SethLife Blog

Seattle

2011-11-14T19:38:00.001-06:00

Wow, it has already been a week and so many people wanted to hear how Seattle went, and I don't want to keep them waiting. So here you go.

In late October, Lara and I took a trip to Seattle, Washington. We went for many reasons like relaxation, exploration, training, and gaining new friendships. We did all of it. The idea to go to Seattle began quite a while ago and we finally saved up and made the time to follow through. We had made some plans to go for 10 days and attend an Acts29 Bootcamp, http://www.acts29network.org/events/boot-camps/, but after we scheduled it, the Bootcamp was cancelled. Fortunately we decided to continue with our plans and just spend that time learning about the city, exploring different neighborhoods and learning about Re:train, http://retrain.org/, a Gospel focused church planting training center.

We had the privilege of staying with a nice guy, Paul, and his family, we found him on a website called AirBnb, http://www.airbnb.com/, were we paid significantly less than if we would have stayed in a hotel. Paul made us delicious coffee every morning and even included some snacks. We really like that he called us "the kids" because it made us feel more at home than paying guests. We loved it and even told him if he would convert his downstairs, we would move in! Conveniently Paul lived only a block away from the bus stop, as we took the bus everywhere.

We also spent three days with Heather and Justin who were great hosts. Justin works at an interfaith non-profit and we even attended a Jewish Shabbat, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat, with them. I did notice one thing that the Jews were missing... Jesus, http://blog.marshill.com/2011/05/09/8-things-jesus-said-about-himself-2/. But they were very inviting and had really good snacks! Heather also made us some crepes and they were AMAZING!

The first thing on our list of things to do while we were in Seattle was to check out Mars Hill Church, http://marshill.com/, and attend a couple of services. We went to four campuses http://udistrict.marshill.com/, http://shoreline.marshill.com/, http://bellevue.marshill.com/, http://ballard.marshill.com/, attended three services (bellevue, shoreline, and ballard), met two pastors http://twitter.com/#!/davebruskas, http://twitter.com/#!/amchristiansen, and one resurgence team leader http://twitter.com/#!/mattoxshuler....(oh that was a play on this article: http://blog.marshill.com/2011/10/31/gods-work-our-witness/)...

Then I also got to go and meet the staff at subsplash, http://subsplash.com/. They are a great company started a few years ago and they make the Church App. The guys there are great, and they we very welcoming and really, genuinely interested in what Lara and I are doing in Seattle. Secretly I really wanna work for them... I guess it isn't a secret anymore... We will see, they know when I graduate. :)

We got to do a lot more stuff as well... We ate tons of food, and walked everywhere. We got to experience the underground tour of Seattle, http://www.undergroundtour.com/. We even saw a drug deal go down. :/

Well, I don't know what else you wanna know, but I just wanna say we loved it! Who knows what will come of our adventure. If God has called us to Seattle, then that is where we will be, that is what we want to do, be in the center of God's plans for us, no matter what it is.

The best thing that came of this trip was peace that surrounds this idea from Matthew 6:33-34...

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We will serve God as He has called us. He is first, He is our King.

Me and Lara off to Seattle.

2011-10-29T14:50:00.001-05:00

Outside the plane

2011-10-29T14:50:00.000-05:00

sethlife shared an Instagram photo with you

2011-10-07T21:03:00.000-05:00

Hi there,

sethlife just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

"My little bro"

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Someone fell in.

2011-10-04T09:51:00.000-05:00

It was amazing

2011-10-03T08:49:00.000-05:00

Corning : New Display Glass Concept

2011-09-23T15:54:00.001-05:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

Future of Screen Technology

2011-09-23T15:53:00.005-05:00

Yum

2011-09-23T15:53:00.003-05:00

My little bro

2011-09-23T15:53:00.001-05:00

Sweet tech

2011-09-23T15:52:00.001-05:00

Augmented reality

http://goo.gl/0Gems

+

Contact Bluetooth

http://goo.gl/koSPP

+

Flexible screens

http://goo.gl/LuEaw

=

Bionic eyes that you can remove and replace.

I want them.

The Mountain

2011-04-19T12:16:00.000-05:00

Created by TSO Photography. Also worth watching is their time lapse video “The Aurora”

Leviticus from Mars Hill

2011-02-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

Author and Dates:
The book of Leviticus was written by Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land (around 1410 B.C. or 1255 B.C., depending on the exact date of the exodus from Egypt).
Purpose:
To instruct Israel in proper worship both in the wilderness and the land.
Outline:
I. Regulations for sacrifice (1-7)
II. Regulations for priests (8-10)
III. Regulations for uncleanness and its treatment (11-16)

Day of Atonement (16)

IV. Prescriptions for practical holiness (17-27)

Regulations of holy living (17-25)
Blessings and curses (26)
Regulations of vows (27)

Major Characters:
Israelite priests, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu
Book Summary:
The book of Leviticus is a fascinating retelling of the desired religious life for ancient Israel. Various rituals and practices are performed that symbolize and address a variety of practical and significant parts of people’s lives before God. Every element of this religious program was designed to reveal different aspects of God’s character, as well as bring healing and blessing to those who have faith. While many of the customs appear unusual at first glance, Leviticus offers contemporary readers an alluring invitation to the cleansing, hopeful, personal, social restoration and intimate life with God that only the Creator could provide.
Leviticus is the part of God’s story where the Israelites are given instructions on how to be holy, truly acceptable to God, and in right relationships with one another—which they could not achieve without God’s gracious provision.
Themes:

Holiness – The various laws have to do with holiness before God and with love of neighbor.
Repentance – The acknowledgment and turning away from sin.
Forgiveness – The satisfaction and removal of sin.
Restoration – The recovering of a meaningful relationship with God and others.
Doubt and Assurance – Obedience flows from confidence in God’s promises.

Exodus from Mars Hill

2011-02-16T09:04:00.004-06:00

Author and Dates:

The book of Exodus was written by Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land (around 1410 BC or 1255 B.C., depending on the exact date of the exodus from Egypt).

Purpose:

Divine authorization of Moses’ covenant order for the nation. To motivate the readers to trust in God’s deliverance, law, and instructions for worship under the authority of Moses.

Outline:

I. Deliverance under Moses (1-18)

Israel in Egypt (1-11)
Plagues (5-11)
Exodus to Sinai (12-18)

II. Law under Moses: Covenant and law (19-24)

Covenant with Moses
10 commandments (20)

III. Worship under Moses: Rebellion and renewal (25-40)

Golden calf and Moses’ intercession (32-33)
Consecration of the Tent of Meeting (40)

Major Characters:

Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh

Book Summary:

The book of Exodus reads like a great epic with the hero, Moses, continually at the center of events. Moses is born in the midst of toil and oppression. However, his miraculous birth anticipates a life that will prove to be a tremendous blessing to Israel. Moses is eventually called by God to liberate the Israelites from the oppressive hand of imperial Egypt. This “exodus” is marked by a dramatic confrontation with Pharaoh and multiple examples of the power of God. Upon the acquisition of freedom, Israel embarks on a journey to Sinai where God gives Moses the 10 Commandments and the Book of the Covenant. This great encounter transitions into a prolonged discussion on worship, the construction of the tabernacle, and the organization of priests and religious life.
Exodus plays an important role in the biblical story since it tells the basic story of God’s saving his people from bondage. This exodus is a major foreshadowing of the promised “second exodus” in Isaiah 40–66, and thus, for Jesus’ own departure (Luke 9:30).

Themes:

Suffering – The blessing of God when it hurts.
Loyalty – God is loyal to us, which causes us to be dedicated to God.
Deliverance – God’s desire to save people and rescue them from despair.
Divine Presence – The tabernacle is the place of God’s presence and Israel’s worship.
Transcendence – A glimpse at the powerful, eternal, holy character of God.
Law – The revelation of God’s just and loving principles that should direct our lives.
Judgment – God is holy and his judgment of his people is righteous, yet tempered with mercy.
Worship – The significance of worship and the benefits to the participants.

Genesis from Mars Hill

2011-02-14T10:41:00.001-06:00

We're going to be posting summaries of every book of the Bible to help you study and teach them to others. We hope you find these helpful!

Author and Dates:

Moses wrote the book of Genesis while Israel was enslaved in Egypt (either 1446 B.C. or 1290 B.C.).

Purpose:

To teach Israel that leaving Egypt and possessing Canaan was God’s design. To motivate ancient Israel and us to abandon that which enslaves and seek the destiny that God has intended.

Outline:

I. The primeval history (1-11)

Creation (1-2)
Fall of humanity (3)
Covenant with Adam
Flood (6-10)
Covenant with Noah
Tower of Babel (11)

II. The patriarchal history (12-36)

Promise to Abraham (12)
Covenant with Abraham (15)
Circumcision (17)

III. Joseph and the migration to Egypt (37-50)

Joseph’s success in Egypt (39)
Jacob’s death and blessing (49)

Major Characters:

God, Adam, Eve, Serpent, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

Book Summary:

Genesis is the story of the creation, of human disobedience and its tragic consequences, and of God’s choosing Abraham and his offspring—the beginning of the story of redemption. The book of Genesis is the recording of two significant histories. The primeval history (chapters 1-11) poetically describes the earliest chapters of humanity: creation, the fall, the spread of sin and judgment, and the introduction of salvation by the grace of God. The second history (chapters 12-50) records the growth of God’s people and presents their faithfulness and failures. This history ends with God’s people residing in Egypt at the time of Joseph.

Genesis begins the biblical story with God as Creator, human beings as created in God’s image but fallen, and God’s response through a redemptive creation of a chosen people—and doing so through all kinds of circumstances and despite their faults. The Genesis narratives go to great lengths to show that God alone would ultimately fulfill his covenant promises.

Themes:

Salvation – God entering into relationship with individuals and people.
Sin – What went wrong (and is wrong) with us and the universe.
Divine Grace – God shows unmerited favor and kindness toward sinners.
Faith – What it takes to get to the promise land.
Deliverance – God takes care of (delivers) his people.
Sovereignty – God is in complete control despite the apparent power of the opposition.

For more on Genesis, check out the Mars Hill sermon series.

Will give Kirkland a run for his money.

2011-01-11T11:18:00.000-06:00

3 Things

2011-01-11T10:06:00.000-06:00

Three things that Roman Catholics are more biblical about than Baptists. I am not advocating or condemning anyone, I just find this interesting.

Drinking
Catholics drink, Baptists don't. My dad once told me a joke: "Always take two Baptists on a fishing trip, because if you take one, they will drink all your beer." Now I don't know how true that really is, but if you take any Catholics it they will drink it. Now I don't think that drinking should be excessive, I also think that alcoholism is a product of putting alcohol before other priorities and this can and does interfere with your walk with Christ. Drunkenness (Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:21) is a sin and cannot be ignored. But Jesus drank wine (John 2) and don't try to tell me He didn't, he also encouraged the drinking of wine (Matthew 26:27+) and don't try to tell me it wasn't wine. If drinking occasionally doesn't affect your walk, they all means drink, but do everything to honor God, not to escape troubles, not to bring glory to yourself.

Dancing
Catholics hosts dances, Baptists won't let you dance at your own wedding. I enjoy dancing, don't get me wrong, dancing is a great exercise to help your body, it is a way to relieve stress, it is an enjoyable thing to do. My friend told me that "they need to try polka, one time and you're hooked," I hope he was joking. But dancing has Biblical context and it also can carry sin, but to deny it altogether is the same as saying, Satan is bad, Satan is an angel, therefore angels are bad. Psalm 149 and 150 say to dance for His glory, Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a "time to dance" (I would say at a wedding would be a key time), and let me remind you that "David danced before the Lord" (2 Samuel 6:14). Now in Matthew 14:6 Herod's daughter danced for Herod, I think that is not a good reason to dance, but that we should dance for God's glory, again, doing everything to honor Him.

Gambling
Whoa, no gambling? I didn't know about this one until recently. I will only focus on raffles, but I'm sure that this could apply to Vegas too. I found out why Baptists don't allow raffles, it is because it is getting something that wasn't earned. But isn't that where I put my faith? In something that I didn't earn, GRACE (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:28, Galatians 2:16. I don't want to push any buttons with this, but as I see it the Catholic faith is based on works, that you must earn your way to heaven... Baptist (Protestant) faith is based on grace, something that I cannot possibly work and get. Now doesn't that seem a little backward, I didn't earn grace, but I can have that, but I cannot win a raffle because I didn't earn it. As for Vegas, if you are playing cards, you can earn it, because that is something that is learned, well you can get lucky too. I like getting stuff I didn't earn (when I obtain it legally).

These things seem silly to me, why do Baptists condemn Catholics because of traditions, when Baptists hold their own legalistic, biblically false doctrine, I think Jesus spoke to this... (Matthew 7:3, Luke 6:41)

2011-01-09T14:44:00.000-06:00

My lovely wife is so inventive

2010-12-31T16:11:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T18:02:00.000-06:00

Enjoyed the Cowboys Game

2010-12-19T15:34:00.000-06:00

JibJab Video

2010-12-06T10:35:00.000-06:00

http://sethlife.com/angelo/jibjab.html

Prime Rib

2010-12-01T10:33:00.000-06:00

Prime Time for Revisiting Prime Rib of Beef: "It's an iconic holiday table scene; you carving a juicy, perfectly pink prime rib while a roomful of friends and family watches, in awe of your awesomeness.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, it's sometimes more like you cutting through a dry, overcooked roast while they stare daggers at you.

You can almost hear them thinking, 'Way to screw up $80 worth of beef, jerk. I hope there's lots of gravy.'

Well, hopefully this proven mathematical method will increase your chances for success significantly. This is a new video revisiting the same method I featured in this Prime Rib post a few years ago, which only used photos. There are lots of great comments on the original post, and if you're skeptical, you should go check them out.

Here is the formula for what was called, 'Method X.' The rib is brought to room temperature. Overnight is good, but at least 6 hours (this is CRITICAL)! Season anyway you like. Then multiply the exact weight times 5 minutes. For me it was 5.35 x 5 = 26.75 minutes, which we round up to 27.

The rib is cooked at 500 degrees F for exactly that many minutes. Then the oven is turned off. You wait 2 hours without opening the door. You then remove the prime rib and slice into the most perfectly medium-rare meat you've ever seen. By the way, I will be posting a short how-to for a quick au jus soon. Enjoy!

Special Notes:

To use this method you must have a full-sized, modern oven. It must have a digital temperature setting that indicates when it is preheated. Older ovens with manual controls can vary greatly, and the doors may not have the proper insulation.
I've heard from lots of people that have used electric ovens and reported great results.
This is a specific formula for achieving a perfectly pink prime rib cooked somewhere a shade under medium rare. I have no info on altering it for other degrees of doneness.

Ingredients:
4 to 8 pound Prime Rib of Beef, bone-in, fat cap removed (ask the butcher to explain)
kosher salt as needed
1/4 cup soft butter
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence (this is just a dried herb blend - you can use any thing you like, or just salt and pepper)

For more traditional methods of cooking Prime Rib of Beef, check out these other great recipes:
Simply Recipes' Prime Rib
Serious Eats' The Food Lab: How to Cook a Perfect Prime Rib
Mark Bittman's Prime Rib Roast for a Small Crowd

Awesome Church Tools

2010-11-10T13:33:00.003-06:00

The City - http://www.onthecity.org

Innovative, web-based software for churches of all sizes. The City is a web-based communication and administration platform for your church that empowers community and enables mission, seven days a week.

Clover - http://www.cloversites.com/church/ or http://www.cloversites.com/f/sethchomout

Websites for growing ministries.

Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes

2010-11-05T16:52:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes: Deviled Eggs, Hot Spinach Dip, Butternut Squash Soup, Stuffed Mushrooms, Baked Brie and More

Escaping the Grid...

2010-11-05T09:24:00.000-05:00

goo.gl/JYrUO

Google Maps, for peace not war.

2010-11-05T08:51:00.003-05:00

How Google Maps Led to An Accidental Invasion

Recently a Nicaraguan military commander invaded a Costa Rican territory and ordered troops to take down a Costa Rican flag and replace it with Nicaragua's. He went through all this trouble because of an error on Google Maps.

From Gizmodo: goo.gl/Uw3nG

Our Jack-O-Lantern

2010-11-05T08:33:00.001-05:00

I know it is late but here it is

Day 1 of my Movember mo-gress!

2010-11-01T09:45:00.001-05:00

I'm growing a moustache for Movember to change the face of men's
health. Please give so it may grow:

http://us.movember.com/mospace/654162

Movember. Movember.com

2010-10-31T21:59:00.001-05:00

MBA on Facebook

2010-10-29T08:16:00.000-05:00

I deleted my facebook, but this might be a reason to get it back

Don't Be Tricked

2010-10-27T07:52:00.001-05:00

http://dontbetricked.org/

From window washer turned pastor

2010-10-27T07:37:00.000-05:00

Jonathan Dodson is the pastor at Austin City Life, a Acts 29 church in Austin.

Here is a blog post by him about the epistles and how we have neglected the Gospels.

goo.gl/9Y99

Joel Osteen, nostalgic?

2010-10-23T16:29:00.000-05:00

Steak

2010-10-23T16:28:00.001-05:00

Little Rhine Steak House

Chris Madrid's

2010-10-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

Thank you tanner.

Our hotel

2010-10-23T16:25:00.000-05:00

Voodoo Software

2010-10-14T14:50:00.000-05:00

[Technische Universität via Engadget]

Powers of Ten

2010-10-12T11:30:00.000-05:00

About the Large Hadron Collider

2010-10-07T16:33:00.000-05:00

All Dogs Go To Heaven?

2010-10-05T09:39:00.000-05:00

Or do they? If any do this one should...

The Resurrection Body

³⁵But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" ³⁶How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. ³⁸But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. ³⁹All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. ⁴⁰There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. ⁴¹The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

⁴²So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; ⁴³it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. ⁴⁷The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. ⁴⁸As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

⁵⁰I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵²in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

⁵⁵"Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?" ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

What do you think?

Anna Bullard "Find Me In Hiding"

2010-10-04T14:21:00.000-05:00

Check out this video, the girl mouthed the whole song backward while Colin was shooting.

http://goo.gl/kb13

Remote Printing

2010-10-04T10:24:00.002-05:00

Print Files on Your Printer from Any Phone or Remote Computer via Dropbox [Video]:

Tech how-to blogger Amit Agarwal details how to combine a Dropbox account and a simple script with any device that supports Dropbox (i.e., almost all popular smartphones and Windows/Mac/Linux operating systems) to remotely or wirelessly print documents on your home printer. More »

from Gizmodo by Adam Pash

My Wishpot

2010-10-03T12:37:00.003-05:00

View my list on Wishpot »

Awesome Garage

2010-09-30T14:29:00.001-05:00

Luxurious Hydraulic Underground Garage Parking:

Darrin Patrick

2010-09-30T11:11:00.000-05:00

Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission (Book and Conference): "

Acts 29 Network

Pastor Scott Thomas leads the Acts 29 Network, which exists to start churches that plant churches. More information at the Acts 29 website.

Soda Pop Stop

2010-09-26T21:36:00.002-05:00

from: http://devour.com/video/soda-pop-stop/

Jim Lepage - Great Biblical Art

2010-09-21T14:16:00.000-05:00

Jim Lepage has shared his talent with us. He decided that to focus more on the bible this graphic designer decided to illustrate each book of the Bible with a flyer.

Check it out here: http://jimlepage.com/word-designs/

Buy it here: http://jimlepage.imagekind.com/store/

Here is Joshua, it is my favorite one...

Love Your City

2010-09-21T11:39:00.001-05:00

Love Your City:

The Resurgence is running a slightly expanded blog I wrote a while back on 4 Ways to Love Your City. It’s a timely arrival with the two vision messages I’m preaching through on Renewing the City at Austin City Life.

1. Ask Questions.
2. Read Local Authors.
3. Study Your City’s History.
4. Enjoy the City!

--
Jonathan Dodson
http://jonathandodson.org/2010/09/love-your-city/

The Internet of Things

2010-08-24T13:44:00.000-05:00

Things I wouldn't want to live without

2010-04-30T09:59:00.003-05:00

Aviary is a free, powerful suite of browser-based design tools for people who love to create.

Google Chrome runs web pages and applications with lightning speed.

iPhone is more than just a phone. It combines three devices in one: a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device. All that and more makes it the best phone you’ll ever use.

Packed with serious processing power, the Dell Studio 17 laptop delivers the Hi-def and premium audio experience other laptops only dream of having.

Put your files into your Dropbox on one computer, and they'll be instantly available on any of your other computers that you've installed Dropbox on (Windows, Mac, and Linux too!) Because a copy of your files are stored on Dropbox's secure servers, you can also access them from any computer or mobile device using the Dropbox website.

And most of all, Lara, I love my wife, and I wouldn't want to live without her.

Trying some new stuff

2010-04-30T09:00:00.002-05:00

I am working on changing my blog to include everything that I do...

Have a great day!

Google Reader

Google Voice

Gmail

Google Wave

Facebook

Aviary

Get Dropbox

2010-03-08T09:37:00.003-06:00

Go get dropbox, right now!

www.dropbox.com

RSS Container

2009-12-03T16:47:00.001-06:00

RSS Container, this is pretty cool. A nice little gadget to put RSS feeds into your website

Logos for Mac worth the wait

2009-08-27T08:18:00.001-05:00

by TJ Luoma (RSS feed) on Aug 27th 2009 at 9:00AM

I have been waiting for Logos for Mac for over a year. I take that back: I have been waiting for Logos for the Mac for over five years, when I first switched to Mac after a brief and unfortunate experience in the Windows world.

Before we go any further I must stop to address the fear which has already gripped many Mac users. Let me say this clearly: this is no hastily slapped together Mac "port" of a Windows application. In fact 15 seconds into the introductory video, they proudly announce: "What we've done for the Mac is rebuild it from the ground up."

You can tell.

Logos for Mac looks and feels like a native Mac application. How native? If you can copy a passage from Logos to Microsoft Word for Mac, it automatically creates a footnote in APA, BibTex, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, Refer-BiblX, RIS, SBL, or Turabian format (whichever you choose in the preferences). As someone who has no love for footnoting, this may be my favorite feature of any piece of software ever.

There are also Mac-specific support videos to help you learn to use the software and native Mac "Help" available in the application itself.

The Mac version does not support all of the Windows features, although they say they "plan to add many of these features in upcoming versions." You can see a list of some of those features on a chart of features covered at Camp Logos, a two-day training seminar for Logos users. The same page also makes it clear that they have been thinking about Mac users for these seminars, and in fact usually have someone there who is a Mac user to help if needed.

Don't let the fact that they offer a seminar to learn how to use the software scare you. The website describes it as "Easy enough for a novice, powerful enough for a scholar, now on a Mac!" The videos mentioned above are highly recommended, as this is a powerful piece of software. It is often said that most users only use 20% of any application's features. I've used Microsoft Word and iWork's Pages application for years and have no doubt that I could benefit from a couple day's instruction from someone who really knew the applications inside and out.

The challenge for Logos is that their customer base covers a very wide range of potential users: from casual users who want to do some personal Bible study to pastors preparing sermons to academics using it for detailed and in-depth study. Casual users who watch the videos should learn enough to feel comfortable using the application.

There five different versions available. They all use the same core application, the only difference is which books are included. For that reason they are referred to as "libraries":

Bible Study Library ($259.95) (See what's included in Bible Study library)
Leader's Library ($309.95) (See what's included in Leader's library)
Scholar's Library ($629.95) ( See what's included in Scholar's library)
Scholar's Library: Silver ($999.95) (See what's included in Silver library)
Scholar's Library: Gold ($1,379.95) (See what's included in Gold library)

The list of available resources is pretty amazing. The "Gold" version includes "700 titles worth more than $11,700.00" if you purchased the print versions (not to mention finding space to store them all!). That's less than 12% of the total price of the "dead tree" versions. Even the "Bible Study Library" boasts and impressive collection of approximately 150 titles.

It is important to note that once these Library items are purchased, you own them; only the application itself will have to be updated in the future (as opposed to, for example, some very well known photo-manipulation software which costs several hundred dollars even for an upgrade). These library items are investments which you should have for the rest of your computer-using life.

If you have both Windows and Mac computers, you can install the software on both computers (up to two personally owned computers), and the Mac version even includes an installer for Windows. This can also come in handy if you have setup Boot Camp. If you have previously purchased library items from a Windows version of the Logos software, you can also use those on your Mac as well. See the FAQ for more details. There is also a Mac disclaimer page you should read if you are switching over from the Windows version. I would recommend getting in touch with Mac customer support (email and phone numbers are provided on the previously mentioned page).

Mac users have been second-class citizens in the Biblical software world. I have tried some of the other well known "names" and found their Mac versions to be fairly unsatisfactory, and their Mac technical support to be difficult to access or non-existant. (One company required that all support requests be sent through a web form which didn't even list the Mac version of their software.) Logos has taken their time to come into the Mac world as a company which has tried to understand how Mac users think and work. No, the software doesn't have a 1:1 feature parity with the Windows version yet, but it seems clear that the Mac community is important to folks at Logos and they have invested a lot to bring something worthwhile to the Mac world.

Normally I would devote more time to explaining how the application works, but the introductory video does a much better job of this than I could. (Note that the demo videos are all done in Quicktime, and download links for Desktop and iPhone versions are available.) I have only begun using the software in the past week or so, and already have used it more than another Bible software program that I have owned (and upgraded!) for several years. As bonus to those of you who have read this far, don't miss the free Bible verse Dashboard widget which is also available from Logos.

A new LifeChurch.tv idea

2009-08-07T21:40:00.003-05:00

http://www.videoteaching.com

Ball Pool

2009-08-06T05:58:00.003-05:00

http://www.chromeexperiments.com/detail/ball-pool/

Canopy

2009-08-06T05:53:00.002-05:00

http://www.chromeexperiments.com/detail/canopy/

I Love Train

2009-08-06T05:43:00.001-05:00

The Berlin Zoo

2009-08-06T05:42:00.001-05:00

Baby throwing in India

2009-08-06T05:41:00.001-05:00

New stuff

2009-08-05T17:05:00.002-05:00

If you haven't noticed, there are two new things on this blog check the sidebar ----->>>> but you can be connected to me with a click and your cell number and you can see where i am when i feel like updating it...

Berlin Zoo

2009-08-01T00:48:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St24Bb9dlkI

IT Video

2009-08-01T00:46:00.003-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf8Ki6tCZ-s

ugg...

2009-07-29T12:10:00.001-05:00

http://myparentsjoinedfacebook.com/

Schlöß Neuschwanstein

2009-07-13T09:45:00.001-05:00

The lake

2009-07-13T08:59:00.000-05:00

Country side

2009-07-13T08:30:00.000-05:00

Dr Sunderman

2009-07-13T08:12:00.000-05:00

IMG00037-20090713-1500.jpg

2009-07-13T08:01:00.000-05:00

2009-07-13T07:59:00.001-05:00

Lara

2009-07-11T13:53:00.001-05:00

I love Lara more than she knows.

That all

Does Satan Exist

2009-06-23T09:31:00.002-05:00

Bruno

2009-06-22T13:44:00.002-05:00

http://www.brunoredhot.com/

One Prayer

2009-06-18T11:02:00.000-05:00

Check this out

2009-04-23T10:36:00.003-05:00

blogs.angelo.edu/schomout

it is my new work blog.

have funn

Check this out.

2009-04-14T23:13:00.001-05:00

It isn't done but::

Sethandlara.com

Real faith

2009-03-23T23:52:00.001-05:00

Real faith

Saying "his/her faith is real" is a simple judgement that might seem
encouraging, but in the end it can be a judgement that shows who you
feel has faith and who doesn't have faith.

When someone says this, there is a implication that some could see
meaning that they think that someone doesn't have real faith.

Regardless of what is meant, a judgement should not occur, good or
bad. Father is the judge not us.

Also another thing that I feel that people do is ask Father to bless
them. We are blessed. At the dinner table we ask Father to bless our
food. It has already been blessed, we need to ask Father to bless the
hands that made it.

These are two simple things that bug me about the Christian lifestyle
that people live. We need to watch for these things in our lives.
These things do not show our love for Father, they show that we love
what he does for us. We must escape this view of what we are doing.

Wicked

2009-02-28T16:54:00.000-06:00

Times square

2009-02-28T16:51:00.000-06:00

Taxi

2009-02-27T21:01:00.000-06:00

2009-02-09T08:34:00.000-06:00

My ball is my ball

2009-01-29T10:12:00.001-06:00

Where is my freddie mac chocolate?

2009-01-24T14:59:00.001-06:00

Water drops and phonebooks

2009-01-22T11:35:00.001-06:00

2009-01-09T10:30:00.000-06:00

Big screen

2009-01-05T18:27:00.000-06:00

Fiesta Bowl

2009-01-05T18:16:00.000-06:00

Arizona

2009-01-04T16:24:00.001-06:00

My best friend and girlfriend. Not respectively

2008-12-30T12:31:00.000-06:00

Gangsta

2008-12-26T16:33:00.000-06:00

Fiesta bowl ticket. In my stocking

2008-12-25T07:06:00.000-06:00

Kaleb fell in the pool. Hahahahaha

2008-12-24T16:40:00.000-06:00

Grrrrr

2008-12-21T17:38:00.000-06:00

O Come Let Us Adore Him

2008-12-18T20:57:00.003-06:00

Why don't we do this enough? That's all I've got.

Here is my schedule for the next few weeks...

Friday 19-Dec - Go see Mrs. Autrey (I knew her as Ms. Evan) then spend the night at Mom's house
Saturday 20-Dec - Babysit Kaleb and Noah
Sunday 21-Dec - Christmas at the Chomout's in Yoakum
Monday 22-Dec -
Tuesday 23-Dec - Lunch with McCloskey?, then to Mom's for Christmas
Wednesday 24-Dec - Christmas Eve, Mom's in the AM, Dad's in the PM
Thursday 25-Dec - Christmas with Dad and then with Christine's family
Friday 26- Dec - REST
Saturday 27-Dec - Christmas at Aunt Sharon's the "Green Christmas", drive to Dallas and see her
Sunday 28-Dec - Church in Dallas
Monday 29, Tuesday 30, Wednesday 31, Thursday 1-Jan, Friday 2-Jan - Dallas?
Saturday 3-Jan - Drive back to Austin
Sunday 4-Jan - Drive to Glendale AZ
Monday 5-Jan - Watch Longhorns beat Ohio State LIVE at the Fiesta Bowl
Tuesday 6-Jan - Drive back to Austin
Wednesday 7, Thursday 8 - Pack to go back to School
Thursday 8 or Friday 9 - Go back to San Angelo
Saturday 10 til school starts... work on Ramdiculous Formal, Touchscreen Calendar System, and RELAX.

I've got this shit planned out!

Best day of the year-- Christmas, Jesus Came

Best day this year -- December 27, you know why...

sorry i wasn't spiritual today...

this did interest me though:

Lara sent me this about a week after we talked about the NIV and ESV, but she didn't know it was his post today, so it is funny

Thoughts on Translations

This article almost captures my feelings on Bible translations. I have been intrigued (and almost put off) by all of the hype over the ESV. A lot of my friends have switched to the ESV and are putting it in their churches as their "pew Bible." I haven't switched. I think it has its place, but I really don't think it is that great. It is very similar to the NAS. I use the NIV still. It is comfortable to me. I know the problems with it and when I teach out of it, I point out the few problems that I have with their translation. (One issue is the translation of sarx to sinful nature. It should be best translated "flesh" in such passages as Galatians 5). But I still like it. I remember the look I got from one friend when he asked what translation I was using, I told him I use the NIV (he is an ESV user). He said kiddingly, "I have lost any respect I have had for you." (I think he was only half-kidding). I hope I am not clinging to the NIV out of some slavish quasi-KJV Only world view. I have even looked into the TNIV. The gender inclusive nature of it does not scare me (I know where I disagree with it there as well).
The blog post I reference comes from a NT scholar. He wrote his thoughts on translations. He acknowledges that he can be an iconoclast (just for the sake of being an iconoclast). I will admit to being somewhat of a contrarian at times too. But if your interested in some thoughts on translations (and his views on the ESV, which echo mine to some extent) visit this site. (Disclaimer: it is a site sponsored by Zondervan, "owner" of the NIV. But, in the interest in fairness, one of Zondervan's authors [Bill Mounce] is the ESV NT chairman.)

http://billyvsquickhits.blogspot.com/

bye

He knows what I struggle with...

2008-12-17T18:15:00.003-06:00

I try to do what I am supposed to but then I let myself get angry. I try to stay in the word, and I try to do what Christ would do, but then the biggest thing that I am ashamed of comes out. I get mad and say dumb things. I get mad and fail Him, I'm not too worried about others, except that I am not showing them what I should be.

I want so much to be away from this place. In San Angelo, Dallas, Seattle, New York City, somewhere where I can find some sort of adventure, but I am here. One of my favorite people told me this right after I read it, she doesn't know that I read Acts 17 just minutes before our conversation about this... Acts 17:26b says "and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live". God put me here for a reason, and for now only he knows, cuz I sure as heck don't... She told me that I need to live where I am and when I am, and not worry too much about later. But that is what we all look to, LATER. I like thinking about it, the near future, Christmas, seeing her, New Years, the next semester, spring break, going to Germany, graduating, getting married (I can hope), getting a job, moving to Seattle, dying (inevitable), and going to see Him (definite).

This may not make me seem like I am living in the now, but don't worry I am, I just like to have something that I am aiming for, I also know that any of that stuff can change and that God has a plan for me. I am ready a willing to follow it, once He tells me, until then I can only make the choices and decisions that I think He wants me to make. I can try to imagine what He has in store for me, but I know it will be better than I can imagine.

Today I read some more Jazz Notes by D. Miller, he wrote about how while he was in college at Reed in Portland, Oregon, he and his friends set up a "confession booth" on this huge party weekend. Not for others to confess, but so that they as Christians could confess to the people they hurt, mostly indirectly. This was a really brave thing, and they got to share the love that they had received with others.

I have been presented with a lot of things today, such as tomorrow I plan to go to Bastrop and see some people there that I haven't seen in a while. But I was also frustrated with some personal and relationship issues, that I will not get into here, if you wanna know more about that, ask me. I'm not promising that I will tell you, but all you can do is ask.

I also watched a little National Geographic TV today, it was in HD so I couldn't pass it up. The show was called "Rivals of Christ" and it was very interesting. The question that I asked myself is "If I lived in the first or second century would I have picked Jesus over the other people who claimed to be the Christ? Over the other people who performed "miracles"? Over the emperor, lord, king of Rome?" Would Jesus of Nazareth been appealing to me or would I have followed John the Baptist with no intention of every wanting or getting to know Jesus? Two other guys named Simon claimed to be Christ, why not them? Why not Isis, mother of god?

I am glad that my Savior withstood the test of time, or I would have quite a dilemma on my hands. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and I know this, but would I have? The traitor Jesus of Nazareth? I am so sure of Him now, would I have been?

Good thing about that whole God put me here at this time... Cuz I don't have to answer these questions. I am His, and will be His forever.

I sent my computer back to Dell today, after getting dropped and powerade spilled on it, it has been a good computer, and I am glad I invested in the accidental damage care for it.

I want to know what I am supposed to do, but I don't and I hate it. But I am going to wait, I know I will know one day. I'm sure Paul didn't know his future, so why should I? He did much greater things then I have ever done, maybe I will catch up, probably not, but only Father knows.

Breakfast

2008-12-17T09:06:00.000-06:00

Claire is going to school

2008-12-17T08:25:00.001-06:00

Community

2008-12-14T22:32:00.005-06:00

Community can be good and bad, community is a group of people getting together, having a good time and having good conversation. Or at least that is what I think. Jonathan talked about community today at Austin City Life and it was really interesting. I found myself pretty excited to know that I didn't lack community in my life. But then when he said that you could have too much community, then I knew that I was in that category... oops

But I now know that this break will be much better than I thought yesterday. I thought it would be lame, because all my friends are far away, I have no community here, only my family and my God. But Jonathan told us, and I felt it for myself, that God wants us to rely on Him, not my friends but soley on Him and that the community is 2nd. I am 3rd.

I also told you that I would tell you about the Jazz book, so here you go:

1) Donald Miller writes: "I believe the devil's greatest trick is not getting us into some kind of evil but in getting us to waste time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious"

2) He also tells a story about some Navy SEALs" "A long time ago, I saw a folk singer in concert. Between songs, he told a story that helped me resolve some things about God. The story was about one of his friends, a Navy SEAL. He told it like it was true, so I guess it is true. | The Singer said his friend was performing a covert operation to free hostages from a building in some dark part of the world. The SEALs flew in by helicopter, made their way to the compound, and stormed the building where the hostages had been imprisoned for moths. The building was filthy and dark, and the hostages were curled up in a corner, terrified. | When the SEALs entered, they heard the gasps of the hostages. They stood at the door and called out that they were Americans, asking the hostages to follow them. But the hostages wouldn't. They sat there on the floor and hid their eyes in fear. They didn't believe their rescuers were really Americans. | The SEALs stood there, not knowing what to d. Then the singer's friend had an idea. He put down his weapon, took off his helmet, and curled up next to the hostages. He put his arms around the hostages closest to him, trying to show that he was one of them. None of hostages' captors would have done something like this. | The SEAL sat with the hostages until some of them started to look at him, letting their eyes meet his. Then he whispered that he and his companions were Americans sent to rescue them. "Will you follow us?" he asked, rising to his feet. One of the hostages did the same, then another. Eventually, all were willing to go. | The story ends with all of the hostages safe on an American aircraft carrier."

Jesus did this for us... He came to us to save us, He doesn't just expect us to follow Him. He came to us because He wanted to show us that He really wanted us to follow Him. He played our part to show us that He wanted us with Him forever.

Goodnight.

Making Up For This Week

2008-12-14T16:57:00.003-06:00

Oops, I forgot to write this week, or at least most of it. Finals, Christmas, coming home, some girl (you know who you are), the Ramdiculous Page, and the whole Student Body President thing... all things I love working on (I was going to say love doing, but that might send the wrong message), but they just overwhelmed me enough to stop me from writing this unimportant blog. If you had a bad week based on not reading my blog, then you have more problems you should be dealing with.

Today I got to go to Austin City Life. It is my adopted church home, when I am in Austin and cannot go to PaulAnn. This church is an Acts 29 startup church and it meets in the Hideout Theater on 6th and Congress, downtown Austin, Tex.(nice ap style right sweetie (yeah i just did that)).

I have been reading Acts and not really getting much out of it, because I guess it bores me. I am getting though it, but I guess it isn't as exciting as I expected it to be. I always told you I would be honest here. You may think differently and I might the next time I read it, but now reading about how the early church was started, just isn't doing it for me. It is exciting to hear about people being saved in the past, but it is so much more exciting to see the work God is doing in peoples' lives around me. I know that I am learning about being a disciple, so that is good.

I really want to see the Dark Knight again, this is why I shouldn't blog during commercials... Oh and Coca Cola seems to taste better when it is in a holiday can, random, I know.

Today Johnathan Dodson, our/their pastor talked about Community. I will throw up a post about that later tonight, I plan on it at least, as well as about the first 50 or so pages of Donald Miller's Jazz Notes, I bought it at Book People today while I was waiting on Claire, but she ended up cancelling on me. No big deal, I got to go to Einstein Bros Bagels, Waterloo Records, and Whole Foods Market instead.

I really like the "liberal" side of Austin, as much as Dad has reinforced that Austin isn't a great place, I'm going to have to disagree, because I like it a lot. Dad was a cop, so he had to deal with all the crap, so I guess I understand. It was mild today like around 70 degrees, I thought about it and that is the warmest it ever gets in Seattle, my future home. So I will be cold most of the year, it will be nice there.

But I understand that Seattle is even more liberal, it would be the capital of the largest atheist country in the world, if Washington, Oregon, and Idaho were combined into a country... And it is the least churched city in the US, and the home of my favorite pastor, Mark Driscoll. I think it will be an adventure, one day, after I graduate.

I think I may go visit, to check it out, I also found a wiki about it called Seattle Wiki (see http://seattle.wikia.com). I'm excited, I think I'll get a dog too.

That will come up with the Community thing...

Ok, so later, I will have those two things...