There are many things I love about being in the ministry. I love being able to help people find Christ. Love watching a person go from decrepit to Christ-like. These things bring me great joy.
One of the things that I don't like about a lot of churches is how many of them avoid technology. I personally love technology. My chosen career, after ministry, is that of a web developer. I program websites. My whole life is infused with technology. I wish the church, as a whole, would grasp onto technology and use it in effective ways to minister the gospel.
Really this isn't about railing about technological short comings, this is about a great tool that exists for any owner of an iPod, Zune or any other media player. I'm speaking of the power of the podcast. I know that Family Fellowship, every week (for the most part) puts its services out on the internet as a podcast. This is one way to use that technology. However, there is so much more out there in the podcast universe than just adding your messages to the vast array of information out on the web.
One of my favorite podcasts that I've recently discovered is called The Bible Podcast. The Bible Podcast features Michael Lee reading through the New English Translation of the Bible. He goes through one chapter per day. Michael has a very smooth voice that brings out the emphasis of scripture nicely. This is one of the better readings of the Bible I've ever heard. I've heard some other readings of the bible and I've been bored to tears by the person doing the reading.
Having an audio Bible is nice. It's no replacement of Bible study, but it does allow you to hear the Word of God when you're not in a position to read yourself. Personally, I like to listen to this podcast at work. I can do my job of programming and still be edified by the Word of God. It's an important thing to me, to be able to hear the word, even if I can't read it. It also gets rid of other peoples opinions and just delivers the word.
Right now I'm listening to the book of Acts. Chapter 15 to be precise. I've read Acts several times through out my life, so I generally don't go there for general reading. The podcast is one way to go back to those passages of scripture that I haven't read in a while and keep myself familiar with it.
I'll add a link to the podcast itself later.
This also goes back to the other bit of technology that I mentioned above. I own a Microsoft Zune. I love my Zune. There is a good chance that I will never go back to an iPod. I realized yesterday how much I miss it at work when I don't have access to it at work. I was kind of lost through out the day. I'm used to having something on in my ears all day and it helps me keep focused. Oh well, I have it back today and that is what is important.
When the ministry in Sarasota open there is one guarantee that I will make, technology will be used to its fullest extent.