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Google Mobile allows you to search for several different types of information using only the text messaging (SMS) feature of your cell phone. This is incredibly helpful when you’re out and need to know an address and phone number, the weather forecast, where to get a pizza or flowers, measurement conversions, scores, movies time or any one of several other bits of small, but important information.

To use the service, just address a text message to GOOGLE (466543), enter your search query, and send. Usually the form of the query is either the type of information, followed by your request (e.g., “define aquarium” or “score browns”) or the subject followed by the zip code (“pizza 44691″ or “movies 44805″ or “park street brethren ashland oh”).

You can play around with the search process and the type of results produced on a virtual phone at the Google Mobile site before trying it on your phone.

The odds are pretty good that your cell phone and carrier support text messaging on a pay-per-use basis, usually $0.10 to $0.15 per message, even if you don’t have web access or a text messaging package with your plan. A typical interaction with Google Mobile will involve 1 outgoing message to ask the question and 1-2 incoming messages with your answer. Not free, but still better than a call to information.

When you’re out doing visits and need a phone number and address or need to get the name of pizza place where you can pick up pizza on the way home from a late meeting, this is an invaluable tool.

When I teach I enjoy pulling out the context of the biblical story. In doing so it becomes necessary to know the customs, traditions, economics, politics, and religion(s) of the day. Follow the Rabbi (www.followtherabbi.com) has a wealth of easily accessible and practical information and teaching points. Ray Vander Laan (also know for That The World May Know video series) is the sites main contributor and creator. He brings the scripture to life by pulling out the context out of each and every story.

Jon Cole has joined the ever-growing team. He comes from a background of web development, Windows- and Macintosh-based troubleshooting, and youth ministry. Jon has many talents, including (but not limited to) playing guitar, playing bass, playing drums, photography, desktop video (Final Cut Pro), and driving long distances. Jon’s day job consists of web programming and workstation maintenance at a sales promotions agency. He is known to lead the music aspect of worship services from time to time at various churches, and splits time with his cousin as the front man for a band called In the Key of G. He can be expected to contribute publicly from time to time on various topics.

Stumbled on this site, Church Sign Generator. It’s a blast! Here is a church sign I think you all need to take to heart and consider a conversion…

Ha! Have fun.

There are times when the perfect technology just isn’t a good fit in a given setting.

For example, online collaboration instead of face-to-face dialogue when all of your collaborators share an office – bad idea. Using online collaboration tools to open up your church’s ministries to more people outside the core team – great idea.

On the other hand, it is important not to let the fit of the technology take the blame when the issue is simply reluctance. Here are some questions – not an exhaustive list to be certain – to check yourself against.

1. Will this technology allow us to do current ministries and administrative tasks more efficiently and effectively?

   On 3/19 Kez wrote about Cute PDF. This tool could allow you to “print” your monthly newsletter in a .pdf format and get it to the web easily and without a lot of reworking. This technology has then allowed your church office to get information out to a broader audience with great efficiency.

2. Will this technology help us better reach our target audience (who is our target audience)?

   Most people are connected to and comfortable with the web. To not have some web presence is a lot like not bothering to list your church in the phonebook. This is a great and important way to reach people. However, if your target audience is very elderly or has little or no income to afford internet access, banking too much on your web presence wouldn’t be a wise decision.

3. Is resistance to a new technology valid? Is this more than a simple matter of “we’ve always done it that way”? Honestly?

   A 3/27 posting featured the OpenOffice publishing suite. OpenOffice is just different enough from its more familiar competitors to make some people uncomfortable. This is likely to bring up a number of [trivial] reasons why you should buy new copies of MS Office. What is the motivation here? Is it that the tool really doesn’t do what’s needed or user reluctance?

4. Does this technology enhance opportunities for the existing communities within your church? Does it make new communities possible? Does it break down an existing community?

   And this returns us to the example I began with.

Congregations, facilities, and readiness all vary greatly. It’s up to you and your church community to evaluate the relevance of technology tools to your situation and to try to do so objectively.

Easter week has been a busy week for me, I’m sure it’s been for you too. Here is some sites that you may find helpful.

41Pounds.org – Tired of getting junk mail? Not SPAM, I’m talking useless snail mail from the post office. For $41 for five years 41Pounds.org will make sure you don’t get any more junk mail. Also 50% of their income goes to schools, youth groups and other non-profit organizations. Win, Win!

YouGetItBack.com – Worried about losing your cell phone or Blackberry? Then check out Yougetitback.com, the e-tagging system that makes it tracking a lost device a piece of cake!

Gmail Paper – If you use Gmail you’ll never have to print out an email again. How? With Gmail Paper Google will print, organize and send you them for FREE!

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