iPhone App of the Month – Baseball Superstars 2010

  I’ve been addicted to this game for quite awhile now.  I’m not a huge baseball fan, but this game has kept my attention for many different reasons.

Baseball Superstars 2010, developed by Gamevil, has a cartoony feel, but don’t let that full you because the game is packed full of playability.  Game modes include: Exhibition play, My League, in this mode you can become a pitcher or batter and play through a career, Season,  in this mode you play with your team throughout many seasons, Homerun Race, which is home run derby competition, Mission, this mode gives you challenges to complete during a game, and Match Play, which gives you the ability to play friends over wifi.

I have been playing in the My League mode recently.  In this mode, you start as a rookie, and work your way through a career.  You have a yearly goal to achieve, which could be RBI’s, batting average, hits, or homeruns.  Also, you can buy items to improve your attributes, and earn them through training.

The biggest downfall of the game is the lack of control in fielding.  The computer takes over as soon as the ball is hit.  You can throw the ball to different bases, but there isn’t really a reason to after the computer has done the work.

Currently in the iTunes App Store, Baseball Superstars 2010  is selling for $4.99.  There is a free version you can pick up at try out before  you spend the $5.  I’m not sure what is included in the free version.  For the hours of play I’ve gotten out of this app, it is well worth the price. 

Overall, my rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Greater Things

Take a moment, and think about those two words. What do they say to you, what do they mean to your life? Are greater things something of the past, or are are they hope for the future?

To me, it’s a promise, a promise from Jesus. In John 14, Jesus says this to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these…”

What a promise from our savior. For me, it gives hope, it gives excitement. God has greater things planned for my life, and for my ministry.

How can you not get excited for that? I can’t wait to see what great things are ahead!!

iPhone App of the Month – Knights Onrush

I’ve been testing out a lot of iPhone apps recently and would love to give you some of my thoughts on these apps, good or bad.  Here’s the first.

Knights Onrush

 

I’ve played a lot of games on my iPhone, but this is one of the games that kept me coming back.  Three games modes: Campaign, 12 levels with each level supplying different amount of days to survive, Endless Siege, and Madness.  Along with these game modes come three different difficulty levels, for all levels of gamers.

The best part about this game is although it started at a steep price of $4.99, it is now priced at a low $0.99, which is a small price to pay for the hours of entertainment it will bring.  Also, it’s the type of game that you can click on and play for 2 minutes while you’re waiting in line, or during commercials.  Great for a quick break from work, as long as your disciplined enough to quit playing and get back to it!

 

Minor bugs will hopefully be fixed in new updates, but overall definitely worth the price of admission.  Overall, my rating is a 4 out of 5 stars.

Selfishness

I’ve been reading Donald Miller’s book, Blue Like Jazz recently, and God is using it to show me things about myself that I didn’t know. 

In the second chapter of the book, Miller talks about problems.  How as Christians, we look at the world and see all these problems.  But I think that all of us have this moment when we realize that the problems are all out in the world.  Sometimes the problem is within ourselves.  Miller quotes as poem by C. S. Lewis:

“All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.

I never had as selfless thought since I was born.

I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through;

I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.

Peace, reassurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek.

I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin;

I talk of love-a scholar’s parrot may talk Greek-

But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.”

The poem hit me so hard, as if it was written about me.  Especially that fourth line: “I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.”  That resounded inside me!  So I stopped to think, to reflect on when I had my last selfless thought.  I couldn’t remember.  So I spent the next day, thinking about my thoughts, my actions…

I challenge you to do that same.  It changes you.  Spend the next day, examining yourself, your motives.  We complain about a world that only cares about themselves, but never look at our own life?

God’s Word tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  If I spend 90 percent of my thoughts on myself, I’m not doing what God has asked me to do.  More importantly, if 90 percent is spend on me, what do I have left to spend on God. 

Not enough.  We go through life, looking out for #1, pleases ourselves, and complaining about the world’s problems.

Maybe next time we go to worship God, we could focus on Him, instead of thinking ourselves.  “I’m too hot.” “I don’t like that song we sang.”  “I don’t like how loud the music is.”  Think about those “I” statements.

True change, God-honoring change would have to start with the individual!

How He Loves…

This video of John Mark McMillan is phenomenal!!  The story he shares in the beginning will bring you to your knees.  The song will make you worship.  Grab some Kleenex’s, find a quiet spot for 10 minutes and watch this.  You won’t regret it!!

Thanks John Mark for sharing and writing this amazing song!!

Chick-fil-a

Saw this video on a friend’s blog, and loved it.  It expressed my deep affection very well.  I love Chick-fil-a!!

Check out more from Tim Hawkins on Youtube or his website.

iPhone Shuffle #5

Here we go again.  I hit shuffle on the old iPhone and here are the first five songs that came up.  You can play too even if you don’t have an iPhone.  Use your iPod, or iTunes, or CD player(does anyone still use those?).

1.  Jars of Clay – Needful Hands

2.  Shawn McDonald – Perfectly Done

3.  Switchfoot – Playing for Keeps

4.  Hillsong United – Magnificent

5.  Since October – Waiting