How to Waste Your Theological Education

Derek Brown lists 45 things you can do to Waste Your Theological Education. But after reading this list I would suggest that most of them apply to all Christians, not just those who are involved in formal theological training. The list is very convicting; I would encourage you to read it.

Bible Software 1/3 Off

Family Christian Stores have a coupon for 33% off any item, including sales items. The coupon can be used online, or at a physical store. Since they carry Logos, WORDSearch, Bible Explorer, PC Study Bible, and Quick Verse, this may be your chance to pick up one of those products at a solid discount.

This is a Memorial Day special and can only be used on 5/26/2008.

Here is the coupon: 33% Off Coupon


Jerry

Fostertribe: Bible Software Review

The Ultimate Bible Software Application: Semi-Final Thoughts

Bible Software Review

It's done. Finally. Six months after I started, five months longer than I thought it would take, a full review on every single Bible software package available, with a couple noted exceptions.

I have been a fan of Bible software for many years. The right software can enhance your study, improve your teaching, and give you access to a library that would cost more than most of us could afford if we had to purchase the printed equivalents.

I thought it would be fun, and hopefully useful, to review all the available Bible software packages on the market, and provide information and opinion on which ones I thought were the best. While it was fun, it definitely was more work than I expected. So, at the very least I hope it is useful to someone.

Listed below are all the packages with their final overall score, on a scale of 1-5. For a detailed overview of individual scores in six different categories, an explanation of my review criteria, and why some products were skipped, please visit my Bible Software Review page.

(Click on the product name to jump to an in-depth review of that product)

1.WORDsearch 8............4.0
2.The Word 3..............3.8
2.SwordSearcher 5.........3.8
4.Bible Explorer 4........3.7
5.Logos 3.................3.5
6.e-Sword.................3.2
6.QuickVerse 2008.........3.2
8.Pradis 6................3.0
9.Theophilos 3............2.7
10.The SWORD Project......2.2
11.Bible Pro 12...........2.0
12.Online Bible...........1.6
13.Lightning Study Bible..1.3

I've learned you always make someone angry when you do software reviews, so whether you agree or disagree with my conclusions, please feel free to leave comments or send me an email.

Thanks!

The Light Keeper

I have a big post coming soon, something I have been working on for months. In the meantime, here is a poem recently written by my 12-year old daughter, Morgan. I thought it was pretty awesome.

The Light Keeper
Morgan Foster

I sit in the dark
There are no lights
I wander aimlessly
Stumbling around
Wherever I go, I gain no ground
Everything is black
No direction to go
I look around, but find no home
Off in the distance I see a light
I travel closer
The light gets bright
That is were I want to be
I know that is my home
I travel to this place
It is right
The light shines in my heart
No matter where I go there is no dark
I go back with a light to the dark place
And show the others the shining face
The Light Keeper will never leave me
When I am troubled he helps me
He gives me a path to travel
I work hard and I know
The Keeper Of The Light is strong, so
I keep on working
Shining my light
Awaiting the return of The Light Keeper

In reference to my previous post on the sick voyeuristic bent of our culture, I have two books on my reading list on this subject that may interest you as well:

Life: The Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality by Neal Gabler

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman

Our society is sick

I grabbed this picture from an AP News story on the recent shootings at Northern Illinois University. I blurred the face of the victim in the photograph, not only because it was bloody, but simply out of respect for their privacy.

No such qualms for everyone else in the picture. As you can plainly see the three persons in front are all happily taking pictures of the victim with a cell phone or portable device of some sort.

I know much of what I do on this blog is ask questions, but good grief, for what awful reason would you be standing there snapping photos of the dead and wounded as they are loaded into emergency vehicles? Pictures for your college scrapbook? Something to reminisce about with the guys at your 20-year reunion? Recollections about "the good ole' days" with your grandkids? Perhaps it's just a way to inject some form of excitement into your mundane life?

I may not know the exact reasons, but I do know at the bottom of it is a sick enslavement to the voyeuristic video culture. I understand we all have "train wreck" mentality to some extent - we all take a look at the car crash as we drive by. But should I really want a permanent memo of someone else's suffering for my own gratification later? The inability to not video everything, no matter how disrespectful or grotesque, is a form of insanity, pure and simple.

I feel like I should type more, but words fail me.