I love shortcuts, systems and time-savers of all kinds. I enjoy finding ways to increase fruitfulness and efficiency – so that I can have more time for family, friends, and ministry.  I am not especially technologically savvy, but I enjoy learning new things and using tech tools that are basically user friendly.

One of my favorite finds has been DROPBOX.  DROPBOX allows you to share photos, documents, and large files between your tech devices. (DROPBOX works with Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad, iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry.)  Your DROPBOX folders are automatically and securely updated with the information on your computers and phones, etc. without having to email between devices.  Your DROPBOX files are always available offline and also protected online so that they will be there even if something happens to your phone or computer.  A simple tutorial video tour makes DROPBOX super easy to use.

Not only can you share between devices, but you can share files with other people.  A simple invitati...

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Find ideas for evangelism and discipleship for your mobile phone. (This list was originally written before tablets became so popular, so many of these ideas would also work on your iPad or Kindle Fire.)

I’m re-posting this with permission from the original author.   I tried to update as much of the information as I could since technology changes rapidly, but please comment if any of these ideas could be better presented.  What ideas have you tried?

With Basic Cellphones:

• Audio
  • Interactive Voice Response (IVR), for example:
    • Telemensahe
  • Text messaging
  • sending out SMSs with short devotionals, and asking people to forward them to their friends
  • 4 Spiritual Laws by text message
  • Discipleship Message Subscription, for example:
    • www.2cast.net

• Prayer request distribution using:
  • Text messages
  • Facebook groups
  • Twitter

• Browsing to Christian websites, for example:
  • www.everystudent.com/mobi
  • www.jesus2020.mobi

• Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) advertising
  • Advertise ...

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Creche at Lake Hart

Happy Advent!  Do you need some gift ideas for your donors or anyone on your list? Would you like to make photobooks but don’t know how?  Are you simply unsure how to keep the next several weeks meaningful (and organized)?

Looking for a creative gift idea?  How about a way to showcase your pictures? Photobooks and calendars (and tons of other items) make great gifts for family or supporters; they can be simple or elaborate.

Shutterfly is a good choice–it has the highest ratings for a service that does a wide variety of products.  (I’ve used MyPublisher to do photobooks and was very happy with the end results, but I’m looking for something easier to use, so I intend to try Shutterfly for my project this year).  If you haven’t tried to do these projects before, then “ease of use” should be your highest criteria in choosing a service.  Most of these companies ship in less than a week after you submit your project, so you still have time.

• This short vi...

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Creche at Lake Hart

Happy Advent!  Do you need some gift ideas for your donors or anyone on your list? Would you like to make photobooks but don’t know how?  Are you simply unsure how to keep the next several weeks meaningful (and organized)?

Looking for a creative gift idea?  How about a way to showcase your pictures? Photobooks and calendars (and tons of other items) make great gifts for family or supporters; they can be simple or elaborate.

Shutterfly is a good choice–it has the highest ratings for a service that does a wide variety of products.  (I’ve used MyPublisher to do photobooks and was very happy with the end results, but I’m looking for something easier to use, so I intend to try Shutterfly for my project this year).  If you haven’t tried to do these projects before, then “ease of use” should be your highest criteria in choosing a service.  Most of these companies ship in less than a week after you submit your project, so you still have time.

• This short vi...

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I first saw this website a couple months ago and enjoyed the idea.  So here I present my homescreen of apps from my iPhone (and keep reading to find out why these are my top apps).

First of all, I usually hold my phone in my right hand so on all my screens the most used apps are in the lower right corner where they’re most easily reached by my right thumb.

So here’s a quick run down of the apps starting in the upper left corner and going across left to right.

Speed Dial 1: allows you to assign a number to it.  Click the app, it dials that person. (set to call Deborah)

Maps: with the updated iOS 5, the “directions” routes now look like tunnels made out of tooth paste.  (fyi: the location shown on the icon is the address of Apple’s headquarters, 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014)

Clock: I love being able to set alarms, and 4-minute timers for our french press coffee via Siri on the iPhone 4S.  (fyi: the time shown on the icon is the time the original iPhone was officially announced to the press ba...

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