This is the age of Smart Phones. Smart phones can
do almost everything that a personal computer can do and is
increasingly replacing them. Studies show that the sale of laptops
have gone down and that of smart phones have gone up considerably.
Smart phones are now used for internet browsing,
sending and receiving emails, banking, ticket bookings, games, social
networking, and all that you can imagine are possible with your
hand-held phone. It is even replacing the TV and radio sets. Apps on
smart phones can help us keep our body slim and mind sharp. The smart
phones are only going to get smarter as days go by.
Integrating technology and spirituality is very
important. This is not new. The sages who recorded the scriptures
moved from clay tablets to stone tablets to leather scrolls to papyri. Then came Gutenberg with the movable types. Thus the bibles
until then found only in the churches and monasteries reached every
home. Then as book production became easier and cheaper most
Christians have at least one bible in their own languages. Then it was
the days of Bible software on computers. Some of them had features
that no user had any use of! Some experts say that no user knows or
has any use of 80% of the features a software offers.
At each turn of technological development
spirituality benefited positively. Reformation would not have
happened the way it happened if there was no printing press and
communication. Revival preachers have taken advantage of the
newspapers, radio, TV and Internet. This marriage between technology
and spirituality is certainly from God. But we need to remind
ourselves that the Devil is also keen on using it.
Now the emerging trend being that of smart phones
how smart can Christian spirituality get? I have some suggestions
from own experience. You may have more and I will appreciate if you
could share it with all of us.
I use a Bible software on my Android Tab which has
practically replaced my print bible. Print Bibles are huge and heavy.
Highlighting verses see through to the reverse of the page. There is
a limit to what you can note on the margins. Moreover, what would you
do with a Bible that you used for so long and love so much with all
your notes in it. You feel it is too sacred and precious to throw in
to the trash bin like other used books or old newspaper.
I use Olive Tree Bible Software on my Tab. I can
have multiple versions, highlight, make study notes and reflections,
look up commentaries and dictionaries side by side. Nothing will be
lost since everything is synced between my Tab and the cloud service
the software company offers. I have routed my Tab many times but
nothing is so far lost. Even I lose my Tab or have to buy a new one
all my data will be secure.
My smart tablet has helped me not only study and
meditate the Word but is also helps me in my research and writing. I
carry a huge library on my Tab. Mine is a very basic machine with
only 16 GB of memory and screen size of 10.1. I have the entire
collection of Early Church Fathers besides many other huge
collections on it. If I stack the printed volumes of Early Church
Fathers one on the other it will touch the ceiling of my room!
Then I have Kindle on my Tab as well as Play books
and other eBook readers. I used to carry one or two books on my
travels. Then on the way or at the destination I had after thoughts
on the selection that I made when packing. That is no more a problem
now, I have the entire library with me accessible from anywhere.
On my quite strolls around the campus I feel God
prompting me to think. I have thoughts that come to me in my quite
contemplations. Then if I can’t find a piece of paper and pen and
jot them down immediately they will be lost for ever. However, my
smart phone with Evernote has never disappointed me. I can jot it
down on Evernote (like the seed though of this write-up) even if I am
in a desert with no internet connection. Then when I get home or the
data connection is restored it has already synced with my other
devices—laptop or the Tab. Sometimes, I use it for noting down
prayer points, sermon ideas, announcements in the church for the next
Sunday.
Evernote Hello which integrates with Evernote has
been helpful in my pastoral work a lot. This helps me keep a record
of my meetings with people, notes on the meetings etc. Before the
next meeting I can go through the notes and have a follow up.
I find Remember Me a very useful tool. This is an
app that helps you memorize the scripture. Olive Tree has bible
reading plans and I follow one. Then when I come across a verse that
I would like to cherish I can highlight it or make a note on it.
However, Remember Me allows me to keep this verse along with other
verses to memorize it. It will play the verses added to it audibly
so that I can just hear my favourite verses read to me. I remember
one of my family members when she was old and eye sight being poor
making us the younger ones read the Bible to her. Now, I can have
that privilege while I am comparatively younger and with no
grandchildren around.
My smart phones help me keep my prayer journal,
spiritual journal wherever, I go.
As a pastor I find it extremely useful to stay in
touch with my congregation throughout the week. Most of my
congregation members are on WhatsApp. So we have a group for the
church. We send prayer requests, birthday wishes, songs and videos
over WhatsApp. It helps the church stay connected throughout the
week.
So I developed a App for my church. We use the App
more than the church website now—www.coreindia.org.
This android app called COREPUNE has the schedules, blogs,
directions, and a whole lot.
I remember an ad in the early ninetees that the
Indian High Commission put out. It said, ‘We missed the industrial
revolution, but we are not going to miss the IT revolution.’ That
resolve came true. The first Indian company to be listed on NASDAQ
was an IT company called Infosys! I think a similar slogan is now in
the air. ‘This is the era of Smart Phone revolution, the Church
should not miss it.’