Dec 28

iPad Productivity

Leadership Development, Technology 6 Comments »

A year ago, I started using the iPad for productivity. I’m already an avid Apple fan (iPhone, iMac at home, MacBook Pro at work). I like being paperless, but I don’t like going to meetings and typing with a laptop. It’s loud, and I personally think people are checking their email as they hide behind the screen. I like handwriting. And I don’t really care to convert to text (although it’s a nice option when needed). For a couple of years, I used an Axiotron Modbook (a modded out Apple Macbook White), coupled with Circus Ponies Notebook. But with some of the apps listed below, the iPad has become my primary productivity device for meetings.

Here are some of the apps and accessories I’m using with the iPad:

1. Bamboo Styles by Wacom. Since I like taking handwritten notes, a stylus is a must. Writing with your finger is awkward. I’ve tried three different iPad styli (is that the plural of stylus?) before landing on the Bamboo stylus. I tried the Pogo Sketch, and the tip seemed too spongy and was hard for accurate writing. I also tried the iFaraday, and it was better than the Pogo but had a tip that was still too soft. For over a year, I used the the Acase stylus. It was my stylus of choice until I found the Bamboo. The Bamboo has far better accuracy and responsiveness. It has a substantial feel as well as a firm tip. It is by far the best stylus on the market (a bit pricier as well at $30).

2. Noteshelf. This is a great app for creating notebooks and taking handwritten notes. You can create a notebook for each team you’re a part of. It’s like having multiple journals and notebooks. There are multiple different formats and layouts for the notebooks (lined, graph, plain, meetings, journal, travelogue, etc.) You can also export notes to Evernote (see below) and Dropbox (see below) as PDF or image.

3. Wunderlist. Wunderlist is a simple, elegant, and FREE task list app that syncs with your iPhone (or Android) and your desktop (Mac & PC). You can create different categories and even share lists with other Wunderlist users. I typically take notes in a meeting and update tasks either real-time or after the meeting. I’ve downloaded the app for my Mac as well as iPhone. It’s great to have multiple places to interface with the app. Did I mention the completely FREE?

4. Evernote. Evernote is a dowloadable program (Mac & PC) that allows you to create and store notebooks and notes. You can access your notes and notebooks from your desktop, mobile device, and iPad. As I create notebooks and notes on the iPad via Noteshelf, I can export those notebooks to the free Evernote iPad App and sync it and access the notebooks and notes with my laptop and iPhone.

5. Doc2 HD. This is a word processing iPad app. You can create, edit, import and export Microsoft Word docs (.doc & .docx) via email, Dropbox, Google docs, or multiple other ways. If you’re public speaking, it has a large enough font for you to be able to read. I’ve even used Doc2HD while officiating a couple of weddings.

6. Dropbox. Regardless of whether you own an iPad or not, you should take advantage of Dropbox. It’s a cloud-based file sharing and backup program that you can store and access files from multiple sources (desktop, mobile device, iPad, etc.).

7. Accessories. The market for iPad accessories is endless. Here are some of my personal favorites (among many).

  • iPad Pulpit (Little Mountain Productions). Don’t worry, I won’t be getting one anytime soon because I preach without notes… but you’ve got to admit it, it’s pretty cool.

What apps, programs, and accessories are you using with your iPad to maximize productivity and connectivity?

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Dec 20

Top 10 Books of 2010

Book Reviews 1 Comment »

This is the first year that I’ve published my “Top 10 Best Books.” I read a lot of different genres. My favorite by far is fiction. But I also read my fair share of theology, spiritual life, leadership, biography, etc. So here were the Top 10 books I read in 2010.

1. Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie (533 pp.). Rushdie’s classic magical realism novel on Indian independence from British colonialism in 1947. Rushdie has an amazing way of correlating the historical events surrounding independence to the main character Saleem Sinai’s life. An intense read.

2. Cutting for Stone – Abrahama Verghese (534 pp.) From India to Ethiopia to New York, this novel is a “through the generations” look at a unique family and collection of characters that practice medicine and try to do life amidst the best and worst of times.

3. The Border Trilogy – Cormac McCarthy. Technically three books (hence “triology”), McCarthy’s classic work chronicles the dusty lives of several cowboys who venture through the barren wastelands of the south into Mexico. Most of McCarthy’s works are intense and at times, dark. But since my grandfather was a real life cowboy, I owed it to him to read some gritty, beyond “Lonesome Dove” cowboy classics.

4. Unbroken – Laura Hillenbrand (457 pp.) The story of Louis Zamperini, Olympic Champion and WWII bomber pilot, who was shot down in the Pacific and survived a terrifying lost-at-sea struggle and an even more horrifying Japanese POW experience. An incredible story of human resilience. You’ll enjoy the “twist” at the end.

5. Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard – Dan & Chip Heath (320 pp.) The best book I’ve read yet on leading and managing change. The Heath brothers are masters at taking what seems complex and reducing it to simple, lasting principles.

6. Rooms – James L. Rubart (400 pp.) This book was a surprise for me. I normally don’t like Christian fiction. But this one worked me over like a “speed bag.” One reviewer said it was part The Shack (albeit with non-heretical theological implications) and part Screwtape Letters. That’s a fair statement. It’s a good book that Jesus used to guide me in some personal exploration of my own life and story this year.

7. Jim & Casper Go To Church – Jim Henderson & Matt Casper (169 pp.) A good book (frustrating at times) from the vantage point of an agnostic/atheist who explores some of the evangelical world’s headliner churches. It’s good to get an “outside” vantage point on how we do church in the U.S.

8. Relational Intelligence – Steve Saccone (200 pp.) Saccone does a great job helping us all become more relationally intelligent. His explanation of lack of relational intelligence (a la “The Michael Scott Syndrome” from The Office) is great. I recommend this book if you want to learn how to lead, influence, and relate more intelligently.

9. Sticky Teams – Larry Osborne (221 pp.) Sticky Teams is an update edition of Osborne’s earlier The Unity Factor. I wrote a longer review here.

10. Where Men Win Glory – Jon Krakauer (450 pp.) The life of former NFL player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan. I enjoy most of Krakauer’s works, and this book was researched well and told with heart and grit.

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Dec 20

Christmas Compassion & Global Generosity

Christmas Behind the Seen 2010, Missional Living, Northshore Baptist Church No Comments »


The Christmas story calls us to be people of compassion and peace… people who understand the generosity of God as He sent us Jesus, His one and only Son. When we grasp this reality, God was made flesh to bring us peace, we are compelled to respond with acts of compassion, peace, and generosity in the world around us.

One tangible way to live out the compassion of Christmas is to be generous globally. This time of year, we spend so much time, energy and financial resources buying things that the people in our lives don’t really need. What if we chose to spend our financial resources on making donations to charitable organizations in someone’s name? A couple of weeks ago, our family received some “charitable gift” catalogs from World Vision, Agros International, and Living Water. For $25, I can buy someone a goat or a couple of chickens. For $25, I can feed a family for a month. For $25, I can contribute to digging a well in a village in some part of the world that doesn’t have access to clean water. There are so many options for using our financial resources to begin making a dent in global poverty issues.  This Christmas, choose to be agents of God’s compassion, peace, and generosity in our global world.

Here are some resources for Christmas Compassion & Global Generosity:

What other organizations do you recommend during this Christmas season and beyond?

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Dec 16

RainCity Lounge Re-cap

Missional Living, Northshore Baptist Church No Comments »

As I sat in the Worship Center (a.k.a. RainCity Lounge) during the full dress rehearsal Wednesday night before the first show, I enjoyed watching the various acts and thought to myself, “This is amazing. All the hard work and prayer for the past nine months has certainly paid off!” And sure enough, over eight performances of Christmas at RainCity Lounge, guest after guest told me how incredible the show was. There were a lot of amazing aspects to the show and experience. Northshore’s musical and artistic talents were showcased. Our heart to serve our people and our guests was evident. And our deep desire to offer people the gift of Jesus’ gospel was central.

Northshore, thank you for making Christmas at RainCity Lounge a success. We had over 2550 people attend the show. We also deployed around 800 volunteers from cast, crew, servers, designers, decorators, pray-ers, ticket sales…, and on and on the list of volunteers goes. To date, we’ve had around 80 inquiries about the Discovery class which starts January 9, 2011. This last is the key ingredient because our ultimate goal of Christmas at RainCity Lounge was not to entertain ourselves with a great Christmas show. Our goal was to invite the people of our world into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus, and the show helped and will continue to help move many people further along in their exploration of Jesus and the Christian faith.

I want to thank all of you who served, prayed, and invited guests. Thanks for using your gifts and talents to magnify Jesus and be a part of His mission. And a special thanks to Pastor Mark Kohls who oversaw the whole project, to Rose Tom who served and led as the House Director, to Cindy Swenson who was responsible for all of the creative expression on the stage and behind the scenes with the tech crew, and to Bruce Bickel who played the role of RainCity’s emcee and who will lead the Discovery class. I wish I could list everyone who contributed by name, but there are too many!

Lastly, outreach doesn’t stop here. We are called to be on mission for Jesus, taking Him and His gospel into our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and families every day and season of the year. Follow up with your guests. Invite them to our Christmas Eve services (2:45, 4:45 & 6:45 pm). Invite them to accompany you to the Discovery class in January. And above all, continue to pray that the Holy Spirit to draw them to Jesus.

Merry CHRISTmas and many thanks Northshore!

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Dec 14

Choosing Joy

Christian Life, Christmas Behind the Seen 2010, Missional Living, Northshore Baptist Church 9 Comments »

This Sunday, in our December series Christmas Behind the Seen I talked about choosing Joy, even in our disappointment and in light of God’s promise of restoration. As part of the message, I talked about Alan and Heidi Matthew who are going through the fight of their lives as Alan was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of the esophagus and lungs. In the midst of this incredibly difficult trial, Alan and Heidi are choosing joy. Here’s the unabridged version of Alan’s note he sent last week as we’ve been talking about joy, faith, and trials.

Oh Jonathan, I so much appreciate you my brother and pastor. You have truly been a new and positive influence on me as you took over for Jan. My life experience holds lots of choosing joy in trials but I must tell you it is so different this time. You see, this time I am truly focused on the Lord and what He has planned for me. With the faith in what is to come – promised by Him – I am free to choose His Joy. I cannot control my own life and have not been able to. Once I really grabbed onto that concept and it became real to me, I can surrender my cares to Him. This time it is not as conceptual, however, it has consumed me to follow what He wants me to do: look outside my own trials and reach out to others. That means sowing the seeds of Truth and bearing spiritual fruit. This lesson squares with James 1 because it grounds me. I am not tossed by the waves but can focus on God’s truth and share it with others. The test of trials makes me stronger when I have this confidence.

It has been very exciting to have non-Christian people ask me about positive attitude in the midst of trials. What they are asking me is, “What is it that allows you to be positive?” My response about having faith in the unseen future puzzles them. What they are really looking for is how they can share that confidence in facing their trials, their heartaches, and their failures. Doubt is what holds us back and throws us back into the waves (just like Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus when walking on water). I was pleased to have 9 guests to attend two RainCity Lounge performances because people were open to my invitation… because they saw something different in me when I responded to this great trial in my life.

So what is the result? Perseverance in Faith. And how does that happen in my trial? I have to ask for it. I have to ask Jesus with faith to supply it to me without doubt. This is what differs in my life today. I can ask without doubt because I believe it.

Finally, God is good. He wants the best for us, not the empty trials that enter our lives. He wants us to be stronger and more productive (John 15 – my Father prunes the branches to make them stronger and more fruitful) How am I pruned? How is it that trials make me stronger and more confident in my faith? How is it that my Lord went through all trials and more than I will ever see, yet without sin?

“I can therefore come boldly before Jesus knowing He went through trials much worse than mine and can help me overcome mine with mercy and grace in my time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)

So how is this practical when facing a trial? True faith brings joy. Joy overflows when you reach out beyond yourself. People see that in you and respond. They want what they see in you. It isn’t the trial that brings the joy. It is the response to the trial that people see. My prayer is to respond to trials by asking Jesus for the extra measure of faith I need – without doubt or reservation. Believe me when I say that it is not easy to do and requires focus on Him to deliver it to me because I don’t have that kind of strength. He develops perseverance in me to make me mature and complete, and He uses trials to do that. Bless you my brother!

That’s how you choose joy, even in your disappointment because God has promised ultimate restoration in and through the Christmas gift of Jesus Christ.

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Dec 14

Discovery begins January 9

Missional Living, Northshore Baptist Church No Comments »

Discovery is a safe zone for anyone who simply wants to learn more. It’s for committed Christians, curious skeptics, and anyone in between. The next 6-week session begins Sunday, January 9th, at 10:45 am.

Bruce Bickel, a member of our church and an author of a number of books about the Christian faith, will lead the class with the help of Tom Regan, our Young Adult pastor. They won’t be defensive, judgmental, or confrontational. They want everyone who comes to Discovery to feel free to bring their questions and doubts about Christianity, as well as their friends who have them, too. The goal is to help bring clarity to what Christianity teaches and help provide answers to pressing, relevant questions.

Here are the types of questions that you, or friends of yours, might be asking that Discovery will be addressing:

  • What makes Christianity unique among other faiths?  Do the differences really matter?
  • Is it possible to be a Christian without all of the religious baggage?
  • Why do so many Christians come across as offensive in matters of faith?
  • Is the Bible reliable? What if I think it’s trumped by science?
  • If “God is love,” then why is there so much suffering in the world?
  • What if I can accept some parts of Christianity, but disagree with (or have serious doubts about) other parts?
  • Who did Jesus claim to be? Was he really who he said he was?

The subjects covered each week will vary, but it’s not a problem if you can’t attend every class session.  Each week’s discussion is not dependent on what was covered previously. The class will meet for six Sundays in a row at 10:45 am in Room 212/213, starting Sunday, January 9th. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

So, come and check out Discovery. We trust you will find it enjoyable, informative, and—knowing Bruce—quite humorous. And if you know others who would benefit from this please invite them, too.

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Dec 03

The Uncommon God becomes Common

Christmas Behind the Seen 2010, Missional Living, Theological Musings 2 Comments »

This week, as we head into the Christmas season, here’s a YouTube video that’s gone viral: “Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah”

YouTube Preview Image

This is all about the Uncommon God becoming Common. This is all about the omnipotent God becoming the seemingly impotent Man as Jesus the Christ Child is born in a stable in the backwater town of Bethlehem. This is all about the Sublime God reaching into the slime of a broken world.

I think there’s something beyond the beautiful opera music that penetrated the Welland Seaway Mall on November 13, 2010. I think, if even just for a moment, people saw a glimmer and tasted the reality that the Uncommon God became Common… for His glory and for their good.

This December as you walk the halls of the mall, don’t forget what this season is all about.

Merry CHRISTmas!

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Dec 01

Christmas Behind the Seen

Christmas Behind the Seen 2010, Northshore Baptist Church No Comments »

In the Gospel writer Luke’s version of the Christmas story, we discover stories behind The Story… stories of Christmas Behind the Seen. In these stories, we see the lives of real people who understood the significance of The Story… the amazing reality that God would come to change everything.

In the stories behind The Story, we see blessing as young Mary looks behind the seen, recognizing the blessing of God as He has chosen her to bear Jesus, the Savior. So she responds by blessing her God. We see joy as Elizabeth anticipates the joy of God in the flesh, and she cannot contain her joy. We see compassion as Joseph chooses to see behind the seen and responds with kindness and compassion, even amidst the dramatic upheaval of his own plans. We see hope in Simeon longing for the hope of Israel. We see serving as Anna dedicates her life to the God who has come to rescue and restore.

From stories of obscurity to The Story of the Nativity, what could happen in our lives and in our world if we respond to Christmas Behind the Seen?

December 5 – “Blessing Seen”

December 12 – “Joy Seen”

December 19 – “Compassion Seen”

December 24 – “Hope Seen” (Christmas Eve Services at 2:45, 4:45, & 6:45 pm)

December 26 – “Serving Seen”

Join us at Northshore on Sundays at 8:45 am, 10:45 am or 5:45 pm. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to this message series to experience a Christmas they’ve never encountered before.

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