2009, Year of the App(le)

There's an app for that. It's become a familiar refrain. 2009 was the first year in which the evangelical "there's a verse for that," was finally surpassed by another phrase as a save-the-day-slogan of choice. In fact, some experts estimate that by June of 2009, the number of apps surpassed the number of Chuck Norris jokes in existance. (To which Apple responded by creating a Chuck Norris app that deletes any Ninja apps running on your smart phone and cannot ever be deleted)

Need to level a bookshelf or straighten a picture? There's an app for that. Need to quote your favorite philosopher or movie? There's an app for that. Need to find where you parked your car before you went into the mall? There's an app for that.

So, if you're a smart phone-toting Christian, what apps should you not be without? Here are my top picks in no specific order...

Holy Bible - There's a verse for that. No really, there is. Always. This free app is a winner for portable scriptures. It has many translations included and even has a split screen function if you're a student (or your pastor uses Greek a lot to impress, er, teach you) to see the Greek and English simultaneously.

iRecycle - This program, by Earth911 is a great app for every believer trying to do their part to take care of God's creation. You plug in your location and what you're looking to recycle (cell phones, car batteries, tires, an unwanted sibbling or Tiger Woods paraphernalia) and it lists all the nearby locations. It also has a listing of all local green events.

Pandora - This free music program is great for anyone, secular or Christian. Based on the music genome project, it tailors a radio station to your own taste. Simply plug in an artist, song or genre and it will play songs that are similar. You give the thumbs up or down to each new song played and it becomes more personalized with each feedback response. Disappointed you can't find more Christian music in a genre other than the 80's soft rock playing on your local Christian station? Plug in a song or artist that fits your taste and find yourself listening to music you'll never find on the radio. And it's cheaper and more portable than XM, as long as you're not terribly fundamentalist: it is named after a story from Greek mythology.

Shazam - Also in the music genre of apps... a never-fail name that tune app. Turn it on and press the tag button to capture a song playing at a restaurant, on the radio or in a movie. With just a few seconds of play, it'll search the net and find the song and all info. Besides, this one's just fun to say.

GCalendar - There are several good free calendar programs out there, but if you're anything like me, your schedule is busy, and it's easy to overcommit or miss an important meeting if you don't have your calendar on you at all times. This app syncs with your google calendar (if you're not using google calendar, start, immediately!) You don't have to log in every time you use it and you can use it to get to your google reader (to catch up on my blog) or your google docs, etc.

CardStar - Yes, this is a [free] consumer program. I include this not because I want to encourage you to consume more, but to save money when you do. Scripture encourages thrifty behavior because a thrifty person is better equipped to help those in need. This program allows you to store the barcodes of all your discount cards. You type the number in and it is displayed as a picture. Many, if not most, scanners can read this barcode (like Blockbuster, Barnes & Noble), and if they can't (like many grocery stores), the cashier can simply punch in your code. This way, you never have to remember your discount card for that one time a year you go to Hallmark or SuperCuts, if you're at all like me.

JustLight - And God said, "let there be light," "I am the light of the world," "thy word is a lamp unto a feet and a light unto my path," "this little light of mine..." Ok, ok, so the point is, sometimes you just need a light. This program is nothing but a bright white light that stays on until you turn it off, so you don't have to keep tapping it. Great for seeing your choir music at a candlelight service or caroling, changing your oil or finding your wife's hairbrush behind the sock drawer. I mean, if it comes up.