Organize Your Tasks

Writing down a list of things to do or a task list is a critical component to organization.  It can help you organize your time and bring a mental release to the growing cloud of impending things to do in your head.  Speaking of clouds, today's technology can really help you organize your task list.

I use an app on my iPhone called ToDo.  It has all the normal bells and whistles, but the cool part is it syncs all my tasks between my laptop, my iPhone, my iPad, and my wife's iPhone.  Not only can I stay organized, but my wife can add stuff straight to my list.  I can organize my lists into different categories. 

Another app I have used for tasks in Zenbe Lists, which I have already reviewed in my Event Roster post.

One more option to try is Evernote.  You can create lists that sync to a cloud.  It's the least complicated to setup, but you may get frustrated with the "append or copy" options.

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

What might the Nativity story look like in 2010's Digital Age? Here is one opinion.

Be Who You Are - An Homage to the Old Spice Commercial for Youth Ministers

North Point Community's iBand

North Point's iBand from North Point Web on Vimeo.

New Social Browser

RockMelt is a new web browser that integrates your Facebook account into a browser.  It adds a sidebar with your entire friends list sortable by online status or a customizable favorites list.  You can easily post or message your friends no matter what website your own or easily share a page your visiting to your wall or a friend.  In addition to friends, you can add a news feed from any website.  The news feeds are listed in another sidebar opposite your friends list.

Bottom line, if you are an occasional Facebook user you probably won't see any benefit to RockMelt, but if you're a person who always has their Facebook page open in another window/tab then RockMelt may be the perfect solution for you.  It may be a great way to multitask in your ministry connecting with teens on Facebook while browsing the web.  At minimum your teens will think you're cool for finding anything to do with Facebook before them!

AirPrint from iOS 4.2

For some simple instructions on how to enable AirPrint on your Windows Machine, the gracious guys at The iPhone Blog (TIBP) have given out some simple instructions and links to the files you need, click here for the instructions.

If you are running a OS 10.6 you can get your AirPrint on by visiting this link.

Once you follow your instructions, enjoy printing wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad or iPod.

Mobile Comparison

The guys at C-Sectioncomics.com have posted a great comparisons of the mobile platforms....notice no Windows 7 Mobile though.

iOS 4.2.1 Update

I understand that many of you already know this, but iOS 4.2 for your iPod, iPhone, and most importantly, your iPad has been released today.  I highly recommend getting your devices updated.  I've been working with my devices under this update for a while and it's very stable, and finally brings the functionalities that you've been experiencing on your iPhone to your iPad.

What does it mean for you individually? Well, some of what it brings to you is:

BANNED Microsoft Commercial WINDOWS GUY

YouthPastorTech.com Podcast #1

Build A Website

Facebook is a great way to communicate, but websites are still a relevant way to communicate to students and their parents.  If your ministry doesn't have a website, I highly recommend getting one!  If your not sure where to start, check out some of these options...

Sesame Street: Song: There's An App For That

E-Publishing uses

One of the phrases that the media is throwing around a lot lately is e-publishing. A lot the reason for this is the battle that is going on right now between the electronic book readers and tablets. And regardless of where you stand in the battle of which is the best, we must all understand that the battle is really where you are going to spend your money on the books to read. This article isn't about that. It's about you creating and distributing your own e-pub books.

I'm not assuming that everyone out there reading this article is a fledgling author in search of a book deal. What I am saying is that all of us are communicators with a message that needs to be conveyed. Whether that message is a sermon, bible study, or a calendar of events. Why would you want to consider an e-book? The answer is simple...people need the information in a readily accessible format. So many people are carrying e-readers in tablet and smart-phone formats (and iPod Touches) that it only makes sense to maximize on that fact.

There are various ways to create e-pub documents, one of the easiest is Apple's Pages application. With its recent update, the program (on the Mac itself) can export any document as an e-pub. So why not use this great tool.

Sharing Photos and Video

We all have videos and photos of our youth group memories we want to share. If you don't, I want to encourage you to reconsider the power of connection that displaying your youth group memories can bring. It displays friends. It displays the atmosphere your community strives for. It displays fun or compassion or acceptance or all of the above!

But how do we share those videos or pictures?

Add a live poll to your presentation

Here's something fun to do.  Let your students use their phones (since they are doing it anyway) to add to what is being shared.  By using Poll Everywhere you can add a little spice.  They even provide a free plan, which is limited to a certain number, or you can pay for whatever use and size of group that you have.

The process is simple:

1. Create an account.  
2. Create your poll on their site.  
3. Download the PowerPoint page that they provide for you, and place it into your presentation. 
4. Show your presentation.
5. Instruct your students to text their vote to the number provided and give them the options to vote.
6. If your presentation computer is connected to the internet, the results will display automatically before their eyes, and in real time.  

Give it a try and let us know what you think in your comments.

iPad as Travel Companion

I'm taking a trip to our regional University this week with some of our students, and I've made up my mind.  I'm not taking my macbook with me.  I haven't traveled without carrying a laptop for a LONG time, but I'm making the break for this 3 day trip.

Why am I doing this? Simplicity...maybe.  Not having to deal with security...possibly.  But the main reason is I can do most of what I need using my iPad.

There are very few things that I can't accomplish with it as my primary tool.  If I throw my bluetooth keyboard in the bag, I'm even better off.  I have most of my needed tools available on it.  I can place enough video for the plane ride and my reading material is loaded as well.  If my flight has wifi, Netflix can fill in a lot of gaps.

The great thing is that by leaving my macbook plugged in and running at home, I can access and run the needed operations from it if the need arises (generally only for a few possible web updates for clients) using a free version of TeamViewer, this app is a must-have for the mobile youth pastor.

I'll update you on my experience upon my return...here's to mobile computing at it's finest!

Event Roster

How do you manage who has signed up for your events?  Are you old school with a piece of paper and a pen?  Do you make a list in Word or Excel?  Do you use online registration forms and generate some sort of list?

Here's an option maybe you haven't thought of: Zenbe List or Team Coach.

Zenbe Lists

Zenbe Lists vs. Team Coach

Zenbe Lists is a simple online list maker that uses cloud technology to sync your lists from the zenbe website to your mobile devices.  I have it installed on my phone, my wife's phone, and my iPad.  I have lists of events with students who have registered in them.  I also have a list of everyone I have a medical release form for.  My wife and I also have our grocery lists so when I run to WalMart to pick up a few game supplies I can do her a favor and grab a few items for her.  Costs only $3.99 in iTunes which includes the iPhone and iPad app.

Team Coach

Team Coach is an app built for sport coaches, but it comes in really handy in youth ministry.  It allows you to create teams, which I use to create events.  Then you add individuals to the teams (events).  And last it allows you to create events for your teams, which I use to create events like "Paid" or "Registered" or "Bowling Team #1".  Team Coach is only $.99 in iTunes and does not have an iPad specific app, but it runs the iPhone version on the iPad.  It doesn't sync and I wish it had a few other enhancements

Neither of these is a perfect solution, but it can make event check-in easier!

Crowd Control Games

Need something fun, that can be done quickly, makes everyone work together, and by the way is REALLY cool?  Try something from www.crowdcontrolgames.com.  Most of the games are $30.  The tech is simple. They have severals flash game that you project onto a TV or through a Projector for a group activity.

Using the mic that is built into your computer, you control the movement by sound.  Louder sound makes the control go up, silence controls a downward movement.  Have your group race.  Girls vs Guys, left vs right...however you would want to break the group up.

Want a little bit of extra fun? Change the characters by creating your own.  Yes, you have it right, put your own mug in the game. (Although this does take some graphics/flash knowledge)

Have a great time and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Web Review: Wing Clips

I was preparing for my sermon on Sunday and needed a quick video for an illustration.  Yes, there are a lot of options out there, but the first place I almost always look is wingclips.com  The reason I say that is because it gives me lots of options, at a great price (they offer a free account, as well as paid for higher resolution clips), it's unlimited, and it provides me clips from the media that my students are already consuming...movies.

This site is a great one because no additional licensing is needed to use the clips that they are providing. They do an excellent job going to the movie producers and getting permission to provide you the clips. The movies they are providing clips for are the ones in the theaters now...not 10 years ago.

Another reason is that they have already done a lot of the hard work for you in that they separate, catalog and give you a great search resource to help find the clips you need.

Make sure to check out WingClips.com to help you stay on top of your game.

Free Apps every day.

Have you tried freeappaday.com?  You should.  This site offers apps that are normally paid apps for free, for a day.  The site focuses on iOS devices (primarily for the iPhone and iPod Touch), but it does have an Android section as well. Some days multiple apps are available for free.

The site offers everything from games to utilities.  Some are download worthy, others not so much, but it's always worthy of a quick glance at the site.

If you have an iOS device, make sure to download their app for easy reference to what is being offered.

Today's offering is Diptic for the iPhone but it is a universal app that scales to the iPad.  This app seems to be reviewed highly and allows the user to create and export photo-collages easily.

Try it out and let us know what you think in the comments.

New iPad Update

My biggest hesitation in buying an iPad was the fact that it was the first generation, that is the first model ever built.  Everyone knows that a companies 2nd generation model is better!  What helped me get over that hesitation is Apple.  Apple has been a company that gives you free updates on the operating system you're using no matter what model you have.  So I bit the bullet and bought an iPad which has become a device I use more than my iPhone and more than my PC.

Apple plans to release a big update to the iPad's OS this November.  Included in the update is multitasking and folders, making the iPad function even more like your iPhone.  Here's where youth ministry comes in.  You will be able to create an "Events" folder and put links to all your registration forms in one spot.  You can create folders for online attendance recording for different programs you have or folders for different apps you use exclusively for youth ministry.

Bottom line, the new update will help you better organize your iPad for youth ministry.

iPad Event Registration

Getting teens hyped about going on an event? Easy.  Getting them to sign up and pay is like trying to get cats to form a 5 person pyramid.  So here's a little tip on easy event registration.  If you use online forms to get students to sign up for events, navigate to the form in Safari on your iPad.  Then bookmark the site straight to your home screen.  Add all your event forms to your home screen and reogranize your apps so your event icons are all together.  The next time a teen says they want to go on an event, BAM, let them fill out their form right on the spot.

Need help making online forms?  I'll blog on that later, but for now try Google Docs!

App Review: Olive Tree BibleReader

I admit it...I've taken the plunge, and so far it's been pretty seamless.  I've converted to using my iPad and iPhone as my primary form of reading Scripture.  I've used the Kindle, and have the Bible within my Kindle App, but although great for straight reading, it is hard to move between passages on the fly.

I know that there are many Bible apps out there, but I've found Olive Tree's BibleReader to be an excellent choice.  Olive Tree's BibleReader is available for Windows Mobile, Palm, Blackberry, iOS, and Android.  Here is a comparison chart for the features built in within their BibleReader software by platform.

Why OliveTree BibleReader? Here is why...

Build Your Own T-Shirt Launcher!

App Review: Evernote

Student ministry is one that requires a lot of various information at various times throughout the day.  Whether it be information from an article that you recently read, a great quote that you need to use, or a list of students that are participating in the next event.  So how do we keep all this information organized and readily available?

Easy Video Recording

It was a glorious game of tug-a-war involving for teams, plastic sheeting, and more baby shampoo than you could shake a tear free stick at. The energy was high, the campers were wet, and the mood was "out for blood". As I was "soaking" in the view and loving the job our Camp Team was doing, one of our Camp Directors, Kelly (great job, btw!), walked up to me and handed me a Flip video recorder and asked if I would shoot some video. For the next 10 minutes I was embedded in the action with my video recorder, getting great video coverage. I felt like Geraldo Rivera, minus the mustache. I even gave away troop location to another team. (yup, I went there.). After 10 minutes, I handed the recorder back and moments later I saw our Director handing it off to someone else.

Facebook Group vs. Facebook pages

It's a question that has haunted all of us from Facebook newbies to FB pros: do I create a Facebook Group or Page? What are the pros and cons? Is there a right choice? Why is it called Facebook?

Let's start with what a Group is. In September of 2004, 8 months after Facebook launched it introduced the Groups feature. In Facebook's words Groups are...

"With Facebook Groups, you can join and create up to 200 groups. Groups can be based around shared interests, activities, or anything you like. The Groups application page displays your recently updated groups as well as groups your friends have joined recently."

The Pages feature didn't come out for another 3 years. Here's how Facebook defines Their Pages feature...

Sync your mobile office easily

I know that there are many options, and a plethora of articles and how-to's regarding this subject, but it's time for a youth pastor's slant.

As a youth pastor, rarely in one spot for very long, it is very important to have access to many files that are called upon throughout each day and week. I know that many carry those files on thumb drives, but not always is a computer around to access them.  Then there is always the issue of "Is this the most recent edition of this file?"

Not only that, but if I sync that file to just one device, I am stuck with just that one device. I migrate between 3 devices on a regular basis: my macbook, iPad, and iPhone (I realize that this is an all Apple lineup, but this issue faces the PC user as well.).  I need access to those files often, and rarely am I in the same location, so what is a guy to do?

iPad-friendly Student Ministry

I readily admit that I am a bit of a geek, and as such I tend to use tech whenever and wherever I can.  One of my favorite weapons in my tech arsenal is my iPad. I've heard from many, well isn't it just a big iPod Touch? Yes in some ways, but mostly no.  It serves a different need in my life, and provides much better function in my ministry.  Here are a some of my regular uses:

Group TXT

If you're not communicating to your teens by TXT, you're not communicating!  But how do you communicate by text to a group without manually punching in their names and numbers on your phone each time?  Great question.  Here's a few ideas for you...

Simply TXT - a cheap, easy way to start TXTing your group from any computer

Tatango - a more expensive option, but it's loaded with features like key words, sub-groups, and reply forwarding.  The best part is you can send group messages right from your phone or any PC.  You can even allow your sponsors to send a group message.  Try the free trial period.  If you like it, ask them for a break in price, they might be willing to work with you!

CCB - this is a solution for tracking all of your students contact information and communicating with them multiple ways like email, print, RSS, website, and TXT.  A cool feature of CCB is all your lists and information is integrated into one easy to manage list.  Students can adjust their own communication preferences.  And if that wasn't enough, CCB uses TWEXT technology so not only does your TXT go to your youth group, it goes to you or your group's Twitter Account.  This is a great option, but it's pricey.

Twitter & Facebook - these social sites can allow users to get mobile updates from your profile.  It's free, but getting teens to adjust that setting may be quite a hassle. 

If you have an iPhone you can also find Group TXT apps in the AppStore.