Draw from the Well

Friday Links 8/12/2011*

*Sorry these didn't post on Friday!

These are just plain cool: Gravity Glue.

I want to make one of these: Cardboard Shelf

I love body hacks - here's 18 of them.

 

Follow the Passion

Easter isn't just about a day...it's about the passion of Jesus.

Beginning with Palm Sunday, Jesus had a whole journey to the cross and beyond.

Now you can follow along on that journey on either  twitter or Facebook.

During this sacred week, brief messages will post describing what Jesus experience about the time he would have experienced it (based on CDT for North America!)

This will help you to pause and anticipate the great love and passion Jesus has for us!

Bible Helps for OSL and Beyond

Several people in our new OSL class have asked me to give references for some helps as they

a) read the Bible using a Bible Plan

b) memorize various scripture verses

c) memorize the books of the Bible.

Here are some of the resources I've found for these areas:

Bible Reading Plans

1) www.youversion.com- this works from your computer or smart phone (atleast iphones).  At Living Water we use the Life Journal plan or the First Steps Plan, which is a shortened version of the Life Journal plan.

Youversion is AWESOME (thank you Lifechurch.tv!) and you should use it...I can't say it enough.

You can also get a a Life Journal at our Living Water Media Center ($10) or a copy of the Life Journal plan.

2) Using the SOAP Method for Bible reading - go back to the source: www.lifejournal.cc/faq/.  We us Pastor Wayne Cordeiro's method of journaling and this site will answer some of your basic questions.

3) Other Bible versions - www.biblegateway.com or www.blueletterbible.org.  These two sites can be helpful if you want to look of scripture topically. 

Remember - I urge you to use the commentary and devotional portions of these sites with restraint, because we believe and want you to practice understanding and interpreting scripture for yourself. 

Scripture Memorization

There is a lot of advice on-line for scripture memorization - from flashcards to mnemonics, it might be good to read some articles to find things that help you along the way.

I couldn't find any web-based memorization sites but there were several freeware programs.

WARNING: I didn't thoroughly test this program, so do your own research! 

www.middlecross.com is a freeware pc program for scripture memorization.  It's relatively simple, but has some fun practice items.  It doesn't  have many verses in it, so you will have to enter yours in, but I liked the interface and, as far as I can tell, it truly is free.

For the iphone:

Bible Verses is a free app with many verses and some cool practice techniques.
There are several apps which cost money that people have used including:  Memoryverses (.99) by Lifeway Christian Resources and Bible Memory by Mobilize Faith (5.99)

Memorizing the Books of the Bible

http://www.mgcpa.com/mark/other/bible/index.html is a great web-based tool for memorizing the books of the Bible; three different quizzes help you to sort out what goes where.  Great tool for learning!

for the iphone

I purchased a program called Bible Books (1.99) because i couldn't find anything for free.  I really like the practice modes.

BTW, there are also several songs which may be helpful for you see here(do-wop) or here (country) or here (jazz/rap). [Sorry if some of those were a bit painful!]

This isn't exhaustive by any means, so if you've found thing that has worked for you, please make a note in the comments!

Spread the Reading Virus with Booksneeze

I love books.  And I love free.  So when a friend emailed me info about www.booksneeze.com I was intrigued.

Basically Booksneeze is a site where they will give you a free copy of a book to review in exchange for a review on your blog and a commercial website, like www.amazon.com.

I've also been wanting to do more book reviews in general (along with more reading!)

This morning I ordered my first free book for review.  I'm excited!

If you are into christian books; if you are into free; if you are into reviews - you may want to check out Booksneeze!

Also - if you have a blog and I don't seem to know about it - drop me a line!

Social Media Revolution

Just in case you doubt.

Online Bible Helps

Last night at our Starting Point Class (a class for people new or seeking; a safe place for questions!) we discussed the Bible.  The class had great questions about translations and reading the Bible.  Today I sent them an email with the following helps.  I thought you might enjoy them, too!

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There were some great questions so I wanted to give you the resources we talked about for helping to understand your Bible:

 

Solid Life Journal Bible Reading Plan

 

 

Here is another site with options for Bible Reading Plans

 

Bible Reading Plans - this site is great because it will email you the verses every day in the translation of your choice!

 

YouVersion - Great site, especially if you like interaction.  Works with your Iphone, too.

 

 

Online Bible Programs:

 

Bible Gateway - Easy way to compare translations

 

BlueLetter Bible - Bible Study Aides & Devotionals

 

Biblos - Tons of Bible Study Aides

 

 

Differences in translations:

 

Comparison Chart 

 

Explanation of Different Types of Translations

 

 

Bible Canon - How was the Bible formed?

 

 

Bottom-line:  The best Bible or Bible study reading plan is the one you will use!

 

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Did I miss an important website?  Let me know!

Sweet...But Not in a Good Way

I don't like it when people make things very clear.  It's far too convicting.  This blog is a great example of what the church must do with people understanding of their own condition...make it so clear that it's compels change.  So glad I switched to Diet Coke.

 

www.Sugarstacks.com 

HT: www.stephenlechner.com

The Church (Website) Goes Mobile

Some of my friends rejoice that I am now a believer...in Apple products.  Well, at least the Iphone.  I admit it, I've bitten the forbidden fruit and I love it.

So anytime I find some new thing that makes me love it more, I have to share.

This morning as I was reading Collide Magazine(if you work in church media or tech, this magazine is a must!) and discovered an article about mobile church websites that work seamlessly with the Iphone.

My ears especially perked up as the magazine talked about New Hope Christian Churchin Hawaii and their Life Journal section.  Our church also uses Life Journal and making an that reading plan accessible in an easy way is a huge plus.  Check out their mobile version by entering the following into your Iphone browser:  http://m.enewhope.org.  It's cool!

I was even able to create a mobile version of my own blog: http://drawfromthewell.mofuse.mobi/. 

Cool stuff.

Friday is Billy Graham's Birthday

He turns 90 years old.  You can send him a birthday greeting here.

How Many of Me?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 269 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?