I continue to be amazed at the vast array of applications—apps—now available for smartphones and iPads. I continue to add new apps to my iPhone on a regular basis, although on occasion I do revert to using it as an actual telephone.
I’ve got the regular apps that most folks have on their phones—weather, clock, text messages and such. I’ve got some I use regularly, such as maps (I get lost frequently), notes (because I forget things a lot…of course then I forget to look at my notes app), calendar (thank goodness for alarms so I don’t forget meetings and appointments). OK, it does appear that if I had a better memory I could pretty much live without this phone.
However, there are my reading apps, such as Kindle (so I can cozy up with a good book while sitting in the dentist’s waiting room), USA Today and The New York Times and my Fox News app. Actually, my NY Times app got into a fight the other day with my Fox News app. Not a pretty sight.
There are the functional apps, such as Google (for looking up stuff), Stocks (for watching things go down) and Twitter (for wasting enormous amounts of time…wait, let me tweet about that).
Then there are the fun apps, such as Solitaire (for killing time on my own), Words with Friends (for showing my linguistic limitations to my wife and occasionally perfect strangers), and YouTube (for seeing just how incredibly stupid it is possible to be on camera).
As do you, I have my ministry resource apps, such as Logos Bible Software, Glo Bible and Vyrso; but what I really need are some practical apps for preachers. Aren’t there some smart computer geeks out there who can create apps such as:
• Quick Excuses: a handy reference for when the senior ladies’ class invites you to come to its fellowship, where fresh turnip tarts are being served.
• Sword Drill: a quick reference that gives you just the Scripture passage you need for a snappy comeback in a theological debate with that snooty pastor down the street.
• Sermon Maker: that perfect app that takes your Bible study apps, melds them with your illustrations app, blends them with a writing app, and produces just the sermon you would have written if you had spent 10 hours in study instead of getting caught up in a “24” marathon.
Of course, the perfect app for next Sunday might be the one that tells you which restaurant in town has no line at 12:35 on Sunday afternoon. Oh, well, we can dream, can’t we?