TechShepherds.com

Ch-ch-ch-choices!

Finally!  I could hardly believe my eyes when my wife showed me the insert in a new magazine we received.  There were two things about the card that really impressed me. 

The first is that they have two different versions of their magazine, and they wanted to make sure we were receiving the one that we most needed.  The option reads, "I'd like the version...specifically designed for families without kids."  Personally, the wording of this sentence meant a lot.  First the use of the word "families" recognizes that a single person is a family and a married couple without kids is a family.  A child does not make a family...rather is born into a family.  The other thing that stood out is the recognition of the growing number of couples who do not have kids.  I challenge churches to study their internal and external demographics to see if they need to start a ministry designed specifically for marrieds without kids [MWOKS]. (note:  I am not anti-kid, but there is a huge ministry opportunity that churches are overlooking here.)

The second thing about this card was its use of technology.  Because this was a magazine to which we already subscribe, they printed a barcose on this card.  The instructions asked us to choose which version we wanted then check the mailing label for the magazine.  If that mailing label is correct, we simply need to place the card in the mail...without filling out our personal information on the post card.  When they receive the card, they simply scan the bar code, and our choice is noted in their system.  Of course, they offer the ability to do all of this online as well.

Applications??
What is the church doing to identify the needs of those to whom they minister?  What choices does the church offer?  Does the church make is easy for people to reply?  Is the church as concerned about information privacy as people today are? 

Note:
The message of the magazine does not change, but it does target it specifically to the reader's needs.  The church needs to not change its message, but by knowing the culture the church can target that message more effectively.

Wireless Electricity

In this day of wireless tools, we are often quickly tied back to the electrical outlet when the battery gets low.   I recently ran off and forgot my power cord for my laptop when I went of for a day of work at the local coffee shop that offered free wireless Internet (which, by the way, is some of my most productive time).  Thankfully, I had an extra battery with me, but I did run out of juice before I was finished with my work.

Aaaarrrggghhh!!!!!  My power cord was about 20 miles away.  Fortunately, once I got to my power cord, I could hop back on the Internet and finish my work.  However, I had wasted time in getting there and broke my creative thought processes.

I did think about some of my friends who serve as missionaries in third-world countries.  When their batteries run low, sometimes their is now electricity nearby.  Sometimes they go out to places where there is no electricity.  They could carry several batteries with them, but they don't necessarily want or have the space to carry more than a couple.

Solution:
I recently learned about Solio - Portable Solar Powered Charger in Laptop magazine for $99.00.  This small device takes about 10 hours to fill, but you can take it with you anywhere you go.  You can use the Solio to charge your cell phone, PDA, MP3 player, and other portable devices.  iPod users, there is even a version designed to match your iPod.  It received Best of Show at Mac World this year.

Closer, but room for improvement.
This would not have solved my situation with my laptop, but my smaller devices would benefit from this.  I am looking forward to a version that would allow me to use on my laptop.

More details:
You can find out a list of compatible devices and where to buy at www.solio.com.

Okay...so it technically is not wireless, but it does meet a need.