Super Bowl Halftime Video
After a 45 minutes upload time plus an extremely long processing time, the Super Bowl Halftime video I made has been posted. Click the picture above to go to the PreachersPen.TV site and give it a view.
Just some thoughts,
6 Reason I Do Not Read Your Blog
First, notice I did not say this is “6 Reason I Do Not Comment On Your Blog,” it is “6 Reasons I Do Not Read Your Blog.” There is a difference. There are many blogs I read each week, but rarely do I comment. Just because I do not comment is not meant to say it was not a good article, my thoughts would not have added anything significant to the article itself.
There are several blogs I read from time to time and greatly enjoy. They challenge me and cause me to think about what I believe. To them, I graciously say thank you and keep writing. To the others, here are “6 Reasons I Do Not Read Your Blog.”
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I did not know you had a blog – There are millions of blogs out there, but I need to know why I should read yours. Give me a reason to read what you write; state your purpose and write it as well as live it. Promote it! Use Facebook, Twitter, Google+, email or another way and tell others why they need to be inspired you.
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You write the status quo – I am not interested in the status quo, I want material that is relevant and challenging, not the typical words every one knows, but words from your heart. Stop holding back from making people upset and challenge their minds so they can begin living better. Remember, Jesus was not the status quo.
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I am not challenged – While your writing is good, I find no challenge to go out and live better. It is a page of words, but just words. Give me some inspiration to live better and share the message with others. Challenge me, break me, upset me and most of all keep me on track.
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Tell me about you, not what you know – I want to hear the practicality. I want to hear how you are making knowledge work in your life, your ministry and your family. Having knowledge is extremely important, but I also want to hear how you are using your knowledge. Tell me about it.
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Back up your claims – If you make claims, give me a source. I want evidence which makes sense, not facts that are misrepresented.
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Show compassion – You might show compassion for the homeless, the poor and the fatherless, but are you showing compassion for your enemies. Stop bashing them and begin praying for them before you write. In fact, give me the facts about them and let me see what you mean.
So, why aren’t you reading my blog?
Just a thought,
Personal note:
The word “blog” bugs me. It sounds like some weird disease. Anyway, thanks for stopping by.
Kindle Fire: A Review
The post below contains link to the Preacher’s Pen Amazon affiliate link. Using the affiliate link allows a small percentage of the sale of items to go to back into the Preacher’s Pen efforts.
The Kindle Fire blasts through the tablet market and surpassed the sales of any other tablet throughout the holiday season. (1) The Kindle Fire had received criticism over various aspects of the model (2) but those critics may have added to the rising sales numbers from Black Friday until Christmas day.
I do not own a Kindle Fire, but my daughter does. Since receiving on on Christmas day, she has read four books and added many applications which vary from games to study resources. Rarely have I gotten an opportunity to sit down and “examine” (play) with it because she is using it.
Tablets have become many things over their young life-span. They have become eBook readers, email checkers, internet browsers, etc. The Kindle Fire operates on the Android operating system which makes thousands of apps available at no cost. There are also thousands of apps available for purchase.
The Amazon Kindle Fire is an excellent tablet because the operating system is built on Android and allows for thousands of apps and the processer is speed worthy. I have a Blackberry tablet and have noticed the Kindle Fire is quicker to launch a variety of applications.
The screen on the Kindle Fire is vibrant and easy to read. The Kindle Fire is different than the other Kindles because the Kindle Fire has a color screen.
Overall the Kindle Fire is a customized Android operating system made especially for Amazon. I believe the Kindle Fire will continue to increase in sales and Amazon will make a variety of updates available over the next few months to keep the Kindle Fire at the top of tablet sales.
My Top Four Kindle Programs so far:
(1) Amazon Prime – Each Amazon Prime member has access to a library of free books you can download and read for a period of time. These are not the public domain eBooks, but some best-selling books and others which make for an excellent read. The Amazon Prime program costs $79 a year, but looks to be a powerful tool.
Plus, as an Amazon Prime member, you can stream Amazon Instant video to your Kindle!
(2) ESV Bible – The first book my daughter downloaded. A great resource to any tablet is a good Bible. My daughter carries her Kindle with her everywhere and she is able to read her Bible anywhere. She uses it during Bible classes and the sermon to follow along.
(3) Angry Birds – You knew it was going to be on this list, so I might as well put it at number three. Our family has made Angry Birds into a family game.
(4) Cinderella and other books – Did I mention my daughter, the Kindle Fire owner, is 8 and has already worked her way halfway through Cinderella? Not the new, fluffy Cinderella but the old-school Cinderella. There are hundreds of the public domain books available for free. Reading should be an aspect of everyone’s life, and the classics can be read for free!
What would you add to the list?
Another neat feature of the Kindle Fire is the ability to download the free app of the day on the Amazon App Store.
If I did not have a Blackberry Playbook, I would either “borrow” (aka – steal) may daughter’s Kindle Fire or I would purchase one myself. It is a great tablet and a definite competitor with the iPad.
Just my thoughts,
(1) http://www.pcworld.com/article/247097/kindle_fire_helps_amazon_set_holiday_sales_record.html
What is in Your Toolbox?
Not long ago I spent a few hours deep cleaning the garage; a task I have put off for approximately three years – three years!
The task was not difficult; it just took concentrated time and a few hours to work through. The task was simple and extremely needed. You see, I have three children; two daughters and a son, who enjoy rummaging through my toolbox to see what they can find. As a result of their rummaging, I had tools scattered through out my garage and even my house. So, I decided to take on the task of some major cleaning. I sat in the floor of my garage for an hour rummaging through each tool, screw, nail and unknown item placing them in organized sections on the floor.
After all the organizing was done I began to place each one back in my toolbox and tool bag in a useable order. To say the least, every tool I have is organized and can be easily found! Tonight one of our neighbors needed some help with a car problem and ask to borrow my automotive tools. Guess what was easy to find? – my tools! I was actually excited about finding a spark plug gapper because I knew exactly where it was located.
Is your “personal development toolbox” organized and easy to find? I know each individual has a filing system accustomed to his work and his personal needs, but what about your library? Is it easy to find the book you need? I am not a guru on time management, but I am thankful I have a father who stressed time management from my childhood. He stressed it because he knew in whatever occupation I chose I would need it. Here are a few tips and tools I would suggest:
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Handle every piece of mail and email once! Many second, minutes, hours and minutes are wasted due to mail or email many times. Once you receive a piece of mail spend a few moments deciding what to do with it and do it. If it needs a reply, send one; if it needs to be paid, pay it. Schedule time during your day to handle mail.
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Schedule two times a day to handle email! Instead of handling each email as it comes into your inbox, take an hour to two a day. Spend a scheduled amount of time handling email, instead of a hit or miss system and watch your productivity increase.
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Do not move stacks of stuff! Each of us has stacks of stuff. My stuff is material I need to read. Whenever you start organize your toolbox or workspace, do not move the stack of stuff form place to place. Spend an hour or two dealing with your stack of stuff. Plan time, in the next week, to deal with your stack instead of moving it from the right side of your desk to the left side.
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Spend time planning! Take 15 minutes at the end of each day and plan tomorrow. Spend 30 minutes on Friday (or your last day of the week) scheduling next week. Spend 45 – 60 minutes at the end of the month, planning for next month. Plan, plan plan, or plan to fail.
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Use your computer for a limited amount of time a day. Schedule a block or two of time for computer work. Use your other times for writing, reading, praying, etc. As a technological people, we waste much time surfing the internet, instant messaging, reading email, and the list could go on. Spend a block of time online, instead of the whole day and see how it goes.
Spend time organizing you ministry toolbox and watch how efficient you can be. I will share a couple more tips next week.
Just some thoughts,
How I Use Twitter
At first, I decided against some birdlike social networking tool, because the name annoyed me. (Yeah, what a great idea huh?)
Twitter has now grown to over 200 million users (as of July 12th, 2011 cited in the Denver Post) and Twitter has grown on me. I use Twitter every day. I find the social networking tool is direct and instant for communicating thoughts and ideas across the globe. I use TweetDeck on the laptop and Twitter for Blackberry on my phone. Below are a few example how I use Twitter everyday, comment below to add your example of using Twitter.
How I use Twitter:
- Communicate with friends across the world.
- Sharing articles and thoughts from my websites: Gallagher Institute, GallaghersOnline.com and the Preachers Pen.
- Connect with people (networking) with people by searching hashtags (#).
- Find information on a variety of products I am considering buying by asking opinions of others.
- Connect with companies of the products I use.
- Find technical information.
- Find traffic reports on Charleston, SC. (without @AndyParas #CHS would be boring).
- Read the news and receive breaking news articles.
- Follow people into personal development.
- Sharing ideas and information about products.
How do you use Twitter?
Here is a quick video for you on Twitter:
Connect with me on Twitter here – Chris Gallagher (@GallagherPreach)
Just my thoughts,
My Favorite EBooks Reader Apps
I do not have an eBook reader, but I do have several apps which I use all the time. The large majority of my eBook reading is done through my Blackberry Playbook. The Blackberry Playbook does not have man apps available, but I have found these eBook reader apps to be a great asset to any tablet or smartphone.
All the apps, except the last one, is available for smartphones as well.
Here are four of my favorite eBook readers:
- Amazon Kindle – I have used the Kindle app for my phone and computer before, but now I am using the Amazon Cloud Reader. The apps are excellent because you are able to read your eBook library offline. The Amazon Cloud Reader has the ability for offline reading. The major benefit of Amazon is the abundance of eBooks and the special offers they have each week.
- Adobe PDF – Many of the eBooks I have are in a PDF format. The eBooks on this site are listed in a PDF Format.
- Kobo – My first became familiar with Kobo when using my Blackberry Playbook. It was preinstalled and since a Amazon Kindle app was not available at the time. I began using Kobo. The app is very easy to use and very organized. Kobo’s features are exactly what I was looking for, I only wish I was able to find the deals on their website like I am on Amazon.
- Book Reader – I downloaded this eBook reader to give it a shot with Amazon Kindle books. This Book Reader by Untangled Development is available in the Blackberry App World for 99 cents. It is a great deal, but be aware it will not work for Amazon Kindle books. It will read DRM-Free Epub books.
If you are looking for a stand alone eBook reader, Amazon and Kobo offer their own stand alone readers.
Just some thoughts,
Podcast Feeds
Some of What I am Reading
A Few Ads in Support
