Add a couple of other older guest posts

src/blog/2012/6-tips-before-using-qr-codes.md

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+---
+title: Six Great Tips Before Using QR Codes
+intro: Guest post on OneSheep blog about good contexts to use a QR code
+type: article
+tags: post
+date: 2012-02-26
+canonical: https://onesheep.org/6-great-tips-before-using-qr-codes/
+---
+
+If we do not really know what QR codes are or what they do, we are starting to see them in many places. Guest blogger, James Doc, says that his first draft for this subject quickly became a very long rant that even he didn’t want to read! So he shelved it for a bit and later condensed his thoughts into a ‘_how to use QR codes well_‘ post.
+
+He is still irritated about ways that QR codes are being (mis)used, but offers some helpful suggestions,
+
+## Remember my memory; I can't remember a QR code
+
+QR codes are designed to be read by _machines_, and the machines read them very well. However I can’t read a QR code.
+
+Lets imagine a hypothetical situation where I don’t have my smart phone on me, or my smart phone doesn’t have QR reading software, or maybe I don’t own a smart phone; if I see a QR code, there is nothing I can do with it.
+
+If you display a QR code, please provide a fall back for me; a nice short web address is all I need; I can write that down, maybe even remember it! When there is just a QR code without any human readable text you lose a large part of your audience.
+
+## Remember my location; can I scan it?
+
+Mobile phone cameras have come a long way in the last 5 years, and phones being released at the moment have 8 megapixel cameras, pretty fantastic zoom, etc… but they are still not as good as my eyes. So while I may be able to see your QR code, that doesn’t mean I’ll be able to scan it.
+
+Perhaps it has been placed too high on a billboard, perhaps it is too low to the ground, perhaps it has been placed at eye level but the code is too small because I am too far away… Wherever I am, the code has got to be scannable.
+
+Oh, and putting QR codes on the (London) underground… it is just silly – of course I can scan it, but I don’t have the network coverage to do anything with the web address you give me!
+
+This leads me nicely into the next point…
+
+## Remember my context; the destination matters
+
+When I scan a QR code, I am going to be using a mobile device, there is almost no doubt about this. I could be using a phone, I may be on a tablet… either way I won’t be using a desktop computer. So when I scan a QR code I really don’t want to be taken through to a page that doesn’t work well on mobile device.
+
+The code should either point to a mobile version of a website or the website has some great responsive web design going on. An additional thing; don’t make the page in Flash; remember I’m on a mobile phone!
+
+## Remember my investment; I like to be rewarded
+
+Scanning a QR code can be a hassle, getting the phone out of the pocket, finding the correct app, maybe even downloading the correct app for the first time, scanning and then going to the website.
+
+Remember that I am investing time in your code; so make it worth while for me, give me something special! Perhaps it is a video (bearing in mind I’m on a mobile – low res will do), perhaps it is a discount for your store, perhaps it is just more information, either way make it rewarding.
+
+## Remember my knowledge; QR codes are still new
+
+Yes, QR codes are shiny and new, yes everyone seems to be using them, yes lots of people seem to understand what they are… however don’t make the assumption that says ‘it’s shiny and new, everyone seems to be using them therefore everyone knows what they are and how to use them’. This is wrong, many people do know how to use QR code, but many don’t.
+
+Please tell your users how to use a QR code, they will thank you for it.
+
+## Remember your strategy; how does it fit it?
+
+Based on the ‘shiny and new’ principle you can easily fall into another false assumption; ‘it’s shiny and new, everyone seems to be using them therefore I must use a QR code’. You really don’t! Just because everyone else is using them, that doesn’t mean you must do it to keep up with everyone else.
+
+Seriously think about why you are using them. Ask questions like ‘will this bring value to my advert?’ or ‘will my audience know how to scan a code and will they want to scan the code?’. Another important thing to ask is ‘why should I use a QR code rather than a simple web address?’.
+
+One final thing; if you are in any doubt about using a QR code please head on over to ‘[shouldiuseaqrcode.com](http://shouldiuseaqrcode.com)‘. It provides some helpful advice.
+
+Your comments welcome.

src/blog/2015/getting-ideas-out-of-notebook.md

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+---
+title: Getting Ideas Out of the Notebook
+intro: Guest post on The Media Net blog about working on implementing ideas, not just thinking about implementing them.
+type: article
+tags: post
+date: 2015-09-17
+canonical: http://themedianet.org/getting-ideas-out-of-the-notebook/
+---
+
+I love that bit at the beginning of projects when as a team we’re just throwing ideas around. There are post-it notes, sharpies, a big clear bit of wall and each member of the team is just putting their thoughts out there. The harder bit is taking those thoughts and ideas, condensing them down into a plan and then getting on and making that plan happen.
+
+A while ago, a friend of mine told me _“Ideas are cheap, it is the execution that is expensive”_. It’s not a new or original quote, but it was the first time that I’d heard it and the words stuck with me. It resonated with me because I carry a notebook around that is just full of ideas, but so few of them have gone any further. Why? Because of time, because of fear and because it will be a sacrifice of something else. Because there are just a lot of other things to do.
+
+Genesis 1:27 says: _“…God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”_ (NIV 2011). The great creator made us in his image, the creative God made us with creativity. We’re not made to sit on ideas, locked up in notebooks.
+
+That is one of the reasons that I’m involved with a group called Kingdom Code. We’re a group of developers, designers and entrepreneurs who, in some way, want to use our ideas, gifts and skills for God’s glory. We want to catalyse serendipity, bringing together a community where ideas are sparked, relationships are formed and technology is made that glorifies God.
+
+Right now we’re planning an event called Code for the Kingdom in the first weekend of October. We’re joining with 12 cities around the world, bringing ideas people together with coders, designers, product managers, and others in the technology world to set aside time and space to turn these thoughts into products that glorify God.
+
+We’re setting challenges, encouraging people to think around themes and ideas. How can we use technology to encourage people to be generous with what God has given them? What can we do to enable Christians to build relationships with their Muslim neighbours and bring the gospel to the Islamic world? Can we make something for our children that is more fulfilling than Minecraft, Angry Birds or Temple Run? Then from these challenges we encourage teams to form around the ideas that are triggered, giving up a weekend to put them into motion, not letting the idea get lost or trapped in a notebook.
+
+Code for the Kingdom is taking place on the 2nd-4th October in the Impact Hub, Westminster. You can find out more about joining in with the weekend and about Kingdom Code on our website: [www.kingdomcode.uk](http://www.kingdomcode.uk).

src/blog/2018/one21-launch.md

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+---
+title: One21 Launch
+intro: One of the projects that I've been working on at The Globe Church is One21, a tool to help the church disciple one another.
+type: article
+tags: post
+date: 2018-01-22
+canonical: https://www.globe.church/resources/one21-launch
+---
+
+Can you remember a time when you were listening to a sermon and it really hit exactly in the situation that you were facing? Sometimes that link been Sunday and Monday morning is really straightforward… But, if you are anything like me, it's not every Sunday that I come away knowing exactly how the sermon fits into my life.
+
+A couple of weeks ago, as part of Co-Mission Sunday, Matt Fuller from Christ Church Mayfair was with us as we celebrated the importance of the Bible in our lives. The full sermon is on the website, but there was one bit that really hit me:
+
+> Do you think about the sermons that you hear? I've always been struck an old Puritan bloke, Thomas Watson: "If we don't meditate about a sermon it is like eating a great meal, but never digesting it. We eat food, but it does us no good" I've always found that a telling little quote… Mmmhmmm good sermon but out it goes and does me no good, unless you dwell upon it, reflect on the word of God. So are we going to help each other to do just this? To ask one another 'what has God been speaking about recently?' - Matt Fuller
+
+## Two questions and challenges:
+
+- How do you dwell and reflect on the sermons that you hear?
+- How do we encourage each other do do this as a church?
+
+For the last few months we've been working on a tool to help us do just this. A tool to help us reflect and meditate on sermons as a church family together and apply what we're hearing to our lives.
+
+## It's called One21
+
+The name is a bit of a play on words… firstly as a growing church, how can we grow deeper in God's word together? What about the one-to-one conversations we have? What would it look like for us to meet up regularly as pairs of friends, to talk intentionally together about what we're hearing on Sunday and how it applies to our lives?
+
+One21 provides the conversation starters; when you meet together, you open one21 and there will be questions to take you deeper into the sermon, helping you to think though how it applies to your life.
+
+Okay, so what about the 'twenty one' bit? Did you know that each week you eat 21 times? Three meals a day, seven days in a week. Could you take one of those meal times and meet up to intentionally have this discussion? That meal could be a breakfast, it could be lunch near work, it could be dinner… you might even want to start adding extra meals into the day… second breakfast, elevenses, afternoon tea, if that doesn't work there is supper or you could just meet up for a drink together…
+
+[Go to One21](https://one21.org)
+
+## Ready for breakfast on Monday morning
+
+On Monday morning, before your breakfast, we'll load in the sermon and the questions and you can start having your conversations.
+
+Who do you think it would be most obvious for you to do this with?- Who are the people in the church you see most often?- Are you married? Could you do it with your spouse?- Do your house mates go to Globe? Could you you have a house meal together and do One21?- Perhaps there is someone who works near your office?- Or lives a bus stop away?
+This is version one of one21, we're still working on it; and I would love your feedback on it.
+
+We're praying that it's going to be a blessing to you.
+
+- Ask someone to do it.
+- Have a meal together.
+- Open up one21.
+- Reflect on the sermons together.