Saturday, 26 September 2009
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Prayer on the iPhone: There's an App for That
I don't own an Apple iPhone, but I know many who do. From what I've heard, the possibilities are limitless when it comes to downloading applications, or “apps,” to make your iPhone do neat things. Chipotle offers an app that lets you order your burrito, taco, or any number of menu items from the comfort of, well, wherever you are at the time. While the app doesn't deliver your food to you in megabytes (though it should!), it makes the ordering process much easier and is convenient for those on the go or those with short lunch breaks. Starbucks just announced two apps they're working on, including one that lets you pay with your Starbucks card via iPhone in selected stores. When it comes to faith and religion, there are, I'm sure, plenty of apps to choose from. Just a quick Google search will show several versions of apps that put the entire Bible right at your fingertips. There are others that send you daily devotionals, so there's no need to keep those print ones on your shelves anymore.
Prayer, however, is something that maybe there can't be an app for. It is, obviously, a much more sensitive thing. I suppose you could scroll down a list of topics, find the one you're feeling led to at the moment, and read a pre-written prayer, but that seems both impractical and impersonal. Maybe prayer is just something the iPhone can't do.
Or can it? A recently submitted iPhone app attempts to do just that, and unite others in the process. According to an article recently published in the Houston Chronicle, “A Note to God” was devised by a teenager, Allen Wright, who submitted the app to Medl Mobile, “a Los Angeles startup that is developing apps for Apple to sell on its Web site. It selected 'A Note to God' from 20,000 proposals.”
The concept is simple: the user types his or her brief prayer and sends it out into cyberspace, where other users of the app can read the prayer and give it a “thumbs up” as support. “Otherwise,” the article explains, “they can't leave feedback or respond.”
Apple gets the final say in whether or not the app will be approved for sale, but the company does have a history of denying apps due to religious content. We'll have to wait and see whether “A Note to God” makes it to the app store and to iPhones nationwide.
Do you think prayer needs an iPhone app? Would you purchase and use an app like this on your phone?
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- From: modernmelody
- Name: Rebecca
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Comments (8)
I might get this app. Only because I like to pray in text (write a letter to God, etc) sometimes so it feels more solid. The only thing I don't like about it is that others can read it. There's something in the Bible about praying in your room with the door closed, not where everyone can hear you. I like prayers to be between me and God.
Why. Why. WHY.
This is retarded and it made me laugh. This is nothing more than facebooks status updates where you get encouragement to pray. It's all show. If it were about God, it would NOT be an open app for everyone to pray for you... by giving you thumbs up when the prayer sounds good. That's like saying "dear God, please dont let anybody be hurt in the war overseas." You're not going to get alot of thumbs up for this. It's retarded. You don't get thumbs up for praying to God. If you want encouragement GO TO THE CHURCH and people. Not to people who knows where. I'm finding that this technology stuff may seem decent to people, but in the end it's ultimately boosting their pride jet pack and it doesn't have anything to do with actually having a conversation with God, which is what prayer is for.
5"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? MATTHEW 6:5 (Message)
Is there really anything else that needs left to be said?? =)
@bacfireman - what about the power of prayer? strength in numbers? this is the same as addung your name to a prayer list at church don't you think?
I am an intern for MEDL Mobile and a user of the app. At first I had my doubts but after meeting Allen and seeing his intent was truly to give individuals an outlet to pray with, I was convinced in his sincerity. The things this app is doing for people is just amazing. I lost my church some time ago and have had a hard time finding one since. I feel as though I have found a community without any judgements, just the truth. Having been a christian for most of my life, I proud to be a part of the "Note to God" community.
I actually have a Holy Bible app on my iPhone. You can read any translation online, and download nearly any offline version. It even offers 3 verses to read per day, complete with commentaries. If you follow them all, you'll have read the entire Bible in a year.