brent(inWorship)

So, I decided to jailbreak my iPhone 4…

In the past I had jailbroken my iPhone to allow me to access features that were not available yet. Things like taking video and wallpapers and even tethering back in the day(I dont do this anymore…see final thoughts).

As the iPhone has improved, I found less and less reason to jailbreak and I was not going to jailbreak my iPhone 4 at all. But , I still had one thing missing. Google Voice. So, last night I jailbroke my iPhone 4.

As of this week, there is one resource for jailbreaking an iPhone 4…

jailbreakme.com

They are getting a lot of publicity, for two reasons.

First, is that they are the first jailbreaking option that is completely web based and is handled 100% from your iPhone. All you do is go to jailbreakme.com on your iPhone browser and follow the directions. In a matter of minutes (depending  on your WiFi speed) you are ready to go and Cydia is installed. Of course, being so early to the game, there are some options that still need upgrading and apps that need to be built for iPhone 4.

Second, Jailbreakme is able to do this by using a security exploit in Safari. This has been big news as of yesterday. Safari has a security flaw (begin massive gaspos and concerns here…). Im not concerned. There will be a patch for it soon. this flaw on the mobile browser is similar to the one they had on the desktop browser and have since fixed it. BUT, to be safe, do not download or access any PDF data on your mobile browser, unless you can trust the source 100%. This is how outside people can gain access to your device…like Jailbreakme. If you are jailbroken and are concerned over this exploit, there is a fix for it… 

Jailbreakme is 100% safe and reliable. But it is susceptible to its issues. Jailbreaking can cause issues with your iPhone. including bricking it and making it unsusable. Also, I found that my sons iPhone 3GS would not upgrade until I hade iOS 4.0.1 installed.

In the end, I did it. I wanted Google Voice. There is an app called GV Mobile that is built for Google Voice. There is a free version and a paid version called GV Mobile+ for $1.99. For iPhone 4 users, I recommend the paid version. I could not get the free version to work, but the paid works perfectly. As time goes along, this app will be updated to allow for multi tasking. Which will then give us options like push notifications and active background interaction. For now, if you are a Google Voice user and are dying to get it on your iPhone, go for it. Jailbreakme.com and GV Mobile

Side note, RE: Tethering. Although the US government has deemed jailbreaking your iPhone legal, this does not mean we are able to exploit AT&T or Apple beyond what is legal. Tethering is not legal. It is illegal and could void your contract with AT&T. And if you think they dont know you are tethering, you are wrong. AT&T is able to track all data from your specific device and make decisions based on irregular activity and place of usage. Be cautious and make good decisions. 

(If you’re interested, MiFi and 3G Unrestrictor allow for using WiFi only apps over 3G. So things like Facetime and Skype are now 3G capable with these apps.)

Audrey Assad | “Everything Is Yours”

I picked up the new Audrey Assad album yesterday. Its good.

When I listen to music, I tend to critique. I tend to pick a part lyrics, chord structure and most of all production/performance. Its easy to do. Most music today is thrown together or rehashed production from another album.

I love to listen to music that makes me think less about the production and more about the heart. I love it when the elements disappears and I just “hear” it.

Audrey’s songs do this.

In light of so many hurts right now (In friends and family), I was struck by one song immediately.

“Everything Is Yours”

When all the world is blossoming
When everything around is bursting into life
And I dont have to strain to hear the beat of Your heart

When all the world is under fire
The skies are threatening to thunder and rain
And I am overcome by fears that I cant see

If everything is Yours
Everything is Yours
If everything is Yours
Im letting it go
It was never mine to hold…

Who could command the stars to sing
Or hold the ranging seas from breaking through the doors
And tend the fragile roses with the very same hands

If everything is Yours
Everything is Yours
If everything is Yours
Im letting it go
Cause everything is Yours
Let it go
It was never mine to hold…

You can listen to the song here… 

WorshipRises EP - Releases July 13th!

Im excited for my buddy Chris Vacher. This last year, he has led a group of songwriters/worship leaders/pastors. The outcome is “Worship Rises”

Head over to Chris’s blog and read all about it!

You Did It! (Alece’s Computer Fund)

I am so blown away how so many of you came together to raise funds for Alece’s new computer. You did it. This morning, I ordered it!!!

So, here are a few details…

We raised $1700 Total. 35 separate Donations were made. That’s almost $50 a piece. And we did it in less than 2 weeks.

So, from the bottom of my heart…Thank you!

Final Update On My Dad…For Now…

Today, my Dad left the hospital! It is not without its fears, but there are definitely more celebrations today.

This morning, he finally had his MRI. The DR gave him the diagnosis. Multiple Strokes. It is amazing that my Dad is in the condition he is in. Each day, he is regaining use of his arm and DR’s believe he will have a full recovery. There is no permanent brain damage or other issues to speak of. We are blown away. To expand on our amazement, the massive clots in his Coratid artery are not on there way into the brain, they are on their way OUT! These massive clots went through my Dad’s brain and caused the strokes. And yet, he went almost completely unaffected by them. Amazing. 

I credit your prayers. Thank you! I am so blessed to have so many of you praying. Thank you!

So, next week my Dad still has to discuss with a specialist a plan of attack to get the clots out and to stint the Coratid Artery. That is a very evasive process. And, with my Dad’s condition, can be very dangerous. We will deal with that when it comes. Today, I am grateful and blessed. And I thank all of you for your thoughts, messages and prayers!!!

Thank you!

Update #2 On My Dad…

I just want to start again by saying thank you. Your prayers and notes and messages are amazing.

So, today there was some frustration, but possible great news as well!

My Dad needs an MRI to figure out how much damage was done to his brain, if there is any damage at all. The MRI has been rescheduled 3 times and is now supposed to happen tomorrow am at 8. We are anxious for this. 

Now, the possible good new. The Doctor has had a chance to look through all the data and scans they have taken so far. She believes there are 2 options. #1 Stroke. #2 Seizure. The reason this is good news is that my Dad does deal with seizures. Not the crazy whole body seizures. The frontal lobe kind. Its mostly a distraction and he can have quite a few before it takes his energy and strength away. But this one may have been more intense. Thats great news, because its controllable and it does not create lasting damage.

There is still the issue of the clots in his Coratid Artery. This still will be dealt with and the MRI will give a real good view of how bad it is. He was told between 60-90%. Thats horrible. Just the lack of bloodflow alone can cause strokes or death. So, this will be the big issue to deal with in the future.

But, all in all, a good day. He is strong and looks great. He is up and around as if nothing ever happened. This is also part of the reason it may have been a seizure.

So, this means your prayers have done 2 things. First, they have kept him safe. Second, they have allowed this whole situation to be an opportunity for the Doctors to find the clots! We would never have known. He had to be in the hospital, with the treatment he is getting, to have found these clots. 

So, thank you. Keep praying!

Update on My Dad…And, Thank You…

First of all, thank you so much for all your amazing prayers and notes and messages. I am overwhelmed.

Today, my Dad is suffering from stroke like symptoms. He has lost most the control of his left arm and is struggling with his legs as well.

So far they have done a CT scan and Ultrasound. They are planning an MRI in the morning. What they have found is that my Dad’s Coratid Artery is full of clots. This is very bad. From the symptoms he is having, we know something has already moved into his brain. The concern is that nothing else dislodges. If it does, the clotting could cause more severe strokes or death. The MRI will determine how much has already passed through. The ultrasounds will determine how to go after the existing clots in the artery.

2 things to pray for…

#1 That the stroke symptoms he is having stay small and temporal. There is a good chance in his condition now, that he can fully recover.

#2 Pray for the procedures they will perform to clear the clots. They have to stint the artery and clear out the existing clots. This is a big deal. The clots are very dangerous and can dislodge at anytime. This Coratid artery is very large and has large amounts of blood flow. My Dad has Lupus and is on blood thinners for past heart issues. His blood barely clots. This surgery will be very dangerous.

Thank you so much for all the prayers and thoughts. Please keep my mom in prayer as well. They are a team. When Dad hurts, she hurts…

A Warning To iPhone Upgraders…RE: Data Plan

I am upgrading all 4 of our family’s iPhones. We sold our used ones and as of yesterday have upgraded the kids to the 3Gs and on the 15th I will be ordering the 4 for Tammy and me.

All of you know about AT&T’s data plan change. They no longer offer an unlimited data option. It is either 2GB a month for $25 or $15 per month for 200MB. Now, if you are an existing iPhone user and have the $30 per month data plan, you are grandfathered in and can keep it of you choose. (For more info on this, here is a great writeup!)

So, when we went to upgrade our kids yesterday, I was obviously concerned we would be able to keep our data plan. To add to confusion, we upgraded at WalMart where the 16GB 3Gs is $97 right now! But, you will see, that didnt matter.

Here is my warning…

We explained our concerns to the employee. The manager then got on the phone with AT&T customer service to walk us through the transaction. We upgraded 2 lines. AT&T made notes on our accounts saying what we were doing and that we wanted to keep the $30 unlimited plan. It didnt work. One of our lines had the $30 unlimited plan cancelled and we were signed up for the limited plan. (NOT HAPPY!) So, I spent this morning on the phone with AT&T directly to fix the problem. They know the situation. They have the notes. They said this was done wrong…and there was nothing they could do. They had to open a case to reverse the mistake. (REALLY NOT HAPPY!)

I went on to ask about the upgrade for the iPHone 4 and if we’d have the same problem. They told me…MAYBE! This is AT&T customer service directly saying there is no guarantee that the upgrade transactions will be done correctly.

So, be bold and detailed when upgrading your iPhone. There is no guarantee that they will probably credit your account and keep the existing data plan in place. Dont assume it will be there. Walk through the process with them. Be Bold!

____________________________________

UPDATE!!!

We just received a text from AT&T saying everything has been reversed and we are back into our $30 plan.