One thing about the Dock Walk which has really made a big impact on me is that, during the weeks of June when we Dock Walked weekly, we challenged each other to connect with the Wordlive daily Bible resource – either by listening to the podcast (found online here – or downloadable to your phone through iTunes), using the online site (here) or even using the iPhone app (available in the App Store).

Now maybe to some of you that sounds like a load of technical blather and you’re not interested.  But I really think a quiet revolution is happening with this internet and podcast stuff in terms of daily devotions (or quiet times, or Bible study, or whatever you choose to call it), and we’d be daft to miss it just because of a bit of technophobia.

For one thing, it makes the most incredible difference to have this stuff on your phone, immediately accessible wherever you are and whenever you can grab 5 or 10 minutes to spare. I’ll honestly admit to finding it really difficult to keep up a daily discipline of setting aside time in the house to sit down, open the Bible, read some Bible reading notes, and spend some time with God.  I know that it seems like a simple thing; maybe some of you don’t struggle to keep up the routine, but I do, and I reckon I’m not alone – the absolute best of intentions just keep slipping away.

But with the daily podcasts stored on the phone, it is possible to find that time – walking to the train, waiting for a haircut, recovering after a jog, driving into town, standing in a queue – I’ve lost count of the different times and places I’ve been able to pop the headphones on and catch up with the day’s Bible reading.  And there’s something cool about having that moment with God right in the midst of the everyday.

Another great thing about the daily Wordlive stuff is that it allows a group of people to connect their Sunday worship to the rest of the days of the week.  So when we Dock Walk, we can encourage each other, challenge each other, and reflect with each other on the Bible passages which we’ve all been hearing during the previous week.  We can ask questions and talk about the bits we found difficult.  We can share insights and lessons learnt.  And we can uphold each other in trying to live out the application.

As I said, daily devotions are something I’ve always struggled with – but getting into the habit of Wordliving daily during the Dock Walk weeks of June, to my great surprise and delight, has stayed with me through July.  When I’ve missed days, I’ve found that I actually wanted to catch up (especially when the readings were following the early chapters of 1 Samuel – what a great, violent, passionate, exciting story!)  I haven’t engaged with every aspect of all the different activities available on the website every day – but that’s the whole idea of the way Wordlive works.  (For me, the podcast provides the bare essentials – the extra bits on the website are an added bonus to dip into.  Different people might find that it works differently for them).

I can’t think of a better way for a church to unite around the Bible – in a way that allows individual freedom to engage during the week, but also provides a backbone for what we share on Sundays.  So I’m keen for the Wordlive experience to continue to be a big part of the Dock Walk.  If the tech still baffles you, don’t worry – just turn up on Sundays at the Dock Walk and I’ll give you a CD containing the podcasts for the coming week (for free!) – so as long as you can push ‘Play’ on a CD player, you’ll be OK!

I really think that Wordlive is a fantastic, largely untapped resource.  It’s changed my life and made a big difference in my own walk with God, and I think it can make a big difference to people who connect with The Dock.  So let’s give it a go!