Read and Learn -- ITunes

I suggested to Grace that I should do a review of religious materials and applications available for the Blackberry and iPhone -- I kind of thought that would make me get around to loading Mobi Reader on my Blackberry. Oh, how naive I was. That would have been the world's longest blog post. So, here is the first installment -- church stuff and iTunes -- no iphone required.

There are three main areas in iTunes to discuss: 1. Podcasts, 2. iTunes U; and 3. Applications. Only the third, applications requires an iphone or itouch. The other two can work with any mp3 player. Oh, and I am leaving out the music. I figure if you really need me to tell you that iTunes has Christian music available -- you probably aren't able to read this without help, anyway.

So, let's start with Podcasts. If you go to iTunes, select Podcasts and then narrow down to Religion and Spirituality; you still get way more Podcasts than I ever want to listen to. However, if you would rather listen to the Bible than read it (or need resources for someone who has little or no sight), you can listen to the Bible in a year (1 year Daily Audio Bible) -- or in five years (Thru the Bible at Oneplace). You can also get help memorizing Biblical passages (The Scripture Memory Podcast). You can check out the new and notable; do a search on a favorite writer, preacher or both (John Piper, Joyce Meyer, Mark Driscoll, R.C. Sproul, Andy Stanley, and pages more). There are literally screen after screen of religious or spiritual podcasts, most of which are Christian. They run the gamut from emergent and liberal to scary, right-wing to Joel Osteen (who I think should be in a class by himself).

The podcasts loaded on my ipod at the moment include Pray-as-you-go (English Jesuits) and more John Ortberg sermons than I will ever get listened to.

What's on your mp3 player?

JusticeSeeker
JusticeSeekerOK@aol.com

Weekend Devotional : Dr. Who

Ever since I started watching Doctor Who as a boy, I have loved the notion of Time Travel. Nowadays, as a Christian, I am confident of placing my future in Christ's hands.

Podcast version here

I love the idea of Time Travel. I’ve watched practically every episode of Doctor Who and I think that the new series is absolutely terrific. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, Doctor Who is a science fiction television series that began in Britain in 1963. I remember, as a six year old, watching the very first episode on a grainy black and white TV, whilst eating Heinz spaghetti and chips (French fries). I was absolutely captivated by the hero, Doctor Who, a Time Lord, who travels throughout space and time in his amazing vehicle called the Tardis. The series introduced me to my love of science fiction, as well as teaching me about British and World history.

Ecclesiastes 8:7 Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?

I’ve always wanted to travel into the future and see the wonders of the world hundreds of years from now. I know that the environmentalists are predicting gloom and doom for all of us, but I still believe that human beings have the intellect and innovative capacity to reduce greenhouse gases and invent new ways of creating energy. I’d love to see how the earth will look in five hundred, five thousand, or even five hundred thousand years, and see how humankind fares. I guess I’ll have to build my own Tardis if I ever want to see it happen.

None of us know what each day will bring. We can make plenty of plans and be anxious about the future, but as Jesus once said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)

We do not know what the future holds for any one of us, and perhaps we’re better off not knowing anyway. As Christians, we have faith in Christ and the assurance that He holds our future in His Hands. No matter what we experience or endure, Jesus will travel through Time with us. And if we trust Him completely, He will lead us beyond the shores of Time and into the realm of Eternity.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are glad that You are with us throughout each day of our lives. Your guidance and presence reassure our faith and hopes. As we journey through Life and travel through Time, grant us Your mercy and grace, love and leadership. In Your Holy Name, we follow and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.