the county) that passing a law permitting its sale wouldn’t have that much of an impact on our children. It seems to make sense that if people are going to bring alcohol into our county anyway, we may as well get the tax revenue from selling it ourselves. It seems to make sense that we should benefit from the tourists drinking in our county instead of just “picking up their trash.”

It all seems to make sense. But upon further examination, it really doesn’t. Does it really make sense, considering the nature of alcohol (consider Proverbs 23:29) that making it more easily accessible to our county will make things better? Really?

"He might just be talking to you..."

I've come to think that some people must think that preachers are blind.
I'm certainly not blind while I'm preaching, although at times I wish I was.

It apparently doesn't enter the minds of some folks that when I'm preaching I'm standing on an elevated platform, staring directly at them. Some of the things I see can be discouraging (texting, passing notes, whispering jokes). Some, though, are encouraging (people turning in their Bibles, nods of affirmation, people writing down notes). Others are distracting (people getting up to leave, people staring at a child making noise).

Now let me make mention of the fact that I'm not angry with the distracting and discouraging folks just because they aren't listening to me. Actually, my heart breaks for them

Utilizing Gestures to Navigate Olive Tree Bible Reader [T3]

Guesstures is a board game. Gestures can make you faster.
In this video, I discuss how to set up and use multi-touch gestures in Olive Tree Bible Reader for iPad to navigate quickly and efficiently.

"Pillows are Sinful?" | Homosexuality & Greek

I really don’t make it a practice to write about the same subject for two days in a row. I just think there’s one more thing that needs to be discussed.
If you read yesterday’s post, you saw where I took an article titled “Ten Things I Wish the Church Knew about Homosexuality” and responded to it, point by point. There were a TON of views. My goal in writing the article was to help Christians have answers to some of the commonly used arguments in favor of homosexuality, and specifically, homosexual marriage. I think there’s one more point that I need to cover.

Before that, though, let’s have a story.

"Ten Things I Wish the Church Knew About Homosexuality" | A Response

Paul wrote the following words to the young preacher Timothy:

“(3) As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, (4) nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. (5) The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (6) Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, (7) desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” (1 Timothy 1:3–7, ESV)

Could Paul be referencing someone like Jim Rigby? I think so.

Enhancing Your Personal Bible Study with Olive Tree Bible Reader [T3]

In the past, most of my posts about using Olive Tree Bible Reader were really only beneficial to preachers. This post is one of those, though, which will benefit anyone who wants to study the Bible more (and better).
One of the things I really love about using Olive Tree Bible Reader is the ability that it gives me to organize my thoughts. You see, as a preacher, I can't just study for the sermon of the week. I have to grow in my own personal study, too. For that reason, I'm constantly attentive to what it is I'm finding and discovering as I read and study God's Word.

Four Unnamed Heroes | 4/15/12 AM Sermon

     On a brisk January evening, a 12-year old boy named Eric was on his way to the church in his small English village. He was riding his bicycle in the dark along the road, when he unexpectedly hit something in the road, sending him flying down an embankment into a flooded ditch.

     His bicycle landed on top of him, and the light on his handlebar went dark. He struggled to get his head above the water, but his feet became stuck in the deep mud at the bottom of the ditch. He was trapped. As he fought to stay alive, he screamed for help, for anyone nearby to come and rescue him.

Can You Land the Plane?

Running out of gas in a car can be an inconvenience. Running out of gas while flying in a plane can be deadly. Especially when you don't know how to fly a plane.
That's the very situation that Helen Collins almost found herself in a few days ago when her 81-year-old husband, who was piloting the twin-engined Cessna they were in, slumped over at the controls and died.

NEW and IMPROVED!

[Begin Billy Mays Voice]

I've spent a little time the past couple days "sprucing up" the blog. You may remember that a few weeks ago, my old blog, Clean the Cup Media blew up. It no longer exists. I have no idea what happened.

But alas, like a phoenix, we have risen again.

Why would I do this? Well because I love you. But not in that creepy sort of way. Here is a short list of the improvements:

• NEW Theme - The blog got a facelift in the form of a new theme, color scheme, header, and other art. Along with that I've also installed and enabled a mobile theme, to make it easier for you to read on a mobile browser. You're welcome!


• NEW Categories - I've added a link called "Sermons" to the menu bar. There you can find posts of my recent sermon manuscripts, all for your reading and study pleasure. In fact, there are already a couple posted there right now. Go check it out!


• NEW Functions - There are improved "share" buttons at the bottom of each post, as well as a "Click Here to Print" button. This button allows you to download a PDF version of any article or sermon, then save or print it out. Also, the social sharing tab at the bottom of each post includes a "More Options" button (looks like a plus sign) which will allow you to share the post through over a hundred outlets (including Evernote and Instapaper)!


• NEW Follow Options - Along with subscribing to the feed for this blog through an RSS reader or email, you can now follow ME on Facebook, Twitter, Skype, or even YouTube. Just click the social icon at the top of the page.

There will be EVEN MORE new things coming soon, so be sure to check back!

[End Billy Mays Voice]

-Daniel

TRADITION! | 4/8/12 PM Sermon

(The following is my sermon manuscript from 4/8/12 PM Service)
When Martha and I were dating, one of the things that we would do is go over to the other's house and spend time watching movies together. You can get to know a lot about a person by what they choose to watch and listen to. Maybe that's why I was a little confused when I found out that one of Martha's favorite movies of all time was the screen adaptation of the musical "Fiddler on the Roof." I'd heard about the book and the musical, but I'd never seen it. Since then, though, I've seen it many, many times, and I've grown to enjoy it a little myself.

I'm thinking that not many of you have seen it, either, so let me tell you about the opening scene of the movie.

Live Like They Were Dying | 4/8/12 AM Sermon

(The following is my sermon manuscript from April 8th, 2012, AM Service.)
A few years ago, Tim McGraw came out with a song titled "Live Like You Were Dying." I think most of you have probably heard the song, but in case you haven't, let me tell you a little bit about it.

The song reads like a conversation with a man who was diagnosed with some sort of terminal illness in his early forties. Of course when he finds out that time is limited in his life, he sets out to try to live life to the fullest. The chorus reads:

What Good is Being Good?

I'd like to think that nice guys "finish first." Unfortunately, the way the world works, many think nice guys "finish last." They believe that if you are really going to get somewhere in this world, you've got to be willing to sacrifice some courtesy.
I like to do good things for people. But I'm constantly warned with, "You know that people will try to take advantage of you." After all, no good deed goes unpunished. I'm reminded that people should learn how to take care of themselves, and pull their own weight (more exactly, what WE think is their own weight).

I'd also like to think that If I only do what's right and good, that everyone will like me. I'll be everyone's favorite person. Who doesn't like someone who is perpetually kind, good, and honest?

Well, it turns out a lot of people don't like that kind of person.

Formatting Notes for Preaching from Olive Tree [T3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGR13kasak0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Click Here, Get Saved?

I recently signed up at Crosswalk.com to receive their "Evangelism Weekly" eMail newsletter. Of course I'm not looking for doctrinal information from them, but sometimes good ideas (that I can tweak, or write about) for reaching out to others can come from places that you might not expect. This morning's subject line caught my attention for obvious reasons:
"Social Media: The Latest Evangelism Tool"

Here's an excerpt from the article, written by Robert Wayne (available here):

How to (Really) Preach from an iPad (or Other Tablet) [T3]

Ever since Apple introduced the iPad a few years ago, people have been trying to find new ways to integrate it into their lives and work. This is certainly true for preachers. Many of us like new "toys," especially when those "toys" make us more efficient.

In the last few months I have had a lot of preachers ask me about how to go about preaching from a tablet. They all share one common emotion; fear. I too was initially scared about using something with batteries and a microprocessor to preach from. What if it crashed? But the benefits far outweighed the potential problems,

The Black Sheep of the Family

Every family has a "black sheep."
You know him (or her). He might be the crazy uncle who makes everyone nervous because they don't know what he's going to do next (and neither does he). She might be the sister who has no problem sharing what she's thinking with the rest of the world, because she seems to have no "filter" on her speech. Every family has that person. Every family has felt embarrassment at some point because of that person's actions.

Maybe they are also the person who, when you meet new people, you never really tell others about. It's better if you don't get on "that subject." Maybe when you find out they are coming to visit you for the weekend, you have to take a deep breath and remind yourself that "it's only for a few days," and then they will be gone. Maybe you even talk to other people about how that person is the "black sheep," and you excuse them by using words very similar to the ones I started with: "You know, every family has one."

And they do. They are inconvenient to have to deal with. They just aren't like the rest of us.

In the Bible, we read about a family who had a "black sheep," and he was completely out of their control. It had started when he was a little boy, with him separating himself from the rest of the family (1). He was always hanging out with the wrong people (2). Eventually he started attracting crowds because of the things he was saying and doing (3). That must have been REALLY embarrassing to the family. After all, no one in their right mind would do such things to call attention to himself. He always seemed to be making a scene.

Finally, they decide that enough is enough. They set out to grab him, to have an intervention (4). They want to bring him back to his senses. He's just gone too far. But it doesn't work (5). Eventually, the relationship becomes strained, and they try to shame him into being more like them (6). Sadly, his antics would cost him his life (7).

Who was the man? Maybe you've already guessed.

Jesus.

Of course, Jesus wasn't really a "black sheep." He was far from it. Actually, as lambs go, he was white, spotless and pure (cf. 1 Peter 1:19). Unfortunately, his family didn't treat him that way. If anything, they were ashamed of him.

How are you treating Christ in your life? How do you present him to others? Is he the family member you are proud of, and want to talk about? Or his he the "black sheep" you try to avoid bringing up?

Think about it.

-Daniel

Scripture Footnotes:
(1) Luke 2:41-45; (2) Mark 2:15; (3) Mark 3:7-8; (4) Mark 3:21; (5) Mark 3:33-35; (6) John 7:3-5; (7) John 11:47-53

"Digitally mixed soda, anyone?" [T3]

It's no secret that I "love" technology. Any time a silicon chip can make my lifestyle more efficient, fast, or just plain better, I'm up for it.
But a soda fountain? Really?

While traveling for a Gospel meeting, I stopped into a sub restaurant to get a sandwich. After placing my order, I took the cup that was a part of my combo meal, and proceeded to the fountain machine to fill it. But I couldn't find the fountain machine. Or at least I couldn't find what looked like a fountain machine.

Instead, what I saw was

Airport Breakfast

Airports are confusing places.
There are rules about checking luggage, going through the security checkpoint, and boarding the plane. There are passengers of all nationalities and backgrounds. There are employees from all different nationalities and backgrounds. The constant chatter and background noise can be disorienting. Clear communication can be a struggle.

On my latest flying experience (which was a 6:20 A.M. flight) I found the most confusing place of all: The breakfast line at the Whitt’s Barbecue in concourse C, Nashville International Airport.

I'm a Southern boy. I know what a Southern breakfast is. I've had my share of biscuits. Therefore, when I approach a smorgasbord of eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, potatoes, and gravy, I'm not the least bit confused about what to do: I eat!

This is where airports get confusing for other folks, though. It was taking a while for the line to move, and I was eavesdropping on the orders of the people in front of me. It quickly became apparent why the line was stationary; Some of these folks had never seen a biscuit and gravy!

If you've never noticed, ”breakfast food” selections vary dramatically from region to region, and certainly from country to country. Some eat biscuits, others eat bagels. Some eat toast, others eat muffins. Some have gravy, others have butter, and some have both!

As I listened to the unsure voices of those ordering their fare (in various accents), I was struck by the thought of just how different some people’s lives are from mine. Even a good ’ole country breakfast (that we might take for granted) is foreign to them. I noticed how hard it was for me to keep from thinking unnecessarily judgmental thoughts about how ”silly” they are because they don't know what a sausage and biscuit is.

I also considered this: Despite our differing backgrounds, The same God I love and serve will be the same God we will both answer to on the day of judgment (Romans 14:11-12). The truth is that no matter how different we may be on this earth, we both have one thing eternally in common; We both have a soul.

God shows no partiality to any group of people (Acts 10:34), and neither should I when it comes to the Gospel. No matter how different I am from a person, I have no right to ”judge” them unworthy of the Gospel of Christ (cf. Titus 2:11).

You see, God intended to break down social, economic, and cultural barriers in Christ. Paul wrote,

"Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11, ESV).

While we may put walls up in the context of society, God doesn't when it comes to the truth, and even to the Church. We sometimes go about looking for people who are ”like” us to share the Gospel with. It is a lot more comfortable to share God’s word with someone who is ”like” you, and who you identify with than it is to do the same with a stranger.

The bottom line, though, is this: It may make you uncomfortable, but you and I have a God given responsibility to share the saving message with all - even if they aren't just ”like” you and me. Will you?

-Daniel

My Lame Broom

My broom must be lame. It only sweeps. I can't get it to stand up like everyone else's brooms. Why would I try to make my broom stand up? Well, I saw it on Facebook (of course).
This past Friday I saw picture after picture of brooms standing up on their bristles. Word must have gotten out that with the storms coming through, the atmospheric conditions were favorable for broom standing. So I tried to make my broom stand up, too. But something was wrong. I had no success. Obviously, many others did. The fact that their brooms stood unassisted was confirmed by the overwhelming photographic evidence.

The biggest question in all of this is “Why?” why did they stand? Was it the magnetic field of the earth? Was it the atmospheric pressure? Were the planets aligned just right? Was it the moon’s gravitational force? Was it supernatural?

Allow me to make one simple observation. My broom is old, ragged, and used. The brooms I saw standing up were “new” looking. Could it be that instead of some force causing them to stand, that it was simply the clean, even, soft bristles spreading out to support a modern broom, i.e., a balancing act?

I think so. Sorry!

I can't help but make note of how quickly this phenomenon spread through social media. I also can't help but notice the blind eye to reason that many had, simply because they were “wowed” by a parlor trick. It's harmless when it comes to fun and games (barring the “supernatural” reasons some gave).

It's deadly when it comes to religion.

Many will unsuspectingly jump into a religious fad without even giving a second to reasonable, rational thought. Superstition and mysticism blind the eyes of many, keeping them from seeing the truth (cf. Ephesians 4:17-19). Sadly, many spend their entire lives trapped in Satan's lies, simply because they didn't take even a moment to examine their beliefs (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:5). They failed to ask  the single most dangerous yet liberating question anyone can ask his or herself about their beliefs: Why?

On the other hand, truth is reasonable, and rational (cf. Hebrews 11:1). Consider Paul's words in Acts 26:25:

   “(25) But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.”

(Acts 26:25, ESV)

How about you?

-Daniel