The Zagg Slim Book for iPad Pro

After having my iPad pro for some time, well since it first came out, I finally bought a keyboard. I had other keyboard that worked fine with it mind you, since as a Mac owner I accumulate bluetooth keyboards like they are going out of styler, but I had not gotten a dedicated keyboard for my iPad Pro. The last time I had gotten a keyboard was for an iPad 3 many many mooons ago, and it held up fairly well, but my key complaint with that one, also a Zagg, was that uncoupling the keyboard from the iPad was a chore. So while the family and I have gone through a few more iPads since then, no more keyboards.    This Zagg finally had me interested again, for two main reasons :

1. Backlight Keys
2. Simple iPad detachment from keyboard.

Now those reason may sound great in theory, but how do the keyboard work?

Well after about four days of testing, all I can say is the keyboard itself is great. Far better than my original Zagg, which was also great.

Unboxing the Keyboard

The packaging of a product can often be a setup, but bad packaging rarely is indicative of a quality product. The Zagg Slimbook however has very nice packaging. A simple cardboard box with magnetic method of opening and closing the box. It's nice to boxes that require little to no effort to actually open and get to the materials. This is also very much in line with the packaging style that apple customers have grown to expect considering how refined the iPad and iPad pro packaging is itself. After opening the box you will see you keyboard, and upon pulling it out will also see the paperwork, as well as the charging cable down a sleeve on the side of the box. A quick note, the charging cable is very very short, so expect to find a place very close by to put the keyboard where ever you plan to charge it, don't expect to use a mid tower desktop with no space close by as the charging cable is approximately 12 inches long.

Keyboard Resonse

 I would say the keys are a little stiffer but basically have the same motion and usuage of my MacBook pro built in Keyboard. There is no noticeable lag between what I type and what is shown on the screen. All the keys are very nice and there have been no sticky keys. The row of functions keys is nice, and work great, it's nice to have the same function as  The Backlighting is quite nice as well, though there is some light bleed beneath the keys. You can also customize it as there are 6 different backlight colors to choose from, honestly I like the ease at which you can change those colors, because at least for me (with rental sight issues) different colors sometimes are more helpful than others. 

Battery Life

It also has a very large battery so you can type for quite some time before the keyboard needs recharging, Zagg states that if you only type for about 1 hou a day, and don't use the backlighting, you can go upwards of two years between each charge. I'm not certain about that, but In the four days I've been actively using it I have only just now remembered to turn off the backlighting, and yet I am still typing on the very first charge.

Overall

So overall I am very happy with the keyboard, and would highly recommend it. The fact that it detaches from the keyboard and gives you you iPad back is also great. Logitech' keyboard wasn't for me because of that problem.

What is a good Mobile Bible Study tool?

So since I have some free time and having spent money on a bunch of Bible study tools, it made sense to take a quick gander at what might be a good mobile Bible study tool. I will slowly look at the following list and give the pro's and cons of each. I am looking at the following to start:  

• Accordance
• Olive Tree
• Logos
• Faithlife (which I know is related to Logos)
• iBible-Study-HD

    I will add more if anyone asks.

The point is not necessary to list which one is "the best" as that is subjective. The truth in Bible study tools, unlike certain Bible translations, is that the best tool si ultimately the one that helps you to have a consistent daily Bible study. A tool could have all the best tools based on your denomination, and Biblical outlook, but if it doesn't actually help you to do your Bible study, well its not the best for you at all.

 Please keep in mind that I have had paid editions of Accordances (lapsed) , Olive Tree (Active) and Logos (Active). This doesn't mean I think any one is better than the other.

 I would also like to point out that I'm really only talking about Apple mobile software, since I currently only have apple mobile equipment, as such if you own a Microsoft or Android based phone or tablet, well your mileage may vary.  

 Substantive posts on this mobile segment to follow.

So I got the upgrade bug, again Logos 7.

Still learning Logs 7, Will have some details at  a later date. The main thing that has changed since about this time in 2014 is that they now have "traditions" that you can pick from. This is nice because it allows them to give different rations, different books in their bundle. Since I selected the Reformed tradition I picked up some more books on John Calvin, and some books from Cornelius Van Til that otherwise cost extra.

Today's Psalm

So whether you are an episcopalian or not "The Book of Common Prayer" is a good reference point, and a great thing to have around. The main thing is it provide a nice devotional, and since it is based on a year round schedule, you can always flip to the actual date it is.

Today's Morning PSalms were Psalm 93 and 96. I had a good time explaining crashing waves to my Kids. My 11 year old has been to the ocean once, when he was 2. So Explaining the following verse took some time:

4 More than the sounds of many waters,

Than the mighty breakers of the sea,

The Lord on high is mighty.

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Ps 93:4). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

It reminded me of just how Landlocked Northwest Arkansas really is. But the Psalm itself really does speak to the Majesty of God.

Psalm 90:1-12

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

 1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

 2 Before the mountains were born

Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

 3 You turn man back into dust

And say, “Return, O children of men.”

 4 For a thousand years in Your sight

Are like yesterday when it passes by,

Or as a watch in the night.

 5 You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;

In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.

 6 In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;

Toward evening it fades and withers away.

 7 For we have been consumed by Your anger

And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.

 8 You have placed our iniquities before You,

Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

 9 For all our days have declined in Your fury;

We have finished our years like a sigh.

 10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,

Or if due to strength, eighty years,

Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;

For soon it is gone and we fly away.

 11 Who understands the power of Your anger

And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?

 12 So teach us to number our days,

That we may present to You a heart of wisdom

Memorial for Richard Chewning

It was my great privilege to meet and Dick Chewning, who was an Elder at my church and passed away last week. This morning the Church and extended family came together to remember our friend.

Below is the Order of worship, for as is right we worshipped the Lord.

=====================================

Prelude

The Obituary            - Rev Tom Merchant

Call to Worship.       - Rev Dr Paul Sagan

Prayer of Invocation - Rev Dr Paul Sagan

Hymn     "Great is thy Faithfulness"

Scripture Readings

Psalm 90:1-12                - Rev Stephen Atkinson

1 Corinthians 15:20-58   - Rev Ken Hargis

John 11:21-26.               - Rev Dr Paul Sagan

Hymn    "It is Well with My Soul"

Message       - Rev Dr Paul Sagan

              "I Am the Ressurection and the Life"

Prayer

Hymn.    "My Jesus I Love Thee"

Benediction

How to treat our friends and our enemies

This morning at church the passage is 1 Peter 3:8-14

======================

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For 

  “Whoever desires to love life 

and see good days, 

  let him keep his tongue from evil 

and his lips from speaking deceit; 

 11  let him turn away from evil and do good; 

let him seek peace and pursue it. 

 12  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, 

and his ears are open to their prayer. 

  But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 

========================

The passage is ultimately broken into two parts. The first part is how to treat our friends and fellow believers. The second part is how we, as Christians, should treat our enemies. The main mark of a true believer and a true church is love.

The first point the apostle Peter makes is that we should treat othe friends and believers with love and respect . Unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love , a tender heart and humble mind. Brotherly love is in the middle of list, and one could say it is their on purpose, because it is the centerpiece of a proper love. Still this is one of the hardest to do. When you have someone at work who doesn't do their job, especially one who says they are a Christian, making your life harder, that is one of he times it is so hard to practice this, at least for me.

The second part is how we treat our enemies, and the enemies of Christ. Notice how Peter focuses way more on this, because it is so much harder to do. So what are we as Christians called to do?

1. Do not return evil for evil

        -Private revenge is forbidden to Christians, and this is what we are talking about.

        -Staying with my work analogy, this doesn't mean we don't report improper work, or mistreatment to our bosses, it means we don't do things to deliberately sabotage someone who has undercut us.

 

2. Guard your tongue

This one is the hardest for me, cause I love to talk. It is so easy to complain , to gossip, to brag, to be defensive. Again this is the goal, don't confuse failure with hypocrisy. Christians are only hypocrites with this I'd they expect perfecti obedience to this, well and everything, even while we knowingly disobey.

3. Seek peace and pursue it

We are to seek peace and not conflict. That doesn't mean we sacrifice God's laws or commandments in order to have " peace " though, it means that we don't go looking for a fight.

4. Fear God and suffer hor his righteousness.

All to often we need to treat the Lord like he doesn't matter. If our boss looks over our shoulder , we often act a whole lot different than when we are working by ourselves. Is not doing what is right for God more important than our working boss, and if so should we not act like it? 

The pastor concluded talking our a close friend and elder in the church who recently passed, and noting how that he was fearless in the face of death because he knew where he was going. We should never be in fear.

Keep in mind that failure is not weaknes or a sign of not being a Christian, merely a sign that we have not yet been perfected in Christ. 

-Amen