Posts Tagged ‘Hardware’
Copier Buying Tips
While at the NACBA National Conference last year I was talking with Rob Leacock, Christ Church Fort Worth’s business administrator. We were talking about his recent decision to replace their copier, and his process was impressive and effective! Especially how much money he saved!
Read MoreIT– Truth or Dare!
There are many misconceptions about the Internet, hardware, and software that impact the decisions people make. Let’s shed some light on a few of them!
Read MoreIT– 10 Years After Y2k
We’re at the end of the first decade of the millennium whose beginning we weren’t supposed to have survived! There were many crazypredictions– by others– that Y2k would be the end of civilization as we know it. Now, ten years after Y2k, what is the state of IT and its impact on The Church?
Read MoreThe Mac’s Amazing Reputation
The Mac has an amazing reputation. I agree with some of it, but most of its reputation is pure myth.
Read MoreThe Inseparable Bond of Technology & Mission
In a recent conference about technology in church ministry, Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) said, “Every time there is an advance in technology, The Kingdom advances.” Technology has a huge impact on our mission– not the ‘what’ of our mission, but the ‘how’.
Read MoreTechnoTools for Ministry
Many people make one of two mistakes about church technology needs. They either underestimate the need and look for the cheapest possible solution (which often costs more because they are the wrong solutions), or they overspend on technology and overcomplicate the system. Let’s see if we can help find the right balance.
Read MoreManaging IT in a Tight Economy
The economy has taken a serious downturn. There’s no more disputing that fact, and it’s affecting church and ministry budgets. Are there some things you can do to keep your computer system stability and reliability growing when finances are tight? I think so. It’s true of churches and ministries like it is everywhere else: when budgets are growing, waste is more prevalent. That’s not a judgment on our stewardship; it’s just that we’re focusing on tasks that sometimes keep us from being able to look for the best economic strategy. The good news is that in this tight economy there are some ways we can cut expenses without cutting quality, reliability, or impact.
Read MoreSerpents & Doves
Jesus made an interesting statement in Matthew 10:16b, “…be as shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves.” (NASB) I believe these words of His are good guidelines for Christians for every aspect of doing business. We are to be shrewd, yet innocent. The word translated as shrewd sometimes means being prudent, sensible, and practically wise. Jesus spoke this counsel to his disciples, and it may also have had the sense of acting with prudence with regard to their own safety. Being innocent, on the other hand, means to be pure, unmixed, and unadulterated. In other words, negotiate wisely; but always honor the heart of the Lord by loving those with whom you negotiate. Be willing to ask in honesty, and to ask in such a way as to bring the other person closer to Jesus. What does all of this have to do with computers? Let’s see.
Read MoreSaving Money at the Computer Mall
How do you feel when a friend or colleague tells you they just bought the same product you did for considerably less? If you’re like me, you probably feel kind of crummy, but then justify why you still got a better deal than your friend. How do you buy technology for less? Are there ways to save? Are there times when spending more is better? Let’s talk about it.
Read MoreThe Latest in Evangelistic Trends: International Arms Trafficking!
Some time ago an article caught my eye about folks going to jail because they took computers outside of the U.S. The problem was that, because of computer processor capabilities and the built-in cryptographic capabilities of common off-the-shelf software, it violated Export Administration Regulations. The article went on to describe the maximum fines and penalties associated with the export of these items: $1,000,000 plus 10 years in jail for each criminal violation, or $500,000 plus a 3-year export ban for each civil violation. A few days later a colleague who works for an international ministry told me he had just sent software updates to their overseas field offices. Click— the light went on. I told him about the article I had just read which applied to the software technology he just sent overseas. We were both shocked as we discussed the impact these regulations could have on similar international ministries.
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