I've been using my iPad for almost a month now. It's become a standard item in my backpack, just like my pocket-sized Bible and my journal (with a pen hooked onto the spine). Even though the iPad is technically capable of functioning as a "pocket-sized Bible," as a "journal," and as a "pen" -- I haven't given up these most basic, tried-and-trusted tools of my trade. Still, the iPad is becoming more and more integrated with my daily pastoring responsibilities. And I'm becoming more and more appreciative of its capabilities.

This past Sunday, I decided to use the iPad for my message notes, during our church's worship gathering -- and it worked out better than I might have expected. Instead of printing out my notes in 1.5-spaced, 14-point font on a stack of one-sided paper -- I "printed" my notes as a PDF file (using the typical formatting) and accessed them from the iBook application within the iPad. Legibility was totally not an issue (if anything, it was even easier to see my notes than usual). I didn't have any problems "turning pages." The settings were easy enough to adjust so that I didn't have to constantly be tinkering with the thing to keep it awake. And in general, it didn't seem to be a distraction for my listeners (i.e. no strange white glow visible to others, no extra foibles on my part as I tried to adapt to the new technology). I think it could be a very workable scenario. The only real issue that I still have with using the iPad for preaching is not being able to see two pages at one time, which is something that I had gotten used to with my old one-sided paper system. We'll see how this issue works itself out over time... But in any event, it was a worthwhile experiment.

I also really appreciate the iPad's usefulness in counseling situations. It's a really nice way to take notes -- because it has the feel of a simple pad of paper (with no vertical obstacles to communication, like there would be with a laptop screen), yet the output is still digital and thus much more easily archived and integrated into other systems that I have in place. The iPad also works well to take the place of print-outs, saving both time and money. For instance, I can use the iPad to access my own copy of a couple's individualized pre-marital counseling materials, while the couple can look on their own printed copy. Since the iPad is capable of storing thousands of documents without taking up any extra physical space, I rarely have that phenomenon of "Oh, I wish I had a copy of that document with me right now, to show you..." I use a free application called DropBox, so I can keep all my files up-to-date and on-hand. Very convenient.

E-mailing, e-reading, word-processing, and Skyping also work really well with the iPad -- and since I have a desktop computer that I use with my home office, I genuinely think I can get by without ever needing a laptop computer again. Up to this point, my only point of complaint with the iPad is its lack of ability to upload files. It would be so nice if the DropBox application could work both ways: downloading and uploading. But really, the only effective way that I've discovered to get around this design deficiency is to e-mail documents to myself. It's not the most difficult problem in the world to overcome... but it can be annoying.

In general, I'm very pleased with these current experiments in "pastoring with an iPad." In spite of the fact that I'm writing about it here and now, I have no plans to become an evangelist for the Apple Corporation. As a matter of fact, I've grown to really like having the black leather carrying case as a kind of camouflage for the technology itself -- so that I'm not flashing the Apple logo whenever I pick up the machine, and advertising the fact that I'm using a fancy piece of technology. Most of the time it just looks like I'm carrying an extra leather-bound portfolio that could just as easily be filled with paper and pens as with a tablet computer. Still, I appreciate the fact that this iPad is a valuable resource for my day-to-day ministry. And I'm thankful to God that He provided the resources for me to get it.

These words are being written from an iPad.

My very own iPad 2.

I actually feel kind of sheepish about owning an Apple. Sheepish in the sense of being embarrassed (by my own boyish enthusiasm about a new toy) -- but also sheepish in the sense of feeling like a mindless sheep, getting swept up in the direction of the societal flock. As much as I feel pleased with my new technological device, I also realize that I don't want to start every morning by pledging allegiance to the Apple Corporation. I don't want to accept Steve Jobs as my Lord and Savior. I just want to have some nifty electronic support for my everyday life.

And to this end, let's face it: the iPad is pretty cool.

I initially warmed up to the idea of an iPad because of its functionality as an e-Reader. After watching how much my wife has enjoyed and utilized her e-Reader (an Amazon Kindle) over the last year and a half, I started to think it might be nice to have one of my own. I liked the idea of not having to lug around a backpack full of books. I liked the idea of instantaneous book and magazine purchases (or library check-outs) from anywhere in the world. So as I grew to like the idea of an e-Reader, I started to check into the various options. And I was surprised to find Apple's offering -- the iPad -- more competitively priced than I expected.

I figured if I was ever going to test the waters of contemporary Apple technology, the iPad might be the item to initiate me. But I had to consider the possibilities for a couple of months before I was prepared to make such a leap.

As I thought about things more and more, however, it occurred to me that I could genuinely benefit from the multiple functionality of an iPad -- effectively using it as a replacement to my aging and ailing laptop. Especially with some of the after-market accessories that have been developed for the iPad (like a carrying case that has a built-in stand and bluetooth-enabled wireless keypad), it's a more workable scenario than I had once thought it would be. The iPad works really well for e-mailing, voice-and-video communication (i.e Skype), web browsing, social networking, and entertainment. Word processing was really the only other thing for which I have consistently used my laptop -- so even though this is the one area where a laptop computer supposedly trumps an electronic tablet, I figured the iPad was was worth trying (provided it was outfitted with a word processing application and an external keypad, which were minimal investments, actually). So in the end I went for it.

This week, my iPad finally arrived, and now I'm becoming accustomed to it.

I notice unexpected delights and frustrations as I play with the iPad more and more. The design really is as clever as everyone says it is, and the machine is capable of quite a bit (more than I expected, really). I love its small size and weight, for purposes of carrying it around in my backpack. And I've been impressed with little things like the battery life and the ease of integration with my other electronic devices and information. But intuitive as it may be, the iPad uses a whole different system that has to be learned as I go. I regularly find myself reaching for a mouse that isn't there. I have to be more careful about keeping my fingers clean as I use the thing (i.e. eating and iPad interaction don't go well together). I get annoyed by the lack of a means to easily export or upload information from the iPad (such as to a USB stick, or to a Dropbox account). The small external keypad that I bought to go with the iPad works well despite its diminuitive stature -- but some of the buttons (like the delete button, especially) are shaped differently or are positioned slightly differently, and are thus going to take some more getting used to.

But overall, I'm pleased with how it's gone, using my iPad over the last couple of days. I'm still not about to become a foaming-at-the-mouth fanboy, hanging out in the mall for the latest release of whatever Apple product comes out in a given month... But I do feel thankful that I have the means to be able to try such an experiment as this. Perhaps I'll share more about my experiences with the iPad, as I integrate it into my life more and more... But we'll see about that.