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Temptation is real…

Temptation always appeals to the vulnerable part of your heart.  The taste will be palatable, persistent and powerful.

Don’t believe me, ask Adam & Eve:

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Genesis 3:6)

Temptation is…

1. Enticing - It appeals to your hopes and desires (I plan to use the iPad to preach & teach…yea right).
2. Enjoyable - It promises you immense pleasure (I can see myself smiling as I use my iPad).
3. Evasive - It evades the truth with excuses (My heart is telling my head to find a reason to justify the purchase).
4. Escalating - It multiplies your appetite for more (If I don’t control it now, my desire for more will increase…darn it).

Ok, so did I talk myself out of purchasing one…to be continued

Do you plan to purchase an iPad?  If so, why?  If not, why?

BEFORE WE BEGIN…

Once again (just can’t seem to make up my mind) I switched back to the iPhone and put my BlackBerry Bold away.

Check out this video & you’ll understand why:

Mantis Bible Study 4.0 is the most advanced Bible Study Tool available for any mobile platform.  Designed exclusively for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, Mantis Bible Study was created to be powerful enough for full-time Bible students and pastors, yet easy enough for the casual reader to use. Here are a few features:

1. Fantastic support for Bibles with integrated Strong’s Numbers – tap a number to open a definition, tap it again to close it
2. Additional support for Strong’s Numbers: drill-down to root word(s), tap to find where a number is used throughout Scripture, then tap and preview verses
3. Easily create bookmarks, notes, and highlights for any verse in the Bible, or even for commentaries, dictionaries, devotionals, or other books
4. References to Scripture inside personal notes are automatically turned into one-tap cross-references
5. Create, edit, and move bookmarks and bookmark folders
6. Unique “Analyze Verse” feature shows a single verse in multiple translations on one page, along with any installed commentaries for the selected verse
7. Fast and flexible, yet simple search system
8. Save search results as a named folder full of bookmarks
9. Personal notes and translation notes appear inline with the text and can be toggled on and off, making it easier to view the notes within the context of its related scripture
10. Highlighting Bar allows highlighting of individual words and phrases in 4 colors
11. Inline verse-display toggle links for all cross-reference links (in commentaries, dictionaries and other books containing scripture references)

That’s right, it took ONE application to make me switch and after one week of continuous use, I’M HOOKED (for now…)!

By the way, what do you currently use, I’d love to hear your comments!

Currently, I serve as the Senior Pastor of the Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago.  Contrary to what many believe, pastoring Mars Hill is more than preaching, counseling, and praying.  Aside from my pastoral duties, it can be compared to running a small business.

Yesterday, I received a phone call regarding my productivity habits & tools, thoughts on computer hardware, life hacking, and advice for young pastors, entrepreneurs, and leaders. The questions are as follows:

What type of bag do you carry and why?

Currently, I carry a Tumi Laptop Briefcase.  It’s the Alpha Expandable Leather Organizer Model.  I know this bag is rather expensive, but, after carrying cheaper bags, it’s worth the investment.  Tumi bags are always sleek, modern, stylish, and durable.  The Alpha model is not exception, with its bold, black, streamlined look.  It excelled at each challenge I set for it.  Trust me, you’ll enjoy this bag for decades.

What’s In Your Tumi Bag?

1. Apple MacBook (That’s right – no PC here)
2. BlackBerry Storm (yep, dropped my iPhone until they work out a few kinks OR until it comes to Verizon)
3. Amazon Kindle (this is the future of publishing – imagine carrying ONE DEVICE around campus that contains ALL your books. Personally, I like it, but, I don’t see myself giving up books).
4. Moleskine Notebook (Journaling, capturing leadership moments, ideas/planning, etc).
5. Chicago Tribune To Go (gotta know what’s happening in and around Chicago).
6. Wall Street Journal (gotta stay connected with the world – especially the financial world).
7. Leadership Journal (The #1 Journal for pastors & church leaders).
8. Rev. Magazine (The best magazine for ministry application).
9. Homiletics Journal (A must have for those who take preaching seriously).
10. Expandable File Folder (My life is compartmentalized so I need folders to reflect that).
11. Starbucks Mints (I believe in fresh breath & I carry them especially for others & offer them immediately).
12. Levenger True Writer Obsidian Pencil (I use this pencil when I’m suited up & taking notes in professional settings).
13. Levenger Executive Rollerball Pen (ditto).
14. Levenger Pocket Brief (This time-tested leather notepad is the tool for taking good notes on the run, at presentations, and over lunch)
15. G2 Pens (The G2’s are everyday writing pens that don’t bleed – honestly, in my opinion, they are the best writing pens on the market).
16. Flip Digital Video Camcorder (You never know when something may happen).
17. Reality Check by Guy Kawasaki (This book is a MUST HAVE for leaders – sorta like a desktop reference guide).

What gadgets do you use on a day-to-day basis?

I have such a crowded life and crowded schedule. When people send me a link with a gadget, I’ll look at it and buy it if it looks interesting, but I don’t have time to check out everything I’d like to. Currently, I use the following:

1. BlackBerry Storm (I use it as a digital camera & voice recorder)
2. Amazon Kindle
3. Platronics Discovery 925 (My bluetooth earpiece)
4. iPod Classic (My constant companion loaded w/many audiobooks, music, & podcasts)

What are you using to manage your email?

Currently, I use Apple Mail, but, lately I’ve grown fond of Gmail.  It has an excellent spam filter and I can access it from any computer anywhere in the world.

What’s your web browser of choice?

My browser of choice is currently Firefox. I do not use Windows Explorer (WE) and may switch to Google Chrome (Mac Version). WE has too many security issues for me and I don’t like its current interface. If they improve WE with Windows 7, I may look at it again.

Do you have any questions that I didn’t cover?

Ok, here we go:

You know you’ve been thinking about it.  Everyone is doing it.  Who wouldn’t when they look at their ugly black Dell compared to one of the macbooks?  Of course Macs look good, however, I’m sure you want reasons other than “they’re the finest looking computers out yonder.”  Let me first give my testimony.  I used (“PCs”) for 18 years.  Then when Apple came out with OS X, I was a little intrigued, although that didn’t stop my jeering.  After watching it develop, I caved in and purchased an MacBook & an iMac G5.  Now I wouldn’t switch back for money or fame.  I sometimes forget the horror people go through with their computers—although I am jolted back into reality when a friend calls with problems, and is fixed after running Ad-Aware or some other utility.  Defragers, disk doctors and utilities, registry repairers, virus protection, spy/adware removers, and more all need to be bought and run frequently.  It isn’t worth time, money, or stress.

(Ooooo…looks so sweet…you know you want it)

1. Stability. Mac OS X is built on UNIX, which is synonymous with stability.  Windows, on the other hand is synonymous
   with the blue screen of death.  Tired of your OS (Operating System) hanging and applications crashing?  I was too.  Say goodbye to applications crashing your OS.
2. Things Just Work. This doesn’t really need explanation.  Hook up your Microsoft mouse.  Put in a USB key.  Connect
   your video camera.  It just works.  Really.
3. No Viruses. Which means all those emails can’t affect you, you don’t need to buy anti-virus software (although in the
   future you may), and no yearly anti-virus subscriptions.
4. No Adware. No more popups constantly!  No more programs being installed without your approval!  Free yourself from your bondage!
5. No Spyware.
6. Boosts Your Productivity. Because of all the above reasons, you have more time to work (or play) and not have to
   worry about your computer.  Ever said “Why can’t this just work so I can get my work done?” Well, it can!  In fact, you will most likely notice getting more things done because OS X is just fun and easy to use.  On top of that, the entire Mac interface lends itself to productivity and polish.
7. Better Desktop Management. A friend saw me use Exposé, and said “Wow, you are living in the next century.”  I use Exposé constantly and it has revolutionized the way I work with open programs.  But there is even more to come in Apple’s OSX Snow Leopard to be released this year.  What will my friend say when I get Spotlight, Dashboard, and Automator?
8. Security. Tired of Microsoft waiting months upon months (after the months it takes for them to acknowledge it) to fix a
   security issue?  Mac OS X is already configured to be secure right out of the box—even a preconfigured firewall to keep you safe from hackers.  You get the benefit of UNIX security combined with the beauty and polish of Apple.
9. Encryption. Need to keep others out?  When turned on, FileVault automatically encrypts all of your files.  You are 007.
10. Application Ease. Installing applications on PCs are a big deal, and watch out if you move any of the program files!
    With Mac, you drop the application into your applications folder and it just works.  If you want, you can move it into a subfolder and nothing breaks.  Just try that on a PC and see what happens! Well, on second thought, don’t try it.
11. Disk Maintenance? Defrag, Scandisk, CHKDSK, Norton Utilities… kiss those wonderful pains goodbye.  Don’t know what those are?  That’s probably why your PC is so messed up (that and all the spy/adware/viruses).  Switch to Mac.  Your hard drive defrags automatically as files are moved, so you don’t have to worry about all that disk maintenance stuff.
12. MS Office Compatibility. If you purchase Office for Mac you get full MS Office compatibility.  Don’t want to do that?
    Apple now has an inexpensive option for you with Pages and Keynote that are included in iWork, which are 100% MS Office compatible.  In fact, iWork may be better fitted for you (and cheaper) if you are not a hardcore MS Office user.
13. Incredible Pre-Bundled Applications. You get the full set of iLife applications, World Book encyclopedia, and a full version of Quicken.  iLife is not simply individual applications—they all work together seamlessly like you (should) expect.  Make a video in iMovie with background music from iTunes.  Make a slideshow of images in iPhoto, send it to a friend in Mail and then put it on the Internet.  Then put both on a DVD with iDVD.  Have a tune in your head?  Record it in Garageband—any instrument imaginable is there and a breeze to play.  Want to video chat with a friend in Japan about the song you just recorded?  Start up iChat.  In a phrase, the Mac has everything you need to organize and edit your digital photography, make movies from your camcorder, listen to all your music, create and record music, video chat with friends, and author your own DVDs.  Did I mention that it all comes free and pre-installed?  The software itself is worth over $500 in my opinion.
14. Any Document Can Be PDF. Every application (that can print) can save files as PDF.  Now that is handy, and sure beats shelling out all that cash for the full version Adobe Acrobat!
15. Network with PCs. Stuck in a network full of PCs?  Don’t worry—it’ll work.  Just plug it in.  Internet, file
    sharing, printer sharing and more with ease.
16. Better Third-Party Applications. With free programs like Quicksilver, NetNewsWire Lite, TextWrangler, VLC, and
    other incredible applications like Photoshop, Transmit, Final Cut Express/Pro, and others.  And of course your favorite browser, Firefox, also works like a charm if you don’t want to use Apple’s Safari.
17. Control. No more will you be awash in ignorance along with the brainwashed proles.  You will make an educated decision to purchase something that you can control and won’t control you.  You are not going to Walmart blindly picking a PC.  You have considered the alternative, weighed the options, and chose accordingly.  You are a Mac user.
18. Look.  It just looks so d#@n good

To those who want to make the right decision (and those who have already made it), I applaud your intelligence and good taste.  May this help banish your burdens and be a boon for years to come.