Why a Google fan boy bought an iPad

I love Google. I was not, however, an early adopter. In the late 90s people were beginning to allaud the wonders of google search, but I was using Dogpile. Dogpile is a still active search engine which complies the results of various other search engines. The first regular email account I had was with Hotmail which I used faithfully until 2010.

In late Spring of 2010 I was in the market for a second job and thanks to my best friend Michael White I was able to land a job working as at a Verizon Wireless retail location. The company's policy stated that you had to have a Gmail account. After a bit of research I officially made the switch. Soon after working at Verizon I made the switch to an Android smartphone and a Google fan boy was born.

Today I use Google for just about anything online: email, search, web browser, cloud storage, rss feeder, blogging, videos, music, maps, calendar, photos, e-books, and more. I love Google. I enjoy how my experience is synced to any web connected device and that is one reason I bought an iPad.

I once read that Google has a commitment to bring you all their services to all your devices. Along with Google other companies can use their syncing capabilities to bring you your Google content with their vey own user interface. Therefore, though Google doesn't have their Reader or Calendar apps available on iPad I have found two great apps that user my Google account information to bring me that content. Google already offers great iPad apps for search, email, blogging, and more.

Tablet specific apps, however, are the main reason I chose the iPad. Apple offers 275,000 iPad specific apps. Google doesn't release their number. When you search for an app on an Android tablet they don't even separate your results by phone and tablet apps. Also, it made news recently when Google was asking developers to develop more tablet apps. The reason that they don't have tablet apps is two fold: 1. Apple continues to be a more profitable platform for developers. 2. They haven't had a very significant Marketshare of the tablet market.

I believe the second of these is going to change with the recent release of the Nexus devices. I imagine Google will have a comparable tablet app experience in as a little as 18 months. But until then when it comes to a great tablet experience, iPad reigns supreme.

Is God in Control?

God is all-powerful.  He can do what he wants, when he wants.  But why doesn't God stop senseless acts of violence against children?  Why does God allow people to have so much free will?  God is not the ruler of this world.

I think sometimes we forget that but senseless acts of evil such as the one that happened today in Newton, Connecticut are a sharp reminder.  1 John 5:19 says,

"We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

I John 5:19 NIV

   If you a Christian then God reigns over your life.  Jesus himself says that his "kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36)  This is something I have been thinking about now for about two weeks and even  more so with the events today in Newton, Connecticut.  

Two weeks ago I attended the funeral of my wife's cousin.  He died as a result of a senseless act of violence.    The minister who offered the eulogy obviously did not know Daniel but in an attempt of comfort said, "God is in control."  He also edified the mourners gathered there by telling them not to ask, "why God?"  I guess I didn't listen to his advice with the start of my blog post!

  After reflecting on those comments I began to question whether God was in control.  Christians will often claim that God is in control but rarely offer theological or biblical support.  I believe the only place that God will be in full control is in Heaven on the New Earth.  Paul writes,

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

Philippians 3:20-21 NIV

   Did you catch that?  We "await a Savior" who by God's power will be able to "bring everything under his control."  Doesn't that imply that everything isn't under his control now?  Isn't that why we are to make Christ Lord of our lives and yield control of our will to God?  And doesn't Jesus encourage us that the "prince of this world" has "no hold on me"? (see John 14:30)  

   I believe this is why we are to live for our citizenship in Heaven.  I believe this is why we need to invest our energy, time, and resources in the kingdom of God and not the kingdom of the world.  I believe we can be apart of God's kingdom today and help increase His reign on the Earth.  God is not in control of this world, but He can be and will be.  I believe this is a prudent time to recall Jesus' teaching on prayer,

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’"

Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

My blog is called Carter's Candor, this is what I think, what about you?   

Welcome To My Blog

Me, My Beautiful Wife Renee, & My Son Cole

Welcome to my blog.  The title of my blog is Carter's Candor.  Why?  Because my name is Justin Carter and I intend this blog to be a place where I share my raw, honest, politically incorrect thoughts & opinions.  I am a follower of Jesus, a full time minister, 29 years old (I'll never be 30), a husband, & a father.  

  I will only post articles that I feel like I have been 100% honest and real.  I will talk about a variety of subjects on this blog.  I will talk about faith, spirituality, wellness, politics, technology, and the news among other things.  

  I don't know if anyone will ever read this or follow it but I just see it as a place to unravel my brains  If you read my blog, I would love to hear your feedback and response.  I wouldn't mind this blog becoming a place to have conversations.  My name is Justin Carter, Welcome to my Blog. 

Subjects in the Works: 

• Why a Google fanboy, prefers the Apple iPad. 
• States Petition to Secede, What? 
• Is Baptism Essential for Salvation? 

Happy Reading!