My Favorite Things

Every year Oprah hosts a show about her "Favorite Things."  In a similar manner, I want to share some of my favorite things that relate specifically to doing the work of an itinerant evangelist.  Just in time for you to request the right present for Christmas this year.  I'm sure that all evangelists who have been on the road for a few years have some great things they could share as well - feel free to comment and add your own favorite things.

1. Aero Bed - $125 at Costco - My wife and I loooove the Aero Bed.  It is the King of air mattresses.  It is one of the most comfortable air mattresses I have ever slept on in my experience of traveling.  One of the concerns of traveling is how sleeping on different mattresses effects our back and spine.  Having the same mattress like the Aero Bed that is comfortable, can be customized in stiffness and gives consistency make "no place to lay our head" much, much easier.

2. Sidestep - free at sidestep.com - My wife has become an expert travel agent (unofficially) with the help of the internet and discount airfare website like sidestep.com.  One of the secrets of sidestep is to create a log in name.  When you do this, you are able to see various prices if your trip dates are somewhat flexible.  For instance, some friends of ours called their parent's travel agent and call a quote of around $1,000.  They looked on discount travel sites and found it for $450.  I browsed sidestep and by simply leaving a day early, found the airfare for $260.  A huge savings that is especially useful for those of us who travel frequently.

3. McDonalds coffee - $2 - This probably won't be applicable for everyone, but I'm a self admitted coffee fanatic.  Now, McDonald's coffee isn't the greatest, but it is decent for all those trips to rural US areas, that can leave us hanging for our coffee craving.  I prefer my coffee with regular syrup and half the normal amount of cream and sugar McDonald's uses.

4. iPhone - $200 - The iPhone is a one of a kind phone/iPod, but for those who haven't seen one up close, contains over a dozen incredibly useful tools for those of us who travel. 
-Built in GPS and maps that is very user friendly.  A necessity for travelers.
-Weather for your home town and allows you to add cities you will be traveling to in order to decide what to back before you leave.
-iPod with music and videos in your pocket.  Not only does it make it compact and easy to bring your worship music with you, but it has built in speakers that you can use as a stereo for prayer music in your room.
-Alarm clock and appointment clock (with your calendar always with you as well).  Allows you to get up and be where you need to be on time.
-Contacts always with you on the go to add new friends in your phone and to make important calls while away from home.
-Camera for pictures of the ministry taking place.
-Voice recorder for voice notes or sermon podcasting.
-Much, much more ...

5. Skype - free at skype.com - A video conferencing tool on your computer that can be downloaded and used for free.  An amazing tool that missionaries around the world are taking huge advantage of.  Allows you, while on the road, to stay in touch with family and friends.  Incredible tool.

6. Keynote - $90 - The best presentation tool I've seen.  Compared to the traditional power point, allows for videos (free using TubeTV and YouTube or other video sites), pictures (free using google images), fun transitional stuff, and amazing layout designs.

7. Vistaprint - various at vistaprint.com - super cheap way to make prayer cards, postcards, mailers, magnets, bookmarks, etc.  Best prices I've found.

Thanks for reading, feel free to add your own thoughts by commenting.