Dear Bob and Logos Staff:

Cynthia here. You know me--the nagging voice that pops up every now and then to ask a question (usually about how to search for something), or to rally for "the little guy."

I HONESTLY don't know where to start. Well, I take that back---I do. Let me start by saying that while I'm sure many people can (and possibly will), come on this thread and speak of all the things they are not happy about or wish were fixed (usually stuff that's WAY over my head and so I have no idea (yet) how to use it), can I just take this time to say THANK YOU! Thank you for Logos 8! I have had some time now with it, and I am SO very pleased by the changes.

1) Thank you for listening and incorporating workflows! While not perfect, I see you constantly working to better them and their features. Incorporating them at all was the start, as we have to start somewhere, right?! I absolutely LOVE them. It is the first place I go when I'm showing someone the software and how to study with Logos. I am able to take someone with NO Logos experience at all and in a matter of minutes, they are studying and navigating through Logos, oohing and aahhing over what they see it can do and desiring to learn more about it's capabilities.

2) Thank you for listening and incorporating (and continuing to work on) the search feature. I am finding things in my library I didn't even know I had. Also (and I know this shows you just how lost I was with Logos 7 and earlier), but I have finally, for the first time since purchasing Logos 4, been able to

regularly use my collections (I love having that in the library side panel!),
tag my resources (first time I've ever fully tagged all my resources because I never knew how to effectively search my library for my tagged resources),
narrow down my library to find resources more specific to what I was looking for by using the search template and library side bar.

This has been invaluable for me, as my time searching used to be so frustrating for me that I would wind up spending more time LOOKING for resources than actually studying and ENJOYING those resources.

3) Thank you that somehow (and I guess there are some who would argue otherwise), Logos 8 is MUCH faster for me than Logos 7. I'm not sure how you did it, and I really don't care, but all I know is that I didn't change ONE piece of hardware or change ONE thing in my software, and Logos 8 has wings compared to the tortoise Logos 7. And it's not just on my PC either-- it's the same on my Mac Book Pro. I recall having an odd problem in the beginning, but you guys had me do something and I haven't had an issue since.

So, what does this all come down to for a novice user such as myself? Less frustration and more time! And who doesn't want that?

Oh, and one last thank you...THANK YOU for being present here on the boards, for asking questions about how to make the program better, and for listening. You're not just hearing--you're LISTENING! So while I know that each day you come on here and read all the posts about what we want (and we sure do want a lot, don't we Wink ), thank you for taking what we say, considering it, and giving us so much of what we want. It's not an easy task, and as you know, you will never please everyone. Yet, I think that for the first time in a long time, you have bridged the gap between the novice and power user, giving each level of user some of what we want and lots of what we don't even know we need.

Praying His wisdom and blessings upon you, as you continue making decisions on how to better a software that is used by so many who serve His children,

Cynthia Feenstra

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Comments

David Thomas

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Earl Tipton

Well said Cynthia. I too am getting far more functionality out of the search feature, for the same reasons you listed. Two more thumbs up.

Steve Maling

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056727#Comment_1056727

I join in the thank you to Bob&Co., but also to Cynthia for expressing thanks so well.

Josh

Well said! Very grateful for the continual improvements in the software - even big tech companies like Google have a poor track record of maintaining software for more than a couple of years, so we have a lot to be thankful for.

Anthony Dowden

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056733#Comment_1056733

I add my “Amen“ to Cynthia’s post! Thank you all.

Rob Bruce

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056754#Comment_1056754

Well said Cynthia!

Jack Caviness

Well said

Joe Mayden

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056785#Comment_1056785

Someone said, Seek first to Understand and then be Understood. Over and over I see where Logos, Faithlife seek to understand what we need and then make it happen. Logos enables me to be better pastor, bible teacher, counselor. It allows me to do more in less time so I can spend more time with Him who rewards my faithfulness with those who need to hear of His. Thanks Logos, Thanks Bob for leading the team.

I nominate Cynthia to be the one who reminds us to be thankful!

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056791#Comment_1056791

I nominate Cynthia to be the one who reminds us to be thankful!

This makes me smile. Thank you!

Jack Hairston

What Cynthia said. After getting used to L8, I really like it. Thanks Bob&Co for continuing to improve it.

Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056830#Comment_1056830

Amen, and amen! Since the new version, I have tried out both the Passage Exegesis Workflow (in my study of 2 Thess. 1, and then the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (2 Thess. 2, 3). It has meant many months of Logos-guided fun! In fact, I have now decided that my Favourite Thing, is when I'm told to summarise my passage in 25 words or less. No easy task when you're proceeding one whole chapter at a time! But what it does is really let you see if you HAVE understood what you've been studying, and bring it right down to its essentials. Wheee-hoo! [<:o)]

Another thing I did is invest in some of the recommended resources as they come up in the teaching section of the workflow, so that I could read up a bit more on what is trying to be accomplished by any given step.

Now the one thing I'm probably doing differently than most is that I'm doing it by hand, not typing my study into Logos as I go. I will love my colour pencils and paper Bible and notepaper till I die (I use a fountain pen... that should tell you all you need to know!) [:D] Once my notes are complete, I scan them up into Microsoft OneNote which has all my studies over the years. Yes, it's a big file.[;)]

I also had the pleasure three years ago of visiting Logos' HQ in Bellingham, and seeing how it all gets done - what fun! I highly commend that to every Logos user if they are in that neck of the woods! Just give 'em a call in advance and they will welcome you with open arms!

I.Love.It. Thanks Logos!

Glenn Crouch

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DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056841#Comment_1056841

Thank You! Thank you very much! 👍😁👌

DAL

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056841#Comment_1056841

Amen to everything Cynthia said. With all the improvements and means to access my library like the web and tablet, I now spend much more productive hours getting answers to my questions.[8-|][8-|][8-|]

Bruce Dunning

Thank you

Thank about sums it up!

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056834#Comment_1056834

Amen, and amen! Since the new version, I have tried out both the Passage Exegesis Workflow (in my study of 2 Thess. 1, and then the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (2 Thess. 2, 3). It has meant many months of Logos-guided fun! In fact, I have now decided that my Favourite Thing, is when I'm told to summarise my passage in 25 words or less. No easy task when you're proceeding one whole chapter at a time! But what it does is really let you see if you HAVE understood what you've been studying, and bring it right down to its essentials. Wheee-hoo!

I love the way that you said that..."it has meant many months of Logos-guided fun!" I agree. And, like you, I have discovered much about not only Logos the program, but also resources in my library and resources available for purchase.

However, I have to agree with you about summarizing the passage. It ISN'T easy, but it really challenges me. I'm not necessarily a succinct person (hint, see my original post! LOL), but agree that in summarizing the passage in 25 words or less, I'm challenged to get to the "bones" of the text, and I like that!

Now the one thing I'm probably doing differently than most is that I'm doing it by hand, not typing my study into Logos as I go. I will love my colour pencils and paper Bible and notepaper till I die (I use a fountain pen... that should tell you all you need to know!)

This is probably going to shock you, but like you, I use my paper Bible, my colored pencils, and my notepaper! "The pencil is the best eye," and I find I retain MUCH more if I write it out. So, I HAND WRITE everything first, but I don't scan them. I keep them in my notebook and then ultimately type them up. I don't save notes in Logos because, well...you STILL have to have a Ph.D. to figure out notes in Logos, but I'm believing they really want to make it better so who knows what the future holds. Anyway, because I teach, I find that typing up my notes is better for quick glancing, but I start by handwriting everything, using my colored pencils and symbols and everything for my observation worksheets, etc., etc., etc. Then, later I transfer everything to digital, so I get it not just in handwriting but also in typing. However, I TREASURE my handwritten notes and observations. By the way...have you ever tried this. I have a tradition where whatever book I'm studying, I hand write it out. I'm currently studying Galatians, so as I study the text sections, I hand write it out. I'm always pleasantly surprised at the value!

Mr. Victor

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1056929#Comment_1056929

Amen to everything said. The workflows have definitely been a game-changer for me. Although it still feels like a large portion of my library goes untouched, workflows have helped bring that number down from what seemed like close to 90% before.

Mike Childs

Great post, Cynthia!

Lately, I usually post complaining about something. (I really am not that much of a curmudgeon, though some people are shouting, 'Oh, yes he is!')

But I want to second Cynthia's post, and say that I love my Logos Bible Software. I have never regretted buying it. It is one of the best investments in my ministry that I ever made. Thanks to the entire Faithlife organization. I whole-heartedly endorse Logos!

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1057040#Comment_1057040

Cynthia,

I add my voice to those who applaud your post. Your posts are among those I look forward to reading. Also I agree with those who have opined that their Logos value has grown with them. Thank you for taking the time to tell Logos what they have gotten right. L8 is among my favorite iterations of the software and if the Search Query is soon forthcoming I will truly be a happy camper. Thank you FL!

Armin

2) Thank you for listening and incorporating (and continuing to work on) the search feature. I am finding things in my library I didn't even know I had. Also (and I know this shows you just how lost I was with Logos 7 and earlier), but I have finally, for the first time since purchasing Logos 4, been able to

regularly use my collections (I love having that in the library side panel!),

tag my resources (first time I've ever fully tagged all my resources because I never knew how to effectively search my library for my tagged resources),

narrow down my library to find resources more specific to what I was looking for by using the search template and library side bar.

This has been invaluable for me, as my time searching used to be so frustrating for me that I would wind up spending more time LOOKING for resources than actually studying and ENJOYING those resources.

I am still struggling with the search feature, especially with the large number of results in a larger library. Can you explain a bit more about 1,2 and 3?