Tech Tips for Catholics

If you follow us on Twitter, then you know how much we love Kickstarter.com.  Kickstarter is a fun way to fund creative projects.  So, whether you are a Christian musician trying to fund your album, an artist trying to inspire, a software developer with an idea for a game, or someone with an idea for a book and a board game, Kickstarter is a super, great way to get others involved.  What we love about Kickstarter is the community aspect of it.  I have personally created one project and have backed several other worthy projects.

Why really great projects do not succeed…

1. You have no clear vision for your project: If you don’t know exactly what you want out of your project, how do you expect others to be on board?
2. Your project lacks a personal connection: Kickstarter people are real people, doing what they love.  Show your passion. Tell your story.  If your kickstart does not feature a good pitch video, of you, then your project is destined to fail!  Just be yourself and have fun with it.
3. You spam, rather than share: Sending out unsolicited @ tweets makes the rest of the Kickstarter community look bad.  A status update, letting those in your social network(s) know about the project is fine (just don’t over do it!)  Letting your family and friends know about your exciting project is totally acceptable and encouraged.  Podcasting and blogging are other great ways to share your project with others on a personal level.  If your project is creative enough, the buzz may come naturally.
4. You have lame backer rewards: One of the cool things about Kickstarter is the ability to create fantastic rewards for different level of support.  The more special the reward, the more support you will have for your project.  Spend some time looking at what other successful projects have offered to get an idea of what works and what doesn’t.
5. Your goal is too high: Because Kickstarter uses All-or-nothing funding, it is more important to reach your goal, than it is to reach the amount you hope you can get to fully fund your project.  If you go above and beyond your goal, then great!  But, if you do not reach your goal, then you get nothing.  Some people that you see often, and who want to support your project, but do not feel comfortable using Amazon payments, will probably provide funds the old fission way.

We hope to support your Catholic Kickstarter in the near future.  If you kickstart a  project and you would like to plug it in the comments section below, please do!
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Every Friday, I usually post the top 5 favorite blogposts that I’ve come across throughout the week, however, this week I am focusing on the top 5 cool things you should read in your Amazon Kindle User’s Guide.

1. Learn The Kindle Shortcut Keys
2. Supported File Formats on the Kindle
3. Your Kindle E-mail Address (lets others send non-copyrighted documents to your Kindle by e-mail)
4. Share Passages with Friends on Facebook & Twitter!
5. Do NOT… (Duh?)

What do you love about your Kindle? What Catholic resources do you have on your e-Reader?

Don’t have a Kindle? Visit our Kindle Store.

Have a great weekend!

Joshua

I thought of this fun, little game after I had recently ordered some new books on Amazon. I thought, Wouldn’t it be cool to see what others are reading? Better yet, what Catholic books are others reading?

Here are the rules:

1. Take a picture of your Catholic bookshelf
2. Post the picture on Twitter (using whichever service you prefer)
3. Use the hashtag: #myCatholicBookshelf in your tweet

That’s it!

Holy Week is one of the most moving and joyful times of the Liturgical year.  The story of our Salvation history comes alive, especially during this time.  Lent and Easter are seasons of renewed faith and springtime.  Hopefully, we have taken the time leading up to this celebration of Christ’s suffering, death & resurrection to do just this.  Have we offered up our sacrifices in union with Christ’s suffering?  Have we died to sin?  Have we turned to Christ in love and in a renewed spirit of our baptismal vowels?  Christ is reaching out to each of us.   His arms wide open upon the cross, inviting us to Himself.  Take time this week to participate in the Holy Triduum.  You’ll be glad you did.

Easter is also an exciting time for those who have journeyed to become Catholic.  Can you remember your baptism, confirmation, your first reconciliation, or the first time you received our Lord in His gift of the Eucharist?  Maybe you do, maybe you don’t, but this is a time that newly Catholic Christians will never forget.  We need to make them feel welcomed, pray for their continued conversion (and not to mention our own, ongoing conversions), and give God thanks and praise.

Here is my list of recommended books for new Catholic Christians:

1. The Bible: Chances are they already have a Bible, but one can never have too much of God’s Word in his or her life!

2. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Second Edition): This version of the Catechism is revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II.

3. The Catholic Source Book: This is a great resource that was given to my wife as a gift when she became Catholic.  It is a vast collection of information to help people of faith learn, renew, teach, and live the risen life of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church.

4.  A Father Who Keeps His Promises – God’s covenant love in Scripture: My cousin bought me this book as a gift and I’ve read it twice now, and will probably read it again.  This is one of Scott Hahn’s earlier books, but don’t let that discourage you from reading or giving this book to someone as a gift.  In this book, Dr. Hahn takes the reader on a journey through Salvation History and reflects upon God’s unchanging, covenantal love.

5. Surprised by Truth (series): Because every convert loves a good conversion story : )  This series features powerful testimonies of others who have made the journey to the Catholic faith.

6. The Catholic How-To (series): These books are not just great for converts, but just as great for cradle Catholics.

7. On The Passion of Christ – Prayers and Meditations: From the author of the well-known, classic “The Imitation of Christ,” Thomas à Kempis prayerfully reflects upon each step of Jesus’ Passion.

I would much rather you support your local Catholic book store, but if you do not have a store near you, you can order these and other books from our online store.  Have a blessed Holy Week and a Joyous Easter season!