Logos for the Mac

A theologian who is interested in using technology in his studies has three options, BibleWorks, Logos/Libronix, and for strictly Mac users, Accordance. Before the advent of Boot Camp and Parallels, Mac users were stuck with running a painfully slow program called VirtualPC in order to run windows programs. Now, with Parallels, Mac users can run windows programs side by side with their Apple native programs. This has opened the door for the use of BibleWorks and Logos.

The advantage (in my mind) of Logos over BibleWorks is that Logos not only gives superb language release, but also access to thousands of books in digital formal, including Luther’s Works, the Book of Concord in multiple translations,  numerous Biblical commentaries, and thousands more titles. The only thing that I would like to see is the Concordia Commentary produced by CPH converted to Libronix format along with issues of the Concordia Journal (St. Louis) and Concordia Theological Quarterly (Ft. Wayne).

Now a new day is dawning. Logos is preparing a Mac version of their incredible software. If you want to keep track of updates on this software development program head over the Logos site and sign up for updates.

My name is Jesus. How may I assist you today?

 Yup… that’s right. Jesus helped me online today at newegg.com. That is some customer service!

Concordia Seminary and iTunes

If you haven’t heard already Concordia Seminary has partnered with Apple to get set up on iTunes U. You can either download directly to iTunes or you can subscribe to items as podcasts. In addition, there are video files to be downloaded in addition to some documents. Most files you can download in a high or low quality if you have bandwith problems. To access this media go to the seminary website, look at the right hand column and click on iTunes U. You can also access it directly by clicking here. The links don’t always play nice with Firefox (they’re working on it) so I encourage you to use Safari (for those blessed with a mac) and IE for those who must trudge though life on a PC.

Here is what is currently available on iTunes:

• Semcast: A dialogue between our President, the Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer and various professors and church men from around the world. Topics have included Old and New Testament perspectives on homosexuality, the Da Vinci Code, and Pastoral Formation.
• Theological Symposium 2006: Files from our 2006 symposium that was centered around the topic of “Recapturing a Full-Bodied Theology of the Resurrection: Christ and Our’s.”
• Lutheran Confessions: An Overview: This is an opportunity for a person to go through the Lutheran Confessions with Drs. Charles Arand and Robert Kolb.
• Dellinger Lecture 2006: Cal Thomas was the presenter. Evaluate for yourself… I haven’t had a chance to listen to this yet.
• Convocation 2006: There is only one file up now… Dr. Charles Gieschen from Ft. Wayne presenting on “Antichrist: Has the Biblical Evidence Been Left Behind?” I’m sure more files will be posted as we have more convocations.
• Chapel sermons: This is self-explanatory.

Professors have also begun using iTunes U for coursework. This also includes our Greek and Christian Doctrine pre-seminary courses. The current courses up on iTunes U include Hebrew Readings and Exodus and the Torah.

The final section of our iTunes U site is “Congregational Resources.” This section includes:

• Lectionary at Lunch: A group of professors who go through the lectionary readings for the following week. Highly recommended.
• Lay Bible Institute: Evaluate yourself. I haven’t checked this one out.
• Hebrew Club: Evaluate yourself. I haven’t checked this one out.
• Evangelism DVD Project: Evaluate yourself. I haven’t checked this one out.