FredMcKinnon.Com

Since I was first introduced to the beauty of Apple with the Centris 610 in the Music Lab at Georgia Southern University, I was hooked.  I think my first purchase was a Centris.  I’ve had 4-5 Macs since.  I’m an Apple-Addict.

You know what else I really like?  Google.

Google docs.
Google search.
Google base.
Google Apps.

And now Google is getting into hardware?

This past week I started moving my hosted email over to Google’s Gmail servers via their Google Apps.  I still keep my @fredmckinnon.com, @theworshipcommunity.com (and a dozen or so other online identities!) but with the uptime and service standards that Google’s Gmail servers can provide.

Today I installed Google Chrome browser – wow, it’s super fast.  I like it better than Firefox (which now gives me daily trouble) with the exception of the fact that when you choose something in a popup field of a form, you have to hit the “enter” key to lock it in.  (Safari does the same thing, though).

Then … there is the huge question that keeps lingering …

Do I hold out in hopes that Apple will finally make their incredible iPhone available on Verizon?  Rumors said that would happen in June 2010 but those rumors have disappeared and the prospects look pretty bleak now.  Yet, most everyone I’ve talked to loves their Motorola Droid powered by Google and Verizon is definitely getting the Google Nexus soon.

I heard someone recently make a comment that “you know it will eventually be Apple and Google fighting it out”.  I can’t think of two greater competitors.

So I’m facing an identity crisis.  I’ve always been an Apple guy.  (and always will be).  But am I becoming a Google guy, too?

What are YOUR thoughts?  Let me know – comment below!

2009 was a fantastic year.  I thought it would be fun to dig into Google Analytics and see if anything significant stood out for the blog during 2009.

Top Search Keywords:

fred mckinnon (duh)
palm vs blackberry (I should really write more tech posts, huh?)
nick saban arrested (haha, I love it!)
kate mcrae (keep praying for this little girl)
palm treo vs blackberry (did I mention I should write more tech compare entries?)

As for the Top 50 keywords, I’m disappointed to report that there was nothing super hilarious in there.  I always see these funny keywords and phrases people see in their stats.  My Top 50 are riddled with palm, blackberry, “bad O holy night singer”, and “how he loves us, sloppy wet kiss” references.

Visitor Loyalty:

Well, there are about 40,000 of you who visited my site once, and never returned.  Ouch.

Top Referring Sites:

Twitter, Facebook, and Google make up the Top 3.  No surprises there.

Other blog/site specific top referrers are:
1.  theworshipcommunity.com
2.  sojournmusic.com
3.  sscommunitychurch.com
4.  billychia.com
5.  mikeymo1741.blogspot.com
6.  mandythompson.com
7.  jimdrake.blogspot.com
8.  church.alltop.com
9.  withoutwax.tv
10.  richkirkpatrick.com

Top Posts:

1.  Palm Treo Versus Blackberry
2.  Sunday Setlists
3.  O Holy Night
4.  About Me
5.  How He Loves Us
6.  My Blog – Live Video Feed
7.  Who Are We Kidding?
8.  Loops:  Hosanna by Paul Baloche
9.  Hillsongs:  Faith+Hope+Love Blog Tour
10.  Healer:  Mike Guglielmucci Exposed

So there you have it!  Let’s see what happens in 2010!

It’s no surprise, but the folks at LifeChurch keep raising the bar, making YouVersion.Com one of the coolest resources on the planet.  If you’ve been hiding in a cave for the last couple of years, YouVersion.Com is a free website where you can read the bible, share contributions and commentary, network, and do private journaling.  It’s my “place of choice” to read the Bible online or via a mobile device.  I will add my own commentary or thoughts on various passages as I study. The majority of those are never published here on my blog, so feel free to “follow me” on YouVersion if you’d like to see my contributions.

The folks behind this resource are always cranking out new updates and features and have recently announced 20 different Bible Reading Plans.  I’m excited about this, as I couldn’t really connect with the default plan offered by YouVersion this year.  The 20 plans are online and ready to go.  You can start a plan and track your progress throughout the year.

For years, my favorite Bible reading plan has been “The Victory Bible Reading Plan” by Dr. James McKeever.  Unfortunately, I lost my print copy of it and have neglected to purchase a new one over the past couple of years so I’ve been using a Daily Reader plan by Laridian.  I googled the “Victory” plan and found several links, mostly store links where you can buy it.  This link is a review at about.com and the writer does  a great job of summarizing why I always loved that plan.

Unfortunately, the “Victory” plan is not one of the 20 listed in YouVersion (I’ve submitted a request for it to be added, though!).  However, I’m am intrigued by a couple of the plans by M’Cheyne, specifically, his “M’Cheyne One Year Reading Plan”:

This plan is based on the M’Cheyne reading system, featuring four different readings for use in both family and personal devotions. Each day has two passages from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from either the Psalms or the Gospels. In one year, you read the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice.

What do I look for in a Bible Reading plan?

* breaking it up so I’m in both the OT and the NT simultaneously
* chronologically reading in OT when possible
* covering the NT twice
* a daily dose of either Psalms or Proverbs, regardless

This plan does all of the above except I don’t think the OT readings are in chronological order.  I can deal with that.  I’m looking forward to a fresh plan that moves around.  I love the fact that I can read online or with my “real” Bible (some days, I just need to hold that heavy book in my hand!) and that I can journal and collaborate online as the passages speak to me.

Have you ever used a Bible reading plan, and if so, what did you use?  Click below to comment!

So I’ve been kicking this idea around for a long time … and I believe I’ll just launch right into it this week.  I want to do a series called “My Toolbox” … and share with you some of the tools, resources, gadgets, and services that are my regular “go-to” items in my life … personal, ministry, professional.

You’re bound to discover some great resources and I hope to learn about what you use as well.

I’ll start it tomorrow, but for today … what are some of the tools, resources, services, gadgets, etc ., that you just can’t live without, and why?

What’s in your toolbox?

Hey Gang,

Worship Leader magazine has invited me to teach my “Worship + Web 2.0″ class on their live “webinar” next week.  Here’s the details – please consider tweeting this, sharing it on Facebook, etc.  It’s basically the same class that I’ve taught the last two years at the National Worship Leader Conference.  To register, click here.

Worship + Web 2.0
taught by Fred McKinnon

Monday, November 9, 2009
11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (duration 1 hour)
(that’s 2:00 PM EST)

Facebook, Twitter, Blogs – can all these web-based technologies really enhance our worship services? Do you ever hit a creative “dead end” in your efforts to plan an impacting worship service? Join Fred McKinnon as we discuss how worship leaders and service planners are using the web to network, share, and collaborate on service planning through these tool

(Fred McKinnon is the Worship Pastor at St. Simons Community Church on St. Simons Island, GA. He is the founder of TheWorshipCommunity.com and blogs daily at FredMcKinnon.com about worship, leadership, faith, and ministry. Fred has been using social media as a tool in worship ministry and has been a guest speaker at the National Worship Leader Conference for the past two years.)

If you haven’t attended a Worship Leader Webinar yet, this is a great place to start. Offering the most accessible high-quality training available in the skills worship leaders need to lead their congregations, all you need is an Internet connection and a telephone. For only $39.00 a session, individuals or entire teams can attend.

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR
(limited to 100 attendees)