The ESV iPhone app - Should you check it out?

A Great Mobile Bible

At my church, we believe in Biblical Authority. In fact, it is one of our core values. We would love nothing more than to see every attender faithfully digging into their Bible and reading and studying God's Word on their own!
So, I like to pass on information about Bible tools that can help you spend time in His Word.
Crossway just put out an ESV app for the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad. If you want to know more, visit mobile.esv.org.

Key Features

• "Highlight" or "Favorite" a verse - There are two ways to mark verses for quick reference later. You can "highlight" them or make them a "favorite". Highlighting does just what it sounds like. You see a yellow highlight on the verse as you are reading the text. You can also see a list of just your highlighted verses. Favorite-ing does not cause the verse to stand out in the text, but does put in in the list of your favorites. Highlighting is good for marking verses that stand out to you as you read, and favorite-ing is good for marking verses for later reference (perhaps something you want to memorize or study).
• Notes - You can create personalized notes for any passage of scripture. Great for taking notes during a sermon, for journaling during your personal quiet time, for for remember thoughts as you study a book or topic.
• History - keeps a history (like your browser) of the passages you have been reading. This is great for back tracking a verse or passages that you didn't get a chance to favorite, highlight, or create a note about.
• Search - This is expected in any digital Bible. Search for key words or phrases.
• Share - this mobile Bible app allows you to easily post a verse to Twitter or email it to someone.

Other thoughts...

I have installed and used the youversion Bible app on my iPod Touch, and enjoy many of its abilities.  How does the mobile ESV app compare?

• Single verses multiple translations - Youversion gives you access to multiple translations and ESV is simply the English Standard Version.
• Online community - Youversion offers an extensive online community (youversion.com) for sharing "contributions" and hosting "live" events.  The ESV does not include the online community.
• Offline access - Both offer offline access, but Youversion only allows you to download a few versions to your device for free.  Youversion was built with the online community in mind.  If you have the iPhone you have a constant internet connection, but if you have an iPod Touch (like me), then Youversion features are limited when not in a wifi area. ESV is built for offline viewing.
• Notes/Contributions - This is where I believe ESV surpasses the Youversion app.  The ESV allows you to attach notes to individual verses, to highlight them for later (highlighting stays on the verse when you navigate away), and to create a list of favorites (bookmarks, if you will).  Not only that, but tapping a verse also shows you a list of cross references.  Youversion does not allow permanent highlighting, personal notes (contributions) cannot be created on the iPhone/iPod Touch (only at youversion.com), and it does not have the crossreferences.

Conclusion...

Install both, they are FREE!

Youversion is superior for checking multiple translations and for interacting with an online community (much of which has to be done through a browser rather than the app).  It is great for seeing what other translations and other people are saying about a passage.

ESV is superior for taking personal notes (stuff you wouldn't necessarily care to share with the online community) & highlighting text inline for later reference.  I could see using the ESV app for a journaling during a personal quiet time, personal study in those moments you are otherwise idle (waiting in lines, or for appointments), and for note taking during sermons/lessons.

About the ESV
From the website: "The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible is an essentially literal Bible translation that combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and depth of meaning. The Bible says every word is “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). For this reason, the ESV seeks to translate the original Greek and Hebrew words with the greatest possible accuracy and precision."

Jason Cooper (@cooperjason)

Cooper-ation Ministry Resourcing

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Here are some screen shots....showing highlighting, notes, and sharing capabilities.

See the full gallery on posterous

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A departure: The iPad - Love? Hate? A realistic review of the iPad.

OK, so I am going off my usual topics of conversation for this one, but get a little annoyed with some of the things I've read regarding Apple's new iPad.  As a Apple user, I am continually amazed by the technology they are putting out.

I have heard people praise Apple for their innovation, and others slam Apple for missing the boat on this one...

Let me make a few comments: 

1. iPad is not a well chosen name.  Others have pointed this out, I needn't explain why.  iSlate (as rumored) or iTablet would have been met with much better responses.

2. iPad is not a "tablet" like we know already.  Most tablet computers on the market previously were full fledged computers - often running a slightly altered version of Windows but capable of utilizing most of the software available for that OS.  The iPad is a new kind of tablet that is somewhere between the smartphone and the laptop.  You can't install your OS X software on it and replace your computer, but you can do more on it than a smartphone, especially given it's size.  In fact, some functions (at this point) are dependent on owning a fully capable computer (to sync with iTunes).

3. iPad will not have the broad appeal of the iPhone, the iPod, or any of the Apple computers available.  It will be a "niche" device that will only be enjoyed by the lucky few (though that could still be millions).  Let me explain.  It is too big to replace my iPod, too weak to replace my laptop, and too expensive to justify owning one without replacing an existing device.  That will be the lament of the "average joe".   So who will buy it??? (see point 4)

4.  iPad will have a market.  I don't know if it will be as big as Apple hopes, but anyone seriously considering a Kindle or other e-book reader will have to check out the iPad as it does so much more than those devices, at only a little more cost.  Again, this will be for those who can justify the expense of that "extra" device (beyond smartphone/laptop).  There also may be some out there who would like the larger format that this device brings to the "PDA" functionality available on smart phones and the iPod Touch.  Though I think that will be a small category of consumers.  I am curious how the "casual home user" will approach this device.  Personally I would love for my wife to have a simple device for her Facebook, email, browsing, etc., but for the same price we can get a fully capable Windows laptop (yes, I know that is a bit of a contradiction) that can run Microsoft Office and any other Windows program available.  Or we can get a netbook for even less, with less power, but still more options for software and functionality than the iPad...

5. iPad's "touch" based user experience is VERY desirable!  It is much more desirable than clicking a mousepad. I love my iPod Touch and how it is so easy and natural to use, but it is so small.  I would love to be able to have that same user experience on a larger scale!  Now, when it comes to typing long documents, the physical keyboard is still king, though most of us have not had the experience of a nearly full size virtual keyboard like that on the iPad. I look forward to playing with one in the Apple Retails Store when they become available!

6.  What would cause me to invest in one???  For me personally to move to an iPad would either require me to get a large raise so I could financially justify such a "niche" device.  OR, the capabilities would have to be on par with a netbook or discount laptop in the same price range (for home use).  If I could install OS X software (like iLife/iWork) on the iPad and hook up peripherals when needed, then I would really consider the move. 

So, in conclusion, Apple haters and Apple hypers both need to calm down and be realistic about this device.  Ultimately the market will determine how well it does...  First glance, however, suggests it won't have the mass market appeal of the iPods or iPhone, and it isn't the "tablets" that we are familiar with (which may be good since tablets haven't done well historically).  I look forward to future iterations of this product to see if/how it evolves. 

Jason Cooper (@cooperjason)

Cooper-ation Ministry Resourcing

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In case there is any doubt, I have no affiliations with any companies or products above.  Though I sure wouldn't mind if Apple wanted to give me an iPad to review...

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Books I read and found useful in 2009

This is an incomplete list of books I read and found useful in 2009.

Sticky Church by Larry Osborne 

It is about small group philosophy and how they used sermon based small groups to pastor and disciple their congregation.

Less Clutter, Less Noise by Kem Meyer 

Kem explores the issues of communications in the church and how to better simplify and streamline the messages we send.  

Just A Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels

We actually did a six week campaign based on this book (though we didn't use the "official" campaign material to accompany it).  It is a good reminder of the importance of evangelism on the individual, not just the church, level.

Axiom by Bill Hybels

A book of individual leadership axioms that is a great resource when you need a short leadership oriented piece for training or working with leaders.  

Organic Community by Stephen Meyer 

This one is about organizing church around organic principles.  I like the big idea of it, though I think Stephen may push the details a bit.  Some of the "organic" things we have tried have worked well, and some have flopped.  

Church is a Team Sport by Jim Putnam 

I am not finished with this one about organizing church around discipleship/coaching model.  I first met Jim at Group's LifeServe conference in Loveland, CO back in October.  The story of their church growing from a church plant to 8,000 in Idaho is amazing.  What is more amazing is their strong call to discipleship and their ability to resist the "bigger and better" mindset that plagues american churches.  Real Life Ministries

FOCUS - the third book in the REVEAL series by Willow Creek 

It is about catalyzing spiritual growth in individuals through the church.  Still working through this one, but the other two books are vital for anyone who thinks about how to grow people spiritually.

Jason Cooper (@cooperjason)

Cooper-ation Ministry Resourcing

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