Bryan Sherwood

Logos 4 - A Review

 

I purchased Logos 4 a few weeks ago.  My lovely wife was kind enough to give Logos 4 as my Christmas present.  (Yes, I am a geek and she loves me anyway).  Since then, I've been checking out all the cool features, watching online tutorials and videos, reading the forums and generally just trying to get a handle on this fairly powerful software package I now own for Bible study.  

The last software package like this I purchased was WordSearch back sometime in the early 2001 or 2002 time period.  I'm sure WordSearch has improved since then but Logos 4 was a huge step up from what I had experienced in Bible software.

Some of my initial observations about Logos 4

1. It's huge.  This software does so much it's a bit hard to get a handle on initially.  I have never seen so many resources in one place.  Commentaries, word studies, illustrations, cross references, Greek & Hebrew tools, note take tools, reading plans, lectionaries, maps, family trees of Bible people, etc.  I've been a bit overwhelmed.  I bought the "Leader's Library" and it contains over 350 resources.  If a person bought the top package in The Scholar's Library, it contains over 1,150 resources.  Wow.
2. It's fun to use.  I can highlight text, make notes, check out today's lectionary readings, read a devotional, do a word study, etc..  The home page is one of my favorite things.  It reads a bit like a newspaper and updates with new devotionals and articles each day. 
    
3. It's well-supported.  In other words, there are many ways to learn about this product including Logos' blog, forums, and wiki page.  So far, I've not run across a question I couldn't get answered.  Heck, they even offer Camp Logos, a two day intensive class on how to get the most out of this powerful software.
4. The people are nice.  Amazing, I know but I've interacted with a couple of people at Logos and they both have been extremely helpful.  It's nice to own a good piece of software but it's much nicer to know that it will be well supported and that there are real people who care working there.
5. It works with the iPhone!  Anyone with an iPhone can download their app and instantly gain access to hundreds of resources (for free).  The software is smart enough to keep your reading plans, notes, etc. all synced up between your PC and iPhone so no matter where you are, you can pick up where you left off.  I like the iPhone app a lot.  It does have a few bugs that Logos is aware of and working on but is pretty sweet if you ask me.

Now, to switch gears a bit and talk about a few things I don't like . . . 

1. The software likes plenty of memory and processing power.  Logos 4 is a powerful software but it's not built for old computers.  Logos does provide minimum and recommended system requirements on their website.
2. It's not cheap.  Some of the resources seem a bit expensive to me but I also realize that converting print books into searchable e-sources is no easy task.  I'm pretty happy that they are doing that and making all of this information available in an electronic format.
3. It's easy to get overwhelmed.  Because Logos 4 is such a powerful software, it can be a bit daunting.  Like any new software, it requires time and patience when first learning it.  I think the payoff will be worth it in the end but it does take some work at first.

Overall, I've been pretty darn pleased.  If you're thinking about buying new Bible software, you may want to give Logos 4 a look.

Feast of the Nativity of our Lord

Today's collect:

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Lectio Divina: Advent 4 - Tuesday

Luke 1:26-38

This passage from Luke 1 really is amazing. Gabriel, an angel from heaven, appears to Mary with some pretty exciting/frightening news. I can’t really imagine what this must have been like for Mary. As a young teenage girl, I’m guessing she wasn’t expecting an angel to come visit her and inform her of this special role she would play in God’s plan. She had found favor with God and now she would be the young woman who would give birth to the Messiah. Wow. I wonder what was so special about Mary that she would be given this awesome responsibility?

After hearing the angel’s message, we read Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary’s very response shows she had a heart that was open to God. She basically says “Let’s go. I’ll trust you with whatever happens. I’m here to be a servant of the Lord.” I think I can learn a lot about Mary’s deep faith and willingness to totally trust the Lord with her life and future. Mary had to know this would be no easy road to walk. She knew Joseph’s response would most likely be less than favorable toward her at the news that she was pregnant. What great faith she had. May I learn to trust God that much. “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Lectio Divina: Advent 4 – Monday

Luke 1.18-19 (ESV)

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this?” For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

I found Gabriel’s statement pretty interesting. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God . . . “. All I can say in response to that is “Wow.” I often wonder what that will be like – to stand in the presence of God. I can’t even really fathom how perfect that will be. Gabriel has done what we will one day do.

Advent reminds me of Jesus’ second coming and it reminds me that I too will one day stand (or maybe kneel!) in the presence of God. How wonderful is that?

Oops

Guess what happens when you make on "mis-click" with your mouse.  You guessed it, you overwrite your existing blog template.  Oops.  So, for the time being, there is a new look around here.  The old template was getting a bit tired any way but I didn't exactly mean to change it.  Oh well . . . it happened.  We'll see how things change around here once I'm on Christmas break.  It should be interesting!

Collect for the 4th Sunday of Advent

Can you believe it?  Advent is almost over.  It seems like the days have flown by.  Tomorrow is the 4th Sunday of Advent which means Christmas is just around the corner.  Here's this week's collect.

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Lectio Divina: Advent 3 - Monday

Revelation 3:11-12 (NLT)

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

Today was a pretty rough day. It was one of those days you wouldn't want to have too often. So, how interesting, that tonight I turn to Revelation 3 and read this passage. That's the way Lectio often works. I needed some good news and there it is, right there in Revelation 3.

What good news? How about that Jesus is coming soon? Thank goodness! I feel a lot like Paul a lot of days when departing to be with the Lord sounds pretty darn good. Today was surely one of those. It's encouraging to know that there is more to life than paychecks, jobs, bills and stress. In the midst of our world, the Kingdom IS coming, even when we can't always see it.

So, it's Advent and Advent is a season of waiting. We await the coming of the King. Just as He came from heaven to earth, He will one day return. He is coming soon. Praise God!

Collect - Advent 3

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.  Amen.

What a beautiful prayer! 

Fr. Louis on Advent

We may at times be able to show the world Christ in moments when all can clearly discern in history some confirmation of the Christian message. But the fact remains that our task is to seek and find Christ in the world as it is, and not as it might be. The fact that the world is other than it might be does not alter the truth that Christ is present in it and that His plan has been neither frustrated nor changed: indeed, all will be done according to His will. Our Advent is the celebration of this hope. What is uncertain is not the "coming" of Christ but our own reception of Him, our own readiness and capacity to "go forth to meet Him." We must be willing to see Him and acclaim Him, as John did, even at the very moment when our whole life’s work and all its meaning seem to collapse. Indeed, more formidable still, the Church herself may perhaps be called upon some day to point out the Victorious Redeemer and King of Ages amid the collapse of all that has been laboriously built up by the devotion of centuries and cultures that sincerely intended to be Christian.

Lectio Divina: Advent 2 - Thursday

Revelation 2:9-10
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

I know your tribulation . . . Do not fear what you are about to suffer . . .

It’s easy for me to forget that Christians have suffered and died for their faith throughout the church’s history. It only takes a cursory reading of church history to realize that countless scores of people have been martyred for the faith we profess. This persecution goes on today in our world (although it doesn’t seem to garner much attention from the media).

What’s this mean to me? I can’t help but feel convicted to pray for the persecuted church. They need our prayers and I need to remember that there are people dying for the faith.