Designing Your Ministry

Misunderstood Ebenezer

2011-12-21T15:59:00.001-08:00

Today, I have decided to depart a bit from my usual design, social media, technology postings to write about a subject that has been been on my mind the last few days. It was made even more apparent today, so I decided to go ahead and put it out there in my own words..

Most of us grew up either reading the classic Charles Dickens novel, or even watching a variation of A Christmas Carol. The story has been made into lots of movies, including Christian themes, and even with Mickey Mouse.

There might be a few people who haven’t heard of it, but at this time of year it is a fixture. But do we really know the man behind the story? As Paul Harvey used to say, this is the rest of the story.

The main character is Ebenezer Scrooge. His name has become synonymous with people who pinch pennies as well as people who do not get into a holiday spirit at Christmas time. We are very quick to judge those who do not seem in a jolly mood as being a ‘scrooge,’ even if we do not know the underlying cause for their lack of enthusiasm.

Some might even blame it on depression or other mental health reasons, but did you ever stop and think there could be a reason for the discouragement, lack of excitement, or even the lack of free willing generosity of some?

Times Are Hard

Even in the storyline, Dickens wrote about the economic hardship of many much similar to what we are facing today. There was not a lot to go around, and yet people were doing the best they could to survive without help. Wages were down, and the lifestyle at the time was very diminished. People did not live on credit like we do today, but actually paid for what they used or consumed. In that respect, maybe in some ways it was a better time because they weren’t obsessed with wanting and they didn’t run up huge debt.

However, it is assumed by the storyline that Scrooge is a banker. He loaned money and expected a return on his money. And for the most part, because of his job, we assume he was a very greedy, selfish man. He does make his employee work hard, that is without doubt, but as the story unfolds we only think of him as a rude, uncaring individual, and even though his life is displayed before us, somehow we seem to neglect that part.

It is easy to judge people based on what we see, or what stands out in our mind, but we don’t even try to understand how they got that way.

What About Poor Scrooge?

The story talks much about how he keeps to himself, doesn’t really have any visitors, and misses a friend who is no longer around. However, much of what we focus on is what he doesn’t give to others.

Men come to ask him to help out with donations and he turns them down. The assumption from almost everyone is he wants to be alone, doesn’t care about others, and in general is a bitter old man without cause.

Usually missed in the story he gives Bob Cratchit Christmas day off with pay. It seems if you take a step back that people are always asking for something but never giving back in return. You ever treat anyone like that?

We focus on his attitude and bitterness, but we really do not look deeper into his life to see how he got that way. Maybe if we did, even our attitude toward others who are hurting might change.

Misunderstanding

Underlying the entire story, but missed by most, is that Scrooge is hurting, and yet only Cratchit extends any sort of kindness to him. How do you think you would feel if seemingly everyone treated you that way? Only taking, never giving back.

We see their loneliness, their discouragement, but instead of extending a hand, we only talk to them when we need something. Or rather when we want something they can provide. We don’t ask them why, or try and understand how they got the way they did.

Scrooge was no different. It is in the story, but we miss it.

The Beginning Of Disappointment

As a young boy, Ebenezer Scrooge was sent to a boarding school away from his family. In fact, he doesn’t even get to go home for Christmas. His father, in a sense is willing to pay the school fees but not willing to spend any time with his son. Over time this would greatly affect anyone. He wasn’t used to spending time with others, because even his own family ‘rejected’ him.

Scrooge works hard to become self sufficient and take care of himself, but most see that as him being a miser, unwilling to share his hard earned money. He does have a low opinion of the poor, but mostly because he believes if I did it, they can.

Because he feels he must prepare for the future, he works more than he should. He must have had some kindness in him because he does get engaged to Belle.

However, she walks away when again he retreats into his work, maybe to make sure she is well taken care of, but instead she sees it as rejection and walks away.

We don’t know for sure if she was demanding or not, but lost in the story is the possibility he only wanted to care for her like she deserved, and not having been raised in a family that cared, he has a hard time identifying with that. So, of course he becomes more disengaged and reclusive. Rejected by his father who blames him for his mother’s death, (she died in childbirth, so he never got her love either) and his fiancée whom he tried to love walks away too. Giving the same circumstance, what would you do?

The Change

Toward the end of the story, Scrooge is visited by a spirit giving him glimpses of his future. He dies alone. Even after his death, people talk bad about him.

He has become so reclusive, keeping everything he makes, not willing to give back and dies without kindness.

However, he takes it upon himself to change the story. He takes charge and takes back some happiness, and we have a good positive ending.

But I find myself wondering, what if someone other than Bob Cratchit had extended him kindness, came around to visit, tried to be understanding of his situation, would the story have been even better?

We get so busy focusing on what seems to be missing from the life of Scrooge, we neglect to look at those who helped to form his demeanor.

Blamed for the hardship of others, even the death of his mother. Misunderstood by the girl he loved, those who would come around only wanted his money, how did they expect him to act?

How About Our Attitude?

In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about being sick and no one visiting; being hungry and no one feeding him; being thirsty and no one giving him a drink.

It is easy to get caught up in our own lives and I understand that. However, are we just as guilty as those who treated Scrooge wrongly? Do we extend our hand to the hurting? Do we visit the sick? Do we try and understand what they are going through? Or do we not take a second thought about it, unless we need something from them?

In taking a look at A Christmas Carol, we focus so much on Scrooge’s behavior, we miss the behavior of those who made him who he was. He gets the blame, even though in the end, his attitude changes.

How about yours?

Do you only take but not give back? Do you forget that the one that is no longer with you is possibly hurting? Do you know the story behind what they are going through? Do you visit them when they are sick?

Or do you walk away like Scrooge’s father and fiancée?

How much would it cost us to give someone a call? Or even go visit them? Do you put money in the red buckets at the entry to most stores? Do you hurry past them or even those begging beside the road to go get ‘what you need?’ Are they deserving of just being cast aside?

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. Matthew 25:42-45

Challenge

I challenge you this Christmas to make a change. Instead of just ignoring that Christmas card in the mail, send them one back with a letter, or give them a call. Reach out to someone who might be lonely and invite them to lunch, or at least church.

Give a little bit extra to those who are collecting for a charity, or take some food to someone who might be hungry. And especially if someone gives you a gift, even if you cannot afford to give one back, show some gratitude. It could be you being Ebenezer next year.

The God Of 4th Quarter Comebacks?

2011-12-18T16:43:00.001-08:00

This past week there has been a multitude of news stories both online and on major media about Tim Tebow. It hasn’t been just about his achievements on the field lately, but rather most of the articles or broadcasts focused on the fact that he kneels to pray and give thanks to God.

The way Tim kneels down on the sideline has become such a phenomenon that he has been emulated all over the world.

Tebowing

In school hallways, sporting events, on desert sands, and more there have been people who have kneeled down similar to Tim Tebow does in games. Are they giving thanks to God? Mocking? Or is it just a fad or a salute to the man for what he has accomplished lately?

I really do not know.

Let me set the record straight. I am a diehard Denver Broncos fan. I have been since before Elway. I have jerseys, signed trading cards, and random trinkets of the Broncos. In good times or bad I am a fan. So, it doesn’t hurt my feelings that Tebow has played as well as he has. In fact, I am thrilled.

However, this act of ‘Tebowing’ has caught on so much there is an actual website called, Tebowing.com. People from all over the world have submitted photos of themselves or others kneeling down in the pose.

Good thing? I don’t know. Are they giving glory to God? Not sure.

Tim Tebow does seem to be a good guy. He seems true to his faith, he is involved in charity, he is a good football player and team leader.

And he has done amazing the last several weeks pushing the Denver Broncos to victory in the fourth quarter. In fact, they are behind right now, it is the fourth quarter, and he has just ran in for a touchdown. Will he win again? I am not sure.

Fourth Quarter Again

As I have mentioned, somehow they have been pulling it off in the last moments of the game to win. There have been many images and video posted of Tim kneeling on the sidelines, eyes closed, alone with his thoughts or prayers.

Many have remarked of the miracle of coming from behind and managing to win anyhow. Last week seemed to be a miracle. They won the game in the last few minutes after having been beaten it seemed. And most gave credit to Tebow, but some actually gave credit to God. Yes, that God. They took it upon themselves to say God must have been helping the Broncos win. In the last few moments of the game, somehow God helps us win the victory. Amazing how familiar that sounds?

Most of us treat God the same way, even if we don’t admit it.

Our Fourth Quarter Miracles

We preach it from our pulpits. ‘Hang on, endure, your promise is coming, He will come through!,’ the words have become our anthem. From our music, to our teaching, to our brochures, and our fired up shouting, we proclaim that if we can hang on long enough God will hear us. We just have to keep keeping on.

Ever hear that? Sure you have. We all have if we have any sort of Christian background, let alone apostolic. We have become accustomed to God coming through in the last moments of life, or in meeting our need.

WHY?

Why does God seem to come through in the last few moments before it is too late? Does He somehow enjoy our stress and pain? Does He not understand what we are going through? I mean how could He allow us to go through so many trials and struggles?

Did He not say, ‘I am the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. I am God, and there is none beside me. Is anything to hard for God?’ We are talking about the creator of the Universe. The One who is omnipresent, omniscient, all powerful God.

The God of Jericho, the Red Sea, that spoke by fire for Elijah, walked on water, raised Lazarus. That same God, who came to earth as a baby robed in flesh to later die for our sins. Jesus. The I AM. All power in heaven and earth was given unto Him. And He is coming back for us.

That God!

Why does he let us stew in our troubles, let innocents die at the hands of horrible actions, doesn’t He answer our need? Or if He does, why did he wait so long? Is He really the God of the fourth quarter comeback? Just in time? An on-time God?

Yes, He is those things, but we have become so complacent, so disrespectful, so ungrateful, yet we expect Him to come through and drag us out of our problems.

Does He not have the ability to answer and deliver in the beginning? In the middle? To even stop the trial or situation from happening? Yes!

The problem is us!

He wins from the beginning, if we follow His plan. And when He wins, we win! He told us exactly how to win. We just get so caught up in trying to figure it all out. We forget to let Him be in charge at the beginning, or we get so excited at the little successes that we assume it will keep going that way, and we let down on our praise, gratitude, and even think we are the ones doing it. And then we lose.

We preach it from our pulpits how God will answer prayer, and then we try to figure out how he will do it. And when he doesn’t do it our way, our time, our… we give up, whine, murmur, complain, get depressed, and get angry at Him.

The fix is pretty simple really:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Quit making Him be a come from behind, fourth quarter God. Let Him lead from the beginning, listen and follow His way. Win from the beginning.

How is this about Christmas?

Yes, I realize this doesn’t seem like a Christmas message, but it is. He came to earth, born in a manger as a baby because He knew the troubles of life. He came to rescue us once again, and even more, take us to be with Him always. Only problem is we have to put Him in our game, or we can’t win.

This year for Christmas give Jesus something back. Give Him the gift of gratitude, praise, and love. He’s been good all ~~year~~… well always.

Oh, and by the way, today Denver lost. I wonder what the media will say about this next week?

No Room for Him… Again

2011-12-03T08:00:00.001-08:00

This time of year there is a certain respect for most people about the birth of Christ, even if you do not claim to be a Christian.

From children singing ‘Away In A Manger’ to living Nativity scenes in local communities, everyone knows that there is going to be more talk, images, and references to Jesus and His birth.

While the multitudes of people do not acknowledge Him in their own personal lives, they do accept that Christmas is directly related to Christ’s birth and they don’t seem to mind. They may even display Christian symbols; angels, crosses, doves, crèches, mangers on tables, walls, doors, and Christmas trees.

However, there is a growing group of people who are trying everything in their power to not only remove references to Christianity from our lives, they even want to remove Him from Christmas. They have decided that while we cannot discriminate against and must even respect Muslims, Buddhists, or other pagan religions, that Christianity must at all costs be removed from our lives.

In God We Trust

This phrase has appeared on U.S. coins since 1864 and on paper currency since 1957. It has been a part of our daily lives for most of us since birth, and while it does not specifically say Jesus Christ is Lord, it is the accepted reference, and there have been factions that have tried to remove it from our money, or any other U.S. document, building, or monument because of the constitutional statute of separation of church and state. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this is not a violation of that statute, but still in all there are secular groups that use this as their banner ideology in removing God due to their own opinion that this violates the constitution.

Monuments, plaques, or other displays that include any references to the God of The Bible are considered issues. From the Ten Commandments to crucifixes, The Pieta, and other religious icons are being torn down, or at the very least issues of contention for many who want God removed from view.

It makes one wonder why there is also not such an outcry against Buddhas, Muhammads, Wiccan, and other images? Do they not consider them religious symbols as well? No room for Him here.

Politics Over Personal Preference?

Now, let me make it clear, I am a practicing Christian in all aspects of my life. I do believe that God is integral even in the DNA of every human body, and I believe that the message must reach every person that they may be saved.

When it comes to being aggressive against other religions, politicians, ideologies, or creeds, I have not adopted a stance of hate against anyone. Even those with values I find abhorrent and against every principle of the Bible, I have chosen not to attack. People are people, and all humankind deserves life.

The Bible says all have sinned, and while there are certain beliefs that are in fact, sin, even God himself gave us free will. Regardless of whether or not you choose to live a sinful life, and are in direct violation against the scriptures, I am not your judge.

However, there are certain aspects of my beliefs that make me want to take a stand and shout unto the heavens against the forcible actions that are attempting to remove Christ from my life and the lives of others. This past year it has became abundantly more clear, that as Christians we must take a stand against the current ideologies of the current U.S. Government administration. Their philosophies and bias has become part of the force to remove Christ, God, and other Christian principles, even inferred ones, from our country. Plenty of room for Buddha, Muhammad, and other religious icons but no room for Christ.

Did You Know?

On September 14, 2011 Chief of Staff C.W. Callahan of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center sent out a memo about policies that cover guidelines for wounded, ill, and injured partners in care (our wounded soldiers). It stated that, 'No religious items (i.e. Bibles, reading material, and/or artifacts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit.’

A Republican lawmaker denounced the policy on the House floor and called on President Obama to publicly renounce the military policy.

‘That means you can’t bring in a Bible and read from it when you visit your son or your daughter, perhaps – or your wife or husband,” Representative King said. ‘It means a priest that might be coming in to visit someone on their death bed couldn’t bring in the Eucharist, couldn’t offer Last Rites. This is the most outrageous affront.’

This would also mean our own Apostolic preachers, or even the soldier’s family could not bring in a prayer cloth, or even giving one of their own magazines, books, tracts, or other religious materials to the wounded soldier.

While Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has said this was not their expressed intent to restrict soldier’s families from praying for them, the policy was enacted as to not force ‘one’s religion on others who may be nearby.’

President Obama has made no comment or taken any action on this issue as of the writing of this article.

No room for Him even with our wounded soldiers who have fought for our liberties?

Removing Christ From Christmas & Thanksgiving

There have been a lot of over the past two years about changing the wording of Christmas celebrations to Holiday or other derivatives.

This year has been no different and unless you have been living in a cave somewhere you are well aware of stories that have come out about communities changing the names of Christmas displays to Holiday displays on the premise that just saying the word, ‘Christmas’ can be construed as offensive.

Our stores are packed with Christmas sales and shoppers and no one seemed to mind regardless of their personal beliefs about that. In fact this year on ‘Black Friday’ was considered one of the best sales days in recent years, even in a bad economy, but let’s get rid of the word ‘Christmas’ anyway.

I am wondering if they changed it to Holiday sales, would people still come out and shop, and what about sales on other acknowledged holidays? Maybe we should remove the name of all holidays, including Independence Day, because it will surely offend someone. If we are intent on removing Christ from Christmas, then what is the difference?

Remove Valentine’s Day from any mention and I wonder what kind of outcry would there be to that? After all there are many who are single, alone, lonely and do not like that day. But no, this is just one other way to remove Christ from our lives.

Even our own President this year made no reference to God or Christ in his Thanksgiving message. He said to be thankful, but doesn’t being thankful require giving thanks to someone? It is an action word even though we have made it more about turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie, than about being grateful to God for giving us another year. I wonder what the Pilgrims would think?

President Obama also this year when bringing in the official national Christmas Tree, called it a ‘Holiday Tree’. For someone who has been very vocal to say he is a ‘Christian’ to put down distractors who say he is in fact a Muslim, and likely not even an American, I am amazed that he is so afraid of offending that he would call it a Holiday Tree instead of a Christmas Tree. Or is not that he is afraid of offending at all, but instead is like many out there who want Christ removed from Christmas?

If Christ were to be born today instead of two thousand years ago, would there be a bed for Him in the White House?

Is There Room For Him In Your Life?

In John chapter five, Jesus said, ‘I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.’

From His birth to His death, it seemed that many had no room for Jesus. Sure, when it came to miracles and blessings, they wanted in on that. His messages might have moved them on the hillside, and of course the healings and miracles moved people to such a frenzy that the government of that time, much like ours today, plotted to remove Him out of fear of His taking power away from them.

But it goes much deeper than that, many of us do not acknowledge Him in our lives either. We are quick to point out others who would want Christ removed, but possible due to unconscious neglect, or perhaps a whittling away of our faith, we don’t often think of Him either.

I have a print of the cover from The Saturday Evening Post in November 1951 hanging on the wall in my kitchen. It depicts an elderly lady and her grandson praying in a restaurant over their meal, while others look on with great interest.

I have seen movies, and even TV shows from the era that had families gathered around the table saying ‘grace.’ Yet, for many of us, praying over our food has fallen by the wayside. We are in such a hurry running through the fast food drive-thru that we grab our food out of the sack, take a drink from our soda or coffee and back on to the hustle of our lives, without a thought to stop and say a prayer.

Now I realize most of us are in a hurry, but we don’t pray over our meals when we go out with friends or family either, for that matter most of us do not pray over food in our own homes, except for maybe at Thanksgiving or Easter. It has become an afterthought.

Growing up, I remember we always prayed over meals no matter where we were. We would pray before we went to bed, or on a trip somewhere, and many of us had daily family devotions of bible reading and prayer before we would start our day. It was a normal part of our lives. In fact, in my house even guests spending the night, missionaries or evangelists that were staying with us, would also get up early in the morning before my father left for work to read a chapter out of the Bible and each individual prayed one after the other from the youngest that could speak even a phrase or two being helped, to the oldest person in the family. It was a part of our lives.

But now it seems we are too busy. Our Bibles sit on a shelf or table, unless we are headed to church. We get up and eat, or go to bed crashing from the day without taking time to pray or read the Word. I admit I am as guilty as anyone when it comes to personal devotions and prayer. We can make all kinds of excuses, but really it comes down to effort. We don’t take the time because He is not ever present in our thoughts. Maybe that is part of the reason for the decline in marriages working, families being dysfunctional, and the ever increasing amount of tragedies and disappointment in our lives. No room for Him.

Is There Really Room For Him In Your Ministry ?

We shout it out from our pulpits and pews to our literary publications, broadcasts, and music. We exclaim our love and passion for Him and our burden for others to know Him. We rave against those who teach false doctrine, we sign petitions and share emails with references to Christ or His removal from our lives.

We are quick to let it be known we are not the same as others who believe different from us, in fact we often criticize others who do not have the same doctrines or dogmas.

Yet while we criticize other faiths, we see them on the streets sharing their message while we keep our enclosed in the four walls of our sanctuary. We used to be about door knocking, handing out tracts, raising money for missions by collecting aluminum cans or selling baked goods in our shopping malls.

Many a church was built by selling peanut brittle door to door, and many times the life we lead away from church was the instrument for others coming to visit our church, even if we were not eloquent in our speech, or aggressive in our approach.

Now, Instead of being proactive in our communities, we have become more ‘protective’ of our saints to the point that when someone leaves our congregation we stop acknowledging their existence. We have no room for those who fall away, even if they are in the hospital or going through trials that most of us cannot bear ourselves. It is much easier to criticize and cast judgment than it is to still reach out to the lost sheep. We are so adamant about keeping ‘our saints’ that we take the message out of our public schools, jobs, and other areas of our community.

But we wonder come Sunday, or a revival meeting, why the handful sitting in our pews are the ones we see all the time? But we will keep shouting about our burden for a move of God, and the revival He has promised so many times. But we will be shouting to the same ones that always hear us. After all, they know where we are. If they needed God why aren’t they coming to church?

We will preach about missing church, not paying tithes, and other parts of our doctrine and be critical about those that miss even one Sunday. But going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. Living the life, sharing the message does. Maybe because we have become so busy in our lives, ministries, programs, and plans, that we do not even realize we didn’t leave room for Him.

No Room For Him?

I woke up this morning to news about a sculpture of Christ near a Veterans Hospital in Montana that overlooks a lake. It has been there since the early 1950s, but somehow there has been a petition to have it removed recently because it might possibly offend someone.

Sixty-plus years that image of Christ has sat in the same spot, and now someone wants it gone. At first, I was outraged, and then I thought about it. An image is just an image, it is not Christ. In fact you can buy a toaster that will put an image of Christ on your morning toast each day, and no putting an image there doesn’t make you more spiritual, nor does it make your toast blessed.

However, the commentator was railing about how dare they want to remove this image? In fact this article started from that idea. But the truth is, while we rail and complain about people wanting to remove Christ from our lives, for most of us, He is not really an integral part of our lives. We call ourselves Christian, but we do not practice even the basic Christianity that used to be normal.

We used to sing, ‘This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…’ but we do not have time to even stop and whisper a prayer, read a scripture, let alone tell someone.

When is the last time, other than a church service, you picked up your Bible, said a prayer that lasted more than a minute, or told someone not about how wonderful your church is, our how your pastor said this or that, but talked about Christ Himself?

We had room for Him at one time, when we were looking up from the pits of despair, lost without knowing Christ. And even though there are countless souls in the same place, fighting the same issues you were, looking for answers but we do not have room for Him.

No Room For Him… Again

They say history repeats itself. When He came into this world, they couldn’t find a place for Him. When He ministered, He had no place to lay His head. When He died, He was buried in a borrowed tomb. We talk about Him being as close as the mention of His name, and many have shouted His name in peril, but as life slips by once again, we have no room for Him. It really isn’t that hard to find room.

Get up a little bit early tomorrow and say a prayer, or take time to read a scripture.
Take a moment when you are rushing through the checkout lane to thank God for the food you are buying.
When you see someone begging beside the road, even if you don’t have a dollar to spare, take a bit of time to pray for them, or stop and say hi.
When you think about our country and the changes that are taking us down the wrong path, instead of just getting mad, say a prayer.
When you put your child to bed, even when they wail about not wanting to go, go with them, kneel by their bed and pray a bit.
When you come home from a long day at work, take a few moments as you change clothes or prepare some food to thank God.
Take that extra food in your pantry that you know you won’t eat and give it to someone, or a local food bank.
When you are unwinding at the end of the day, take a few moments extra, put down that book or remote, and tell God how grateful you are.
Stop for a moment before you text your friends, or read updates on your Facebook page to remember that without Him none of it would exist.
Before you open your Christmas gifts this year, gather around with your family and read the Christmas story one more time. Luke 2:1-21

Make Room For Him… Again

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Facebook Changes Again

2011-09-21T14:21:00.001-07:00

How To Make The Best Of It

Once again Facebook has changed their website. It seems they do it quite a bit lately, and unfortunately this will not be the last time. It seems from the postings today, that more people are upset about it all this time. There are more changes coming in a week or two as well in part to compensate for the threat that Facebook perceives from google+.

It is frustrating I agree but here is a work around that may reduce some of your stress.

Take A Deep Breath

First off, let me say I agree with you. For the most part, many of the changes do not help anyone. Well, that is not entirely true. This is part of a grander marketing scheme to make more money by those behind Facebook. Whether it is about competition with google or not, simply put Facebook is not in this for your enjoyment, but like all websites online, it is about making money. They want the market share of your attention which makes them more viable for investors.

That said, it really doesn’t do us any good to stress to much about it. So, fret a bit, take a deep breath and move on. This will not be the last change in how your profile looks or how you keep in touch with your friends. In fact, it is likely it will not be the last change this month.

So, it is best to take a deep breath and try to relax.

Unraveling The Mystery

Now, that being taken care of, there is a way to make your Wall and Friends more useful. It isn’t a perfect, but it is better than what you have starting you in the face.

Take a look at the left sidebar.

Right away you will notice it now shows Favorites, Lists, and Groups. If you have any Pages or Apps it will also list those.

Under Favorites it shows:

Newsfeed
Events
Messages

It may show a few more titles. First, you want to go to Lists. Take another deep breath. :)

Lists

Down below that you see Lists. If you hover over Lists, it will show a link that says More. If you click on More, it will open a new page, where Facebook has broken down your friends in groups based on information from their profiles. Facebook assumes this is how you would like everyone grouped. However, it does give the option of creating your own groupings.

You can see some of mine below.

If you click on any one of the list names, Facebook has already added some of your friends to those groups based on your previous information, or your friends profile information. It does make this process a bit faster. But if you want, you can remove them from your lists or add more people to the list.

You can also create new lists and add any of your friends to them.

Notice the pencil to the side of each list. It gives you two options.

Add To Favorites
Always Hide

If you click on Always Hide, you will never see information from people in that list in your newsfeed. If you click Add to Favorites, those Lists will show up in your favorites at the top left of your page. It gets better. You can do the same thing with Pages, Apps, & Groups. All of your most important information in the top section.

Rearranging Your Favorites

You should have by now created your lists of friends you most follow. The ones you have marked as Favorites are now listed in your Favorites list. You can go one step further.

Maybe you would like your Favorites in a different order? I did. It is actually fairly simple to do.

If you hover over the different titles in your Favorites, you will again see the pencil. If you click on the pencil it gives too options.

Remove From Favorites

Rearrange

If you do not want an item in your favorites, click Remove and it will no longer be there.

Click Rearrange and you can modify the order the way you would like. Unfortunately, you cannot move the News Feed, but everything else can be moved or removed.

It will then start showing the comments, posts,etc on the different lists you have created and added to your Favorites. Makes it much easier for most people. Just click the link and the group you want to follow most is what you will see. It will stay that way unless you change to another group.

Still Want More?

The News Feed is always going to be on top of the Favorites. It will take some time, but there is another option to what you will see when you sign on to Facebook.

The most recent story by your friends should show up at the top of your News Feed.

On the top story you have several options as to what to do with that story.

Mark as top story
Hide Story
Report story or spam
Subscribe to All Updates
Subscribe to Most Updates
Subscribe to Only Important Updates
Unsubscribe from status updates, or
Unsubscribe from Friend

All of these will change what happens with that story and that friend.

On the next story down, you also have options for what you can do with the story.

Mark it as the top story
Hide the story
Report story or spam
Hide all by that friend

These two options will take time to do, because each story you see will each need to be considered unless you unsubscribe or hide those posts (stories). If you choose that option in time you will no longer see posts from that person or business.

Another Option?

Join google+ It still has a long way to go to be similar, and there are features here that are not yet available on google yet, but it works, and they don’t change every week.

Before you get too excited, guess what? Facebook is adding music features soon. Maybe next week?

Where Were You When…

2011-09-10T05:11:00.001-07:00

It is the ten year anniversary weekend of 9-11. We don’t actually mention the year when we talk about it, because the day is forever etched in our minds due to the heinous acts brought about upon our country by Muslim extremists.

Regardless of who we are, all of us have been affected by the actions of a few upon that day. Most of us, with the exception of a few toddlers, or perhaps some living in far away lands, can tell you what happened on 9-11 by just mentioning the date.

It has changed the way all of us live our lives to some degree, and for many of us we can tell you exactly where we were when it happened. Our memories take us back to that very moment without much difficulty.

We Remember Where We Were When…

It is actually hard to believe it has been ten years, unless I stop and think about it. Over the last few days, there has been lots of commentary online, on television, and wherever else we get our news. We talk about it with friends and family, and perhaps think back to the day and can tell you where we were, and what we were doing, and how we reacted the moment we heard.

Most of us had never really been affected as much by an event in our lives, on a particular day, until that moment. Yes, we can remember births, deaths, and other moments in our lives, but events that really change who we are, don’t happen very often.

I could tell you in detail the exact moment I heard about 9-11. I know where I was, what I was doing, and how I was drawn to the ongoing news about it. I couldn’t drag myself away from the television for several hours. It affected me. Our country had been attacked.

Yes, there were many who lost their lives, or loved ones upon that day, who were more deeply affected than I was, but the shock of it all will forever be a moment I won’t forget.

It reminds me of hearing stories from my parents and others when I grew up of the assassination of JFK. To this day, my dad could tell you, where he was on that moment. I remember stories from teachers and family who would talk about the great depression in similar fashion.

These were events that altered the course of their lives. But, when those hijacked jet airliners hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9-11-2001 all of us had the course of our lives altered. Even those yet to be born will be affected by that day, and will study about it in school history books for years to come. It changed our lives.

I Remember…

Maybe it was the news coverage, maybe my own thoughts, or perhaps a dream, but I woke up around 3:00 AM this morning, thinking about all of this. It brought me back to a memory of another time and another place where I was preaching about ‘Memorial Stones’ in a church where most of my family attended.

I recall the day I was supposed to preach going down by the river and getting several large stones to set up by the pulpit as a visual aid for my message. I wanted the message to impact those who heard me.

I really don’t know if anyone remembers it, but I do. In Joshua chapter four, the scripture talks about the children of Israel getting ready to go into the promise land, and Joshua commands twelve men to take stones with them, and leave them by the banks of the river Jordan.

⁶That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

⁷Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. Joshua 4:6-7

Memorial Stones

We all have moments in our lives we remember. Most of the time when we talk about memories, we talk about the good times. We don’t use stones to help us remember, but most of us have photos, or some other token that will remind us.

In fact, there are entire businesses built upon this fact. Who hasn’t went on vacation somewhere and brought back some small souvenir. Maybe a t-shirt, or perhaps a small icon of a monument, and most of us also take lots of photos.

For those of us who have become friends on Facebook, occasionally someone will post a photograph of a church camp, or some other moment captured in time, and we can look back on that image and recall good times in that place, or with those people. It is a good thing to remember.

Of course, not all of our memories are good, but it is still good to think about moments in our lives that changed the course of our destiny.

Maybe we can think back to the day we first went to school, or when we graduated for sure.

For some of us, we remember fondly back to the day we got the Holy Ghost or were baptized. Maybe it was in our local church, or perhaps at camp meeting. I recall very vividly to this day my experience at camp meeting. I can still recall the yellow shirt and white jeans I was wearing in the tabernacle at Rocky Mountain District Camp. Camp on the Boulder.

It was a good place, and many of my family and a lot of friends remember good times at that place. The power of God was so strong there. Many miracles took place there. I heard many great messages there from many men who have become leaders and icons of our faith, and I am forever grateful for the messages that they preached that impacted my life.

I know many who were there that it forever changed the course of their lives. There are some, as well, who I recall pouring out their hearts before God, but yet, they live a far different life now than they seemed to want then.

Where Were You When…

Was it simply that their lives were not as impacted as it seemed at the time? Or perhaps, other events occurred later that also changed the course of their life?

Last night I watched part of an interview with Piers Morgan. The man he was interviewing owned a company that was in the World Trade Towers at the moment the planes struck the towers on 9-11. More than six hundred of his employees died on that day.

That particular morning he would have been there as well, but it was the first day of kindergarten for his son. He had chosen to be there for his son’s first day of school and he showed a photograph of the moment. Little did he know at that very moment the terrorists had plunged one of the airliners into the first tower at World Trade Center.

When I woke up at 3:00 AM, I wasn’t thinking about all the people who lost their lives on that day, or that it took our country into two wars, or the effect the event had on this man particularly. I was thinking about his son.

What stories did this little boy hear growing up? His son would be a teenager now. What did he hear from his dad and others about what happened? He lost an uncle in that event, but how else was his life affected. What was he told? And is he living the life his father expected for him before that event?

Has It Changed Anything?

Sure, forever there are little things that have changed. Like all of us, getting on an airplane now is different. Probably, due to the changes in his dad’s company, it has changed some things. But is his life better or worse because of it, or do they even still talk about it? Is it just an after thought?

I could ask those reading this the same questions.

I remember some who were so full of excitement, and love for God and their families when I remember back to church camp. It was more than just a religious experience for those of us who got to attend, it was indeed, life changing. There are memories from those days that will forever be fond for me.

There were a lot of fun times, a few times when not everything was so fun. I recall one year when most of the camp ended up leaving sick due to some bug in the water system. But for the most part I remember good things.

For some though, I wonder if those moments meant as much as they did to me?

I also recall moments at the church I attended where lives were transformed. Messages that some individuals preached with anointing from the same pulpit I did. Some of them have passed now, but I can still recall moments of their messages that deeply affected me.

I recall my uncle preaching one Sunday, on ‘A Piece Of An Ear.’ He’s passed on now in a much better place and I am looking forward to the moment I see him again. I recall him with great love and fondness for the impact he made on my life.

Others I recall with great detail about the way they dressed up to make a point, or what happened at the end during the altar call. I remember praying for some and seeing change in them.

But where are they now? Although the message was impacting for me, and changed my life, did it change theirs? Sure, I realize other events have happened in their lives since. I know that some of them went through hardship that seemed to have no limits. But when they look back at the ‘memorial stones’ in their lives, what do they recall?

How Did It Affect Them?

The teenage boy whose dad took him to kindergarten on 9-11, has his life been good? Is he headed in the direction his dad had in mind for him on the morning he documented with a photograph at his child's school? Is he happy?

Or has his path taken a direction that his father would never approve of? Is his son now involved in drugs or some other situation that his dad only hopes will change before it is too late?

We all have events like this. Moments in time that altered our lives, sometimes shattered them. But how has it affected our children? Are they ok? If we could go back to the moment our life was changed, what were we thinking would be the outcome then? And what about our leadership? Are they leading us in the direction we should be going?

Politically, I am sure not many of us would say yes. I think most of us had a different future in mind when we look back to the moments the course of our lives changed.

I wonder if the spiritual ‘us’ from those moments would be happy with where we ended up?

Is Who We Are Who We Were Meant To Be?

If we could step back to some of the moments in time to where we were happy, where good things were happening, would we look forward to the moments we had children and be proud of where they are now? Or would the ‘us’ from that moment not be happy with the outcome of our lives or theirs.

Has our leadership taken us the wrong direction? Watchmen, what of the night? Are you leading us in the direction that is right for our souls? In Isaiah we can read of them setting the watchmen on the wall to keep their eyes open in case something happens. There is a reason God sent forth preachers and ministers. they are not just there to say a pretty message on Sunday. They are supposed to be watching for our souls and leading us in a direction that will ultimately take us to the promise.

Sadly, some have gotten more caught up in personality and performance more than in protection.

Just as 9-11 has affected all of us, the direction the ministry set for our churches also affects us. It can alter our destiny. Are we heading the direction we are supposed to be, or have we ended up off track and are just riding the rail into a path of destruction? Are you happy with where your church is? Are souls being reached? Are lives being changed? And more importantly, is it a good change?

Watchmen, what of the night?

But, it doesn’t just fall to the ministry.

When Joshua commanded them to set memorial stones, he left a lot of the responsibility on the parents. Whether or not we like it, or even accept it, it is mostly the responsibility of those of us who are older to prepare the way and direct the course of those who come after us. If we are parents, it is our responsibility to give proper direction to our children. We should be leading them in the paths that will not only benefit them in this world, but in the world to come.

Where Are You Now?

Are you where you expected you would be ten years ago? Fifteen? More? Is this the course you set for your life?

Philosophers, politicians, and others in our daily lives have led us in a direction that tends to blame the responsibility on others. It is our parents fault that we ended up this way or that. Or it is the fault of the former leader because he didn’t direct us the way we now think he should have. It is very easy to look back and cast blame for our current situation.

To some extent, they may be right in a global sense, but in personal responsibility, the blame should be cast upon ourselves. Sure, if our lives are not where they need to be, some of the responsibility can fall on our parents and leaders. We are supposed to set the direction for the generations to come. But ultimately it all comes down to personal responsibility.

Whether we are talking about our emotional, physical, secular needs or our spiritual needs it is our own responsibility to take charge of where we are. But it is still up to those who have gone before, especially our parents, to guide us in the proper direction.

So, I ask you, did you point your children in the right direction? Are you truly happy with their lives? If you could go back a few years, would you still be happy with their lifestyle? Would you do anything different? And are you happy with your own life? Is this where you thought you would end up?

Where Are We Headed?

The course of action that father took on 9-11 forever changed the direction his son’s life will take, just as much as the terrorists who hijacked those planes.

Some sacrificed their own lives to save others. While they are remembered as heroes and possibly protected us from what could have been an even greater tragedy, it still changed the lives of those they interacted with. Many of our military have also made sacrifices for our freedom that personally changed the lives of those who knew them, but it also changed the course for the rest of us.

Each of us holds the responsibility for what happens to the next generation. It doesn’t matter if we are parents, ministers, friends, teachers, or we just pass someone on the street.

The words that come out of our mouths, and the actions we take will affect someone else’s destiny.

Cain, after slaying his brother, asked God, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ YES!

We truly are our brother’s keeper. What you do today, no matter how significant it seems, it will have an effect on someone. We all have responsibility for our lives, for the lives we touch, for our family, for the generations to come.

What will your answer be, when someone asks…

Where Were You When?

Consider The Ant

2011-09-03T12:02:00.001-07:00

Have you ever really stopped and consider the ant?

Oh, I know we all do to some degree. We see them on our kitchen counter and immediately grab something to swat at them. Or perhaps we see some on the floor and look for spray to get rid of them.

We think of them as pests and dirty and do our best to get rid of them as quickly as we can, but have you ever really considered them or took time to watch what they are doing?

Randomness

I was watching some ants the other day. Well, I will be truthful. I saw a couple ants in my house, and I tried to get rid of it. It didn’t work immediately, and I found myself wondering why. I tried some bug spray, a few organic household remedies, and even asked a few people their suggestion. Nothing seemed to work. They were in a spot close to a chair in my house, never really deviated from the area too much, but I found myself watching what they were doing.

They seemed scattered. At first there was just the one heading off in some random direction. And before long there was two, then three, then a few more. They really seemed to be very individual. I didn’t notice much except they seemed to have no pattern to their direction. One would go this way, turn a couple wavy motions and seem to end up back where he started. Another took off in a different direction, and seemed to be going in a circle somewhat.

Remember, I was trying to kill them. So I would try some spray and when that didn’t work, some vinegar was suggested from a friend. Tried that, it did get a couple of them, but before long they were back and seemed to be more of them than before. But they all seemed to be going every which way with no direction. Just random patterns on the floor made by these tiny creatures. They didn’t really seem to have a purpose.

Purpose Driven

Surely there must be some specific thing they do. It does seem like they are going in no specific direction, but they can’t really all be headed no where can they? Maybe they just didn’t find what they were looking for, so they went somewhere else.

It made me think about our walk with God. Many times we see people enter our sanctuaries, come a few times, and then they don’t seem to come back. In our daily lives we probably appear like we have no purpose. Sure, we go to work, buy groceries at the supermarket, look for clothes in the mall, but we can seem to all be individuals with no specific purpose just going through life.

We too, regardless of our faith and foundation, if we do not find what we are looking for, will go off in some other direction. Looking for something we haven’t found yet. Just like the ant, we do have a purpose, and we will keep looking until we find it.

The Purpose

Today, I saw an ant again. I thought I had gotten rid of them the other day, but apparently not. But this ant instead of roving along in some random direction was attempting to carry a piece of something. I looked closer and it must have been a small piece of a chip or a cracker he found somewhere. I really don’t know where. The place where the ants have been is tiled floor. I do my best to keep my house clean, so where that came from I don’t know. But this ant was trying to get the crumb of food from wherever he found it to somewhere else.

It was bigger than him by at least 5 or 6 times, and so it would move slightly, and then I would see him come around to the other side and it would move a bit of a different direction.

In a space of about ten minutes, that crumb went about six inches. Now, in relation to our size, that is remarkable. I don’t think any of us could move a car by ourselves a mile. Especially, if it didn’t have wheels.

But then I saw a big change. All of a sudden the ant had company. Not just one ant anymore but about ten.

They grasped onto the crumb that the one ant was trying to move. And it began to move again. Only this time they were moving much faster and working together to make it happen.

Unity

We all know that there is strength in numbers. Yet many times, we leave the work to one or two, and the rest of us just reap the benefits. This ant was moving a morsel of food from where he found it to his home. Where all the other ants are. It wasn’t just for his use but for all of them. And no, I do not know where they are all going. It is somewhere unseen, I have looked diligently. But the point is, when the one needed help instead of the randomness of their actions usually, they came together for one common purpose.

They were unified to get that food source back to their home so that they can all partake of it. How do they communicate? I have no idea. It seems in this age of technology, if our battery goes dead on our cell phone we are completely lost. I have seen people sit side by side and text each other back and forth, instead of talking. I guess it is still communication, but ants do not have cell phones do they? Yet they find a way to communicate.

Communication

Unity is good. The ants were swiftly moving the crumb from the place I first noticed it, to where it needed to be for the best use. Ants have six legs if I remember science. Yet, sometimes it can be hard for us to get where we are supposed to be with two.

Yet, here were several ants, each with six legs, which you would think would slow them down, (three legged races are not fast, try it) but they somehow were working in complete harmony together to move a foot or two very rapidly.

There had to be some form of communication that had a purpose. They didn’t question it. They worked together to achieve a common goal.

I wonder how different our own personal lives, our churches, our cities would be if we could come together for one common purpose and work together without division?

Would we be able to get our focus together and act as one unit? Or would we still be scattered and traveling in some seemingly random direction, when we are all still seeking the same goal?

Focus

Yes, I still plan to get rid of the ants. I need to. I realize that I do not want my home filled with ants, but for the moment I left them alone. Crazy? Perhaps, considering I will find a way for them to not find them again where they are. But, they were united in a common goal, and they were using the resources they had available to them to achieve it.

I don’t know what communication looks like to an ant. Do they talk? Print pamphlets? Have mental telepathy? Not really sure, but they roam around looking for something, and when they find it, they come together with a common purpose. They have a focus.

Unlike them, many of us seem not to be focused. Just going through life. Our ministries also reflect this. Sure, we do ‘our thing.’ But we keep going in some random direction trying to achieve the same goal without using what is available to us.

Do we get so focused on what we are doing that we don’t look for help to make the job easier? Or is it just that we don’t communicate well enough?

Tools

Yes, we have our Bibles. Some of us actually read them, and we attempt to share the word with those we meet. We come together once, or maybe a couple more times a week to focus on our purpose but the rest of the time, we seem just to be heading in random directions.

There are methods of communication available but most of us are so used to doing in the same way we always did, and even though it hasn’t worked as well as it could have, we keep going in the same random path.

We need focus. We need communication. We need tools.

We need to reach people where they are. So, where are they?

Nearly every home in the United States has at least one or two cell phones. Most of the phones have options to look up information on the internet, or are connected through Twitter or Facebook.

Did you know that almost every home has at least one computer, and most homes have two or more? Even some of the most economically depressed areas of our communities has access to a computer at a library or school, if they don’t have a computer in their home.

Yet, only one, out of about fifty apostolic churches has a presence online. Yes, I will repeat that again. 1 in 50 apostolic churches are online.

Considering?

I am not saying you do not reach people, but you are missing a big segment of the population in your area. We head here and there, and do make some change, but we are moving slow, when we could be reaching the people where they are. And we could do it twenty-four hours a day.

Studies indicate that businesses are losing 75% of their business by not having a website online. Can you imagine that? They are only reaching 25% of their potential if they do not use a resource that really is available to all of us.

It works for ministries too. Imagine if you were reaching 75% more people than you are now?

Those who decide to take advantage of the tools available; website, Twitter, Facebook, have repeat business of 43% of those who come visit them.

Think about that in relation to your ministry. If you reached 75% more people, and 43% became full time members of your church, how big of an impact would that have on your community? How many more people could be reached if your church was 43% bigger right now? Working together in unity, just how effective could your ministry be?

The ants achieved their purpose by working together. Individuals? Yes, but they knew how to use the resources and capabilities together to achieve a common goal. No longer just random hits here and there but accomplished task.

Consider the Ant.

If you are interested in talking to us about how having a website, social media account, or other services that will help impact your ministry we invite you to contact us. We can help you bring your resources together in one place to achieve the goals you have.

You can reach us by contact here.

Or you can also find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter for discounts and special exclusive offers for our followers.

God Bless You!

Children’s Ministry

2011-08-13T16:09:00.001-07:00

I came across a new resource today to teach values, share thoughts about the Bible,and have a little fun with your children.

Maybe you have heard of it, but it was new to me. It is sponsored by Focus On The Family, and is similar in format and style to Sesame Street & Veggie Tales.

It is called JellyTelly, and from what I have seen the videos teach concepts and values on a child's level but even adults could learn something.

If you click on the image above it will take you to a video about Humility, and who among us cannot use a little more humility?

What is JellyTelly?

JellyTelly is an online destination for families, developed in partnership between Focus on the Family and Phil Vischer’s Jellyfish Labs. As a Bible-based alternative to video and gaming sites, JellyTelly provides families with a safe place to learn and play online.

JellyTelly was developed by the creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer because he felt kids were not grasping everything they were taught in Sunday School because it is only one hour a week in most places, versus all of the other forms of information they would get during the week.

Churches are doing wonderful work with kids – innovative work – but a church will get about an hour with a child on a Sunday morning and then before it sees that child again, that kid on average has watched more than 22 hours of Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. Is it any wonder that our kids are growing up knowing more about Hannah Montana than about the apostle Paul?

We need to do something about this – half of kids growing up in church in America are walking away from church when they graduate from high school.

We can do something about this by using the same technology that kids are adapting to as they consume media in new ways. JellyTelly is a way to bring the Bible to life for kids on a daily basis, to show them the work of the church around the world and the role they can play in it.

JellyTelly is more than just videos though. There are also craft ideas, games, and other resources available to put Christ and values in front of your kids, and teach Bible stories as well.

It is important that we spend more time with our children. But, lets face it, between our own work and activities, and everything our little ones are involved in, it can be hard to find time and know that they are getting sound ideas and teaching.

A lot of parents turn on the Disney channel, and then wonder where little Jonny learned this or that. But I have to ask you, have you actually watched the Disney channel with them? Sure, there are still some programs that have some educational, or positive messages, but not all are.

What do you think about having your child watch a show where the babysitter is a vampire? If you turn on the so-called ‘family channel’, children are engaged in sexual activity, drugs, and other non-christian activity.

I realize the world we live in is no longer ‘Leave it to Beaver’ but honestly I would not want my child watching a show where one of the main themes, is about sex and babies.

Losing Our Children

Now I understand that as apostolics we may not agree with all the values of secular Christianity, but the truth of the matter is many times the children in our churches are overlooked. Yes, most churches still have Sunday School, but even that is changing in a lot of our ministries.

As churches gravitate from a multitude of services to just one on Sunday, sometimes the children's ministries are the first to go. Sunday School is more than a babysitting service offered to our members, but it is a sad fact that many churches and even some pastors treat the ministry as an afterthought, or just a place to stick the children until we are done.

The bible says to ‘train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.’ The sad fact, however, is that in most homes there is no ‘family time’ that isn’t playing video games or watching TV, let alone Bible reading, teaching Bible stories, or even stories with good principles. And schools are so regulated, that even our Christian teachers are limited to what extent they can bring in that God created the world, let alone about Jesus dying on the cross for us. So, if our kids do not get some training at home, we just may lose the next generation.

Use What Is Available

No, letting your child watch JellyTelly will not teach your child everything they need to know about God, values, and our beliefs, but it is better than what they are getting on TV. Plus, it is interactive. Coloring pages, games, and craft activities are also available.

Yes, I know it means spending a little extra time with your children, but shouldn’t you be doing that anyway? And its free, online. Instead of spending all that time updating your Facebook, take a few minutes and let your child watch a message that will uplift, encourage, and teach.

Miracles Still Happen

2011-07-30T22:14:00.001-07:00

Usually most of the information I post on this blog has to do with graphic design and web design for ministries. However, this past week I was privileged to watch some of the IMPACT Conference online.

The messages were very inspiring. On Thursday night, July 28, 2011, Jeff Arnold was the featured speaker. I have to say, I have heard him preach many times, but that night was the most anointed message I have heard from him ever, and the best message I have heard from anyone in quite some time.

He preached on miracles and healings, and the reasons we do not get what we need from God. I felt the anointing so strong over the computer. Several times, he said God told him he would show himself if he could get the people to believe the message.

At the end of his message, there were people flocking to the altar and healings were taking place. Bro. Arnold collapsed, and died.

Several people there, as well as paramedics worked on him. The following message is Bro. Arnold in his own words today. Yes, God raised him back up.

According to his daughter Dena, it was said he had pizza after the services. Today, Saturday, July 30, 2011 he went and played ball according to the church website.

This didn’t happen overseas. It didn’t happen in some hidden corner. It didn’t happen in the bible days. It happened this past week in front of hundreds of people in Mississippi. Miracles do still happen. We just have to come with expectation.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:22

UPDATE JULY 31, 2011 2:25 PM

This morning was Rev. Jeff Arnold’s 30th Anniversary of being pastor of The Pentecostals of Gainesville. The following video is Bro. Arnold talking about the experience.

Losing The Message

2011-07-26T16:17:00.001-07:00

Browsing around the internet today for inspiration, I was pleasantly surprised to see that some ministries and churches are beginning to update their websites.

It wasn’t that long ago that I wrote about those ministries that still had leftovers on their website from the last millennium and they didn’t look as if they even remembered they had a website, the information was so out of date.

I did run across a few sites that still had a calendar and event banners from 2008 but for the most part, a lot have improved by updating their content and graphics. This is always a good thing.

Information should be updated on your website at least monthly. If you haven’t already, it is a good idea to see if there is someone in your church that has knowledge to update your website content. It is important for your church members to have a place they can go to if they forget what is happening next Wednesday, but it is also a way for visitors to find out what is currently going on in your church.

Your Site Should Reflect Your Ministry

Many churches have a fairly simple website listing only their schedule, location, and contact information, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, if the contact information is out of date, or perhaps the name of your ministry has changed, or you have new leadership, it should be updated on your site as well as your other promotional materials.

Sometimes the church or ministry website falls into disrepair simply because no one takes time to update it. I know of one site, that shall remain nameless, that has had someone ‘working’ on their site for the past two years. I was surprised somewhat a couple of weeks ago when I went to their site and what I recall from the first time I saw it two years ago, is still there.

Sure, they have the pretty ‘under construction’ images with ‘more information coming soon’ but if it hasn’t changed in two years, you need to hire someone new to take care of it. Or if it is a member in your church or ministry that works on your website, it is time to find someone else. I know if can be hard if you are a small church to find someone who knows how, but if you leave it up to Aunt Josephine’s second cousin’s high school nephew to update your site, there is a good possibility he will be graduating college before your information is updated.

Or perhaps your ministry is as far behind as your website indicates?

Update your website!

Too Much Of A Good Thing

When the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness, God sent manna each morning to feed them. They were required to rise each morning and collect enough manna to feed their families for the day. It was set up by God to be a daily task.

Some thought they would be wise and not have to get up each day so they collected more than they needed so they would have some left for the next day. I am not sure if they just figured it would be easier, if they were lazy and only wanted to work once a week or so, or maybe they just wanted to sleep in.

But everyone who collected manna new each day had plenty to sustain them for the day. Those who decided they were smarter than the plan of God, ended up with a little extra protein in their manna. Worms.

The manna would be available first thing in the morning with the dew. If you waited to get your supply until noon, you were out of luck. If you had decided to keep extra from the day before, you would open your pantry and find worms squirming in your food. Not very good.

There are plenty of scriptures in the bible that talk about praying in the morning.

Some mention the very early morning talking with God before the day begins. Even before the sun is on the horizon, finding a place of sanctuary with God.

I have found, for myself, praying when I first wake up always seems to leave me with more energy and time for other things, and I am not so easily distracted with life. Maybe that is why for the past couple weeks I am waking up so early? I groan and lay there hoping to fall back asleep, but finally get up realizing it isn’t going to happen. And no, you can never pray too much.

But, I digress, that is a topic for another day, and perhaps one of my other blogs.

It’s Good But It Is Also TOO MUCH

While looking at inspirational websites, I came across a few that had good intentions but from a design and usability feature had entirely too much content on the front page.

One one side of their front page they had the following:

Social Media Follow Buttons
A Search Our Store Option
Free Newsletter Sign-Up
Splashy Banner for a trip overseas (including cost)
News articles related to their ministry mission
Registration Area for a conference
& a video

The rest of the page was very similar. On the main page they had fifteen (15) call to action options. This did not include all of the links to various articles they had written, topics for discussion, another video, more subscription and order links.

Displaying options for call to action on the main page is very popular and useful in trying to get your viewer to interact with your website. Whether you have something for sale, a video they should see, or perhaps a newsletter you want to entice them to subscribe to, call to action features are vital for keeping the viewer on your site.

But…

When you have so many on one page, the viewer can, and will get lost.

What To Choose?

Just today in the supermarket, I was in the frozen food section where a sale was going on, and I couldn’t get to the item I needed because a lady was there looking at the same thing. She remarked, ‘there are just too many choices to choose from.’ I know how that is.

Go down the cereal aisle sometime. There are the name brands we all know, but usually in more than one size. There are generic or store brands that are similar but have different names, and usually the packaging is less intrusive but we ‘get more for the money.’ And then there are the new cereals that look so enticing in the commercials and you may even have a coupon. And, lets not forget the weekly circular ad for the store. Even still other cereals are ON SALE.

The same is true of the content on your ministry website.

It has been said that ugly websites do not reach people. The same should be said for websites that are pretty but have entirely too much content in one spot. That isn’t design, that is clutter!

Oh Good! You found the site you were looking for, but where do you go to find out what you want to know? There are lots of links, lots of banners, lots of…

Too much of a good thing?

I am sure somewhere on that website, there was links to what they believe, who they are, and where to locate them. I didn’t see it though. I am sure they believe in Jesus, after all everything on their site has to do with their ministry, but it was lost somewhere in all the clutter.

What value do you place on the message if they can’t find it? Is that how it is at your church? Too much going on? You have lots of programs, special music, dramas, lights, and more that the message is getting lost? It’s what your website is telling me. No don’t worry. I know the truth already. But what about the person who doesn’t? If they are lost on your website…?

How will they find the message?

Is Your Church Website Born Again?

2011-07-10T16:05:00.001-07:00

Ok, brace yourself. I know some of you saw the title or image and stepped back in disbelief.

The idea that I would say your website needs to be ‘born again.’

Some I am sure are scratching their heads, some think I am being sarcastic, and yet I think there may be a few who have an idea of where I am going.

I do realize some who are reading this may not even have a website. You either have not had funds available or do not understand the importance of a website for your church or ministry. We have covered the purpose in a previous article which is available to you. (Read more…)

You need a Born Again Website to be effective in reaching the lost with the message, as well as keeping your own membership up to date with what is going on in your church or ministry.

Continued from Part I

Really, for most of us, the internet has only been around about ten years or a bit more. The actual internet was created in November 1969 but almost no one had access and the internet as we know it didn’t really come to life until 1983.

Even then, most of us did not get online unless we got AOL and for the most part that was more of a network than what we know of now as the internet. The majority of us probably started getting online in the mid to late 1990s and then it was chartrooms or learning how to use email more than anything.

Essentially, the internet is always evolving. As technology and knowledge increases, so does our abilities, and what we can do with it. Most of us only dreamed about having a cell phone in the early 1990s, but now nearly every individual over twelve years old has one at their disposal. Same goes for the internet and computers.

In the United States, nearly every home has two or more computers and more than 75% of them are connected to the internet at least part of the time. it is the most effective tool of reaching masses of people. Yet, the message is not getting to them.

A Born Again Website?

So what exactly do I mean by a ‘Born Again’ website?

There were relatively few church websites online ten years ago, and until the rise of Google, it was hard to find websites unless you knew the exact url or address.

For Apostolics and Pentecostals, the numbers were very low on who had a website. I do recall The Pentecostals of Alexandria had one, and they were a sustaining force for me in a time of need.

Most church sites were very simple, with a name on a free host, most of which I cannot even remember anymore, and they consisted of a welcome, maybe an image if you knew how to code html, and contact information. They worked, but weren’t pretty to look at.

A short time later, homestead, geocities, and other hosting services showed up with drag and drop layout where you could make a ‘pretty’ site, and most church sites used what was cool at the time.

Remember these?

Animated crosses, fish, sometimes colorful headings were a big part of what most church websites added to their websites to make them ‘stand out.’

Granted, many of the images and icons were much more grainer and pixelated than this cross, but businesses, churches, or individuals, we all had to have the cool images and logos.

But still most churches didn’t use a professional web developer and relied on the skills of a student who knew some html code or was learning some in school to learn ‘how to design.’ And frankly, even the technology and software that was available to professionals was expensive and still relied on some very basic designs and layout. Let’s face it. Websites were ugly and mostly useless.

The sad thing is, some still are. Some churches and ministries have not updated their website since they first made it. The site on the left is an active site that I took a snapshot of today. It has not been updated since 2001, and I hope they didn’t pay anyone to make it. Links are broken, there is no real information on the front page other than the name and an address I blocked out. The green part is links for advertising.

Old sites had lots of advertising links on the sides in order for the free hosting companies to make money. Many of them went under simply because the truth is, not very many people actually click those links, regardless of what advertisers and seo marketers tell you.

Image links are what people click on, simply because as we are all taught as children, ‘a picture is worth 1000 words.’ Websites are no different. If we think about it for a moment, it is all advertising.

The site on the right (new site) is much easier on the eye, information is easier to find, and the images grab your attention. The likelihood is that you are going to stay on the website if you are looking for information much longer than you would on the other site.

A Born Again Site

So, here we are. What is a Born Again site?

To be born again, you must grow, change your lifestyle, adapt to the environment, and live differently. How does that apply to your ministry or church website?

Some decide they will use what tools their organization offers and pay them, but most items on their website look exactly the same as the churches in other cities and states that belong to the same group.

In fact, there are some churches I know of that when someone changes the top of the page on a church site in Indiana, the churches who use this same company in California, Florida, even Idaho have the exact same image. There is no individuality and it doesn’t always apply to the people you are trying to impact in your own city.

We don’t always grow the same, look the same, act the same, or have the same needs when we are born and begin to grow, so why should our church website and ministry? Growth and change are vital to being Born Again.

Build a new website? Yes, that would be the biggest change, and very beneficial to your ministry. You can hire someone to design, or redesign your site. A good designer/developer can help increase your visibility and impact your ministry and effectiveness. It really helps if people are talking about your website and church or ministry to get the message spread.

But you don’t have to.. shhh, don’t tell anyone! A church designer telling you that you do not have to hire someone. What is the world coming to?

Give Your Website A Checkup!

There are a few simple things you can do that will help as well, without costing a dime. You may have to invest some time, or find a member in your church to do so, but it will help bring growth.

Check for broken links (menu, references, etc.) and fix them.
Fix any images that do not show up, or add in new ones.
Check to see if your contact information and emails are still correct.
Is your logo on the page the same as what you use on your business card?
If you are on a free host, is it the same hosting address as what you have told people?
Has your website been updated in the past week, month, six months?
Do you have the capabilities to either add messages or video to your website?
Does your website share the gospel of Jesus Christ in an understandable way? (Many do not share the gospel at all.)

There are many more things you can check, but right away these will make a difference in your site. However, there are also things you can add to your site to make it more effective.

Add some or all of these options to your ministry.

Get a YouTube account and add videos. (nearly every cell phone has some video recording capability, and its Free)
Start a photo gallery (Flickr has free options)
Create a Facebook Page for your ministry.
Add a Twitter account to help keep your site current, as well as notify your members nearly instantly of schedule changes, prayer requests, and information.
Start a blog (pastor’s thoughts, messages, etc. Blogger is Free)
Add links or widgets from these services to your site to keep information more current.
Make sure your website is regularly updated so that there is always something new to offer.

And if all else fails, hire a designer. You would be surprised how affordable we are and how we can help make your ministry more effective.

Then you too can say that you have a ‘Born Again’ website!

Is Your Ministry Born Again?

2011-07-10T15:48:00.001-07:00

I started working on this article a couple months ago and failed to do the most important thing everyone who works on a computer knows. When you are working keep saving, and do not try to go backwards. This also could apply to our Christian Walk…

Too many times we get caught up in being busy and trying to get the job done that we forget to save. It is easy to get sidetracked with the work of God to actually forget that one of the primary purposes for us to live a Christian life is to win souls. Yes, it is vital that we serve God because He first loved us, but how can we love something or someone and not want everyone else to experience it?

We know the scriptures. ‘He that winneth souls is wise; Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature; ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me.’ Most of us want to see our family and friends saved, and many do have an actual burden for souls. It is a part of our makeup as Christians. It is a part of our apostolic doctrine.

Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter three, ‘Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.’ Being born again is crucial to our salvation. Without being born again, we are eternally lost.

Now I realize that none of us who are apostolic would ever tell anyone they don’t need to be born again. There are some who think that just living a good life, being nice to one another is good enough. There are many more that believe that regardless of our activities His grace will be enough to save them.

While I would never discount His grace and mercy, Jesus himself said, ‘Ye must be born again.’ He did not leave room any error in judgment. Multitudes of people believe that the bible is just about telling them what they cannot do. There are a lot of practices that we follow that are not in scripture that we many times consider part of the walk of holy living. Yet, this is one area where it can be said, this is a no no. This is a must do. Ye must be born again.

I realize this is not a problem for most of us.

The Great Commission

However, when the Bible also states that we should go into all the world and preach the gospel, we relegate that portion of scripture to our missionaries.

Most churches support some sort of plan raising money to send other people to people we will never see. We feel that by donating our money that we have accomplished this task. Many churches place a great deal of focus on reaching tribal areas in Africa, Asia, Europe, usually sending our missions minded members to the major international cities members. While it is great to be passionate about trying to help out in those areas we believe we will never visit ourselves, we are sadly lacking many times in reaching those just across the street in our local communities.

Sure we may ‘witness’ when an opportunity presents itself. Perhaps when we know our friend has gone into the hospital for a surgery or when we hear about a member of their family passing we may offer our prayers, but lets admit it, we are not near as proactive as we used to be in reaching out to others.

All of us mean well I am sure, but do we use all the potential available to us in trying to win souls? Do we use the tools that are in our grasp to reach into areas we may not have opportunity to go ourselves?

Easy Ways That Reach The Lost

While there is no specific way that is more impacting that others, there are many methods that most of us know about but probably do not use.

Tracts/Revival Brochures
Newspaper/TV Advertising
Home Bible Studies
Community Bake Sales
Church Carnival/Charity Events

With the exception being mentioned in a sermon in our churches, or the occasional testimony of how this person was giving a friend a home bible study, it has been ages since I have heard of these methods being used by most Apostolic or Pentecostal churches. I am not sure why because honestly most of them cost very little.

But there is an even easier way to reach in the lost in your community, and even around the world. You may have the potential to reach some relative in a far off land simply by having a website for your church or ministry.

Embrace Technology!

If you are reading this article it is either by a computer, e-reader, smart phone, or someone printed it out for you to read. Almost everyone from the time they are very young has the opportunity to use a cell phone, play video games, or check email. And while some of us might deny it, lets face it, everyone really is on Facebook, or for sure has family members who are.

Yet for some reason many Apostolic/Pentecostal churches have not taken advantage of this opportunity. I am not sure if they are afraid of technology, or they think it costs too much. With the exception of a few remote areas in the jungles overseas, for sure nearly everyone is aware of the internet and computers.

Can we honestly say Jesus would not want us to be online? Sure there are areas online that none of us should venture into. But Jesus said to go into the highways and byways and compel them that my house might be full.

Jesus was always reaching out to the sinners. Whether it was crooks, murderers, prostitutes, or even into those in government positions. No one was above Him reaching out to. If you knew your brother was being beaten up in a bar downtown somewhere, would you sit there waiting to see if he came home, or would you go down there and try to get him out?

Jesus was all about reaching out, shouldn’t we be?

Does Your Ministry or Church Have A Website?

I am sure many of you can answer yes. Do you know the website address so you can point someone there? Do you ever go and look at it yourself?

However, there are many churches and ministries who rely on word of mouth. They have no website to point friends, family, or visitors to. And lets be real here.

There is not a day that goes by that you do not hear about a website. Nearly every food package in your pantry has a website address on it. Our bills, our banks, our child’s school, they are all online. If we want to find anything from a doctor to a plumber, chances are most of us go to the internet.

Sure, we have phone books, but most of us don’t even know which drawer we stuffed it in when it was dropped at our door. Better than 90% of homes in the USA have at least one internet ready computer, television, or other device. And if you don’t have that, you have a cell phone. And nearly all cell phones have internet capabilities. So I ask again does your ministry have a website?

Yes We Have A Website

Some churches embraced the technology quite a few years ago. They had their church location, maybe a few photos, service times and was hosted on some free internet site. Some still have their websites, but there were many who seemed to think the internet was a fad or just didn’t see the importance at the time.

A lot of companies offered free hosting for churches because they realized the importance of sharing the message, but I was amazed how hard it was to find Apostolic or Pentecostal churches online.

And it still is.

We don’t even think about going to Facebook to share photos or play games anymore. For many it is a daily habit. It has almost become as common for many as breathing. And even more people, whether for business reasons, or keeping in touch with friends use email every day.

It is common now if you meet someone in a supermarket and talk about your business, life, or church for them to ask if we have a website, or a Facebook page.

Many of us can say yes we do have a website. We paid XYZ Marketing Company $1200 to list us in the Yellow Pages and to create a page where people can find some information about our church seven years ago. But, let me ask you, has your church website been Born Again?

Pray, then Celebrate

2011-07-01T16:48:00.001-07:00

FREE TWITTER BACKGROUND & FACEBOOK PROFILE IMAGE

It is that time of year again. Many of us are getting ready to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Whether we stay at home and have a barbecue, or perhaps go up to the lake, or gather with others in a city park to watch the fireworks, we all have our forms of celebration.

There is nothing wrong with celebrating our freedom. We are still one of the few countries that have the ability to worship, play, work, and live as we choose. There are many countries who have a semblance of freedom, but when push comes to shove their freedoms are much more limited than ours, and for most of them the idea of any kind of freedom is just a dream. Many of them hunger to have what we have.

We relish the idea that in America we can do just about anything we want. Some of us appreciate what we have, others take advantage of it, but if we pay attention to what is going on around us, our liberties are beginning to slip from our grasp.

In the last couple of years, there are many who have lost their homes due to foreclosure. There are many who are out of work and must rely on the kindness of others just to survive. Some of our men and women are still overseas fighting battles that politicians think we should be involved in. Our country is changing, and while some love the idea of certain ideologies becoming more to their liking, the liberties that we have loved and taught our children about are starting to fade into history. Is this what America really wants?

I really do not think so, but it seems as if our eyes have been clouded over, or perhaps we have just given up. Many of us can look at our children and what is normal for them, and then we look back to when we were their age and realize the American Dream is not what it used to be.

Gone is the idea that you could go to work out of high school or college and retire from the same job many years later. Most of us have worked more jobs in just a few years than we care to count. Many have no real retirement savings to depend on when we get elderly, or even enough money set aside for college for our children.

There was a time when we had real freedom, but we kept desiring more and more of our idea of freedom at the expense of others, and now it is costing us. Our nation is ravished by impending debt to where if things do not change, America as we know it will cease to exist. It is already happening in many areas of our lives. It is not everyone’s dream anymore to grow up, get married, work, have our own home, and raise our children in a safe environment.

What changed? Too much independence? Too many people taking advantage of each other? Jealousy? Rage? Sin? All of the above and more. America needs to revisit its roots, and return to the reason our country was born.

We claim the freedom of worship that brought our forefathers here, but even that is disappearing.

It is time for us as Americans to return to prayer and worship. I am not saying you have to believe, or pray, or even go to the same church I do, but if you look around with the things we all are facing, and look forward to what our kids will see, you have to come to the same conclusion I have. Pray for America. It isn’t just about politics or ideas, but all of us need to take some time and remember who we were, what our destiny was meant to be, and who we have become.

Pray for America.

I challenge you this Independence Day to take a few moments before you indulge and celebrate by shooting off fireworks, eating that big slice of pie or watermelon, spend time with family and pray for America. We all need it.

In honor of Praying for America, I have created a Facebook profile image, and a twitter background, available for anyone who wants to use it. It is a free download.

DOWNLOADS

FREE TWITTER BACKGROUND

jpg version
png version (higher quality)

FREE FACEBOOK PROFILE/SIDEBAR IMAGE

jpg version
png version (higher quality)

If you would like a custom twitter background for your page, church or ministry, or if you have other graphic design or website needs please contact us!

Upgrade Your Media & Technology

2011-05-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Let a microphone or sound system go out in the middle of the pastor’s preaching and immediately someone is trying to fix it. Lights go out and someone is frantic until the burned out bulb is fixed.

It happens. It is a fact of life, things do not last forever. Yet as shocking as it is, some churches and ministries rely on old technology to get the message across.

I realize not all churches have much of a budget, but in larger churches if you are still using an overhead projector and wipe off pens on plastic sheets to display your announcements, you need to catch up. I realize we invested quite a bit of money in products to supplement our tape ministries, but does anyone even own a tape player anymore?

What do you use?

We find it very easy to upgrade our personal cell phone. If we have a TV or monitor in our home, then it is usually less than five years old to keep up with the changes in technology.

Other than in a laptop, most of us do not even have a CD player anymore, and for most of us, it is a DVD drive not a CD anymore. Society has changed and if we mean to reach the lost, or even keep our own members updated with what is going on, we need to upgrade.

Cell phones, multimedia players, and computers are all based in similar formats, and our message needs to reach them where they are. However, if we are not using the tools that they are using we can’t reach them.

Is The Message Worth It?

Our first instinct when we think about upgrading is the cost. Many times it isn’t cheap, and we delegate our ministry equipment to what we don’t use at home anymore, or perhaps what someone has donated. Yet, if we look around our church we would see that some areas need serious updating.

I have been in churches in the past couple of years where they recorded their sermons on CD but in a format that most CD players don’t even play anymore. One church used software that they had to restart every 15 minutes, so there were gaps on the CDs in the messages, and instead of flowing words, it seemed that some of the thought was lost.

And that is really unnecessary. There are programs available that are free that can record from beginning to end, and even include output formats that can be played on cell phones and iPods. This would reach many more people.

Yes, it is worth spreading the message no matter the cost but to buy a computer, or laptop that can be used better than the antiques we use in our ministries, really is not as expensive as we like to think. Chances are the amount of money you paid for that iPhone is more than what it would cost to get a good laptop for your ministry. And if you use an iPad or tablet computer, well it for sure is cheaper.

If you have the money to buy yourself an iPad, you have the money to buy a laptop for use in your church.

Ministry Uses

Just a few areas of your church that could benefit from upgraded technology and software that get overlooked include:

Church Bulletins, Newsletter, & Other Printed Materials
Media Ministries (CD, DVD, Video Presentations)
Power Point (Songs, Announcements, Minister’s Message)
Sunday School
Attendance
Church Member Directory
Church Website

There are many more areas that are crucial to your ministry but you get the idea.

Consider The Cost

Yes, it is very important to consider the cost of upgrading. To be honest, I miss having song books to hold as we sing, and it really helps visitors. The idea of buying new song books can be very expensive, and many churches have gone on to using an overhead screen or some sort of monitor system to show the words for everyone to see.

It can be difficult if the worship leaders sing new songs that visitors, elderly people, or those who sit in the back do not know. If the words are hard to read either because of too small of font, or some background that really isn't suited for words, or if the one screen on the platform is too far away, then many of the congregation will still get lost.

But most of us have no upgraded our hardware or software in so many years, that our computer still uses old formats that you can’t even get supplies or tech support and is incredibly slow. If your computer is more than three years old, and even that would be considered antique, then you need to find some money in the budget to update.

Older computers heated up more, had weak video cards to display media, and formats that will not work with newer systems. The hard drives are generally full with information, images, and databases, that if not backed up elsewhere would be lost forever if your hard drive crashes.

We even update our bibles more than that, and The Word never changes.

Plus if you are requiring your Creative Missions Team to work with outdated equipment, then do not be surprised if the materials you put out do not look as good as someone down the street. Many ministries supplement this by outsourcing ‘important materials’ to a designer and pay more for that than they would to just buy a new computer. It is more cost effective to have at least some of your media created by the talent God has placed in your ministry. Plus, you can also hire someone if you choose to make materials, that you can edit yourself later. It saves money and time.

Do You Know What You Need?

Now, I realize not everyone knows what they need to bring their technology and media up to date, and before you make a big purchase, you should make sure you know exactly what you need. Do not base your decision on what a friend told you; the advertisements you may have seen; or even on the knowledge you have gleaned yourself. Speak with someone who works with media and design on a regular basis.

Apostolicvision Design Services offers free quotes, and we can consult with you on what your ministry needs to stay updated with today’s technologies.

Remember

2011-04-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again.The stores are filled with candy eggs, chocolate bunnies, and marshmallow chicks.

My favorite of the candies is the Mini Robin’s Eggs which are actually egg-shaped candy coated Whoppers, and since this is the only time of the year they are available, I generally always indulge myself, at least some.

Kids and parents alike get excited about the idea of hunting brightly-colored real, and plastic eggs in hopes of filling their Easter baskets. Faces will shine with happiness as they tear into a chocolate bunny ear, or perhaps enjoy the sparkle of the colored jelly beans.

Generally families get together on Easter Sunday for some sort of meal, and most everyone goes to church, out of habit, but do they really understand the depth of meaning behind Easter exists.

This year in some parts of the country the whole idea of celebrating Christ's crucifixion and resurrection is such an offensive idea, that they want to change even the name of the Easter Eggs to “spring spheres". I am not exactly sure what they intend to call the Easter Bunny?

Sure, I realize that hunting colored eggs, shopping for marshmallow chicks, and the enjoyment of biting the head off that chocolate bunny is not the reason for the season, but the whole idea of Christianity being involved at all, even when it is not specifically mentioned is too much to stomach for those who want to dismiss Christ as nothing more than a myth.

PALM SUNDAY

This Sunday is called Palm Sunday, which signifies the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowd met him with cheers and the waving of palm branches as he entered. It may have been the only time where Jesus was actually praised in person for what he had done. I am sure many believed he was going to take them out of the captivity of the Roman empire.

Perhaps, it is some of the reason that the priests became afraid and decided to intervene, but to me the whole idea that he was surrounded by crowds lifting him up and less than a week later, he was hanging on a cross, the crowd mocking him? So easily he went from their hero, their healer, their savior to acting like what he did was nothing. Even his own followers said they didn’t know him.

CRUCIFY HIM!

As surely as he was their king, he also became the people quickly turned on him and by the end of the week he was hung upon the cross to die. He was not of this world, and therefore the world turned on Him.

Sometimes we can be faced with situations that are beyond our comprehension. It can seem that even those who were once our friends become our enemies when they are faced with the fact that being Christian means living the life. It isn’t just about the name on the door, but the life that we live. Some will even hate us because we do not live the life they do.

It has been over 2000 years and there are some who are still trying to remove Christ from the world. They will never succeed, but they hate Him so much because he challenges their lifestyle, deeds, and sin. It is not that He comes out and tells them what is wrong, but He makes them take a look in the mirror and they realize who they are.

John 15:19 says, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

REMEMBER

Before the world hated you, they hated Him. Because He chose you, they will hate you as well. It should be an honor to be hated for His name sake. See the thing is, even though they hated Jesus, they could not have taken His life. He willing gave it on Calvary for our sins.

There would be no Easter if He had not died. Yes, we celebrate because He did rise out of the grave, but in order to rise He had to die. We too have to die to live. We must die out to our old man. We must rise from the pit we were in and walk new in order to join Him, knowing that His mercy covered it all.

So, when you take a bite out of that bunny, remember. Remember, there would be no Easter Bunny, no colored eggs, but most importantly, no salvation had there not been a cross on a hill where Jesus died.

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Marketing Your Ministry

2011-03-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

The Macarena, Mello Yello, Silly Putty, and the Edsel. Most of us have heard those words before, but we may not remember what they are. Maybe they are faint memories in our minds, but perhaps we remember them fondly and wonder what happened to the day when it was common.

It wasn’t really that long ago for the Macarena, and yet I am sure if you ask some people today what the Macarena was, they probably think you add cheese or some tomato sauce to it. It was a song and a dance, or actually hand and body movements.

It was very well known in the late 1990s and even the most sheltered person had heard mention of it, or had done it themselves. But here we are just a few years later, and its not in our minds anymore unless we are part of the few who may look back and smile and try and do it. It is merely a memory for most, and a word for others but they aren't sure what it means. For a few of those words, even the spell check on my computer thought I had misspelled some other word.

Is that how we see the church? Is that how your ministry is thought of? Does it still have an impact like it used to? I remember when….

Sound familiar?

There was a day when everyone knew where the church was and what they taught. There was a day when many of us were made fun of and called holy rollers, but when tragedy struck, it was the holy rollers they called for prayer.

We used to knock doors and pass out tracts. Many times we didn’t even advertise in the newspaper because we were active in the community and people knew who we were and where to find us. We were known for all night prayer meetings, joyful singing, sometimes having services where bobby pins were flying, and in almost every church there was that one sister who would wail and moan like a fire engine.

We were the church where everyone secretly wondered about, but it was so different from every where else they wouldn’t be caught dead in our services. We were outcasts but everyone knew where we were.

Now if you go into just about any city, there isn't an apostolic church or no one knows where it is. Most of us were called Pentecostal then, but now when you mention Pentecostal everyone’s thoughts, including our own, is about the charismatic churches where they jump, shout, maybe get the holy ghost, but bless God, they are not like we are. Hmmm, same message, same Jesus, maybe even same holy ghost baptism, yet, because we aren’t sure about them, they don’t have the truth. Yet, the people in the community know where that church is, just like they used to know where we were.

Who is there?

When we talk about marketing the ministry, our first instinct is to back away. It sounds like a foreign concept to us, or maybe something that isn’t quite right. We preach soul winning in our churches, but we don’t knock doors, most don’t teach bible studies, and whether or not we admit it, most of us do not testify at work. Oh sure, if someone asks us where we go to church we may tell them, and we may pray for them if we hear of their trials and tragedies, but to actually walk up to a person and talk to them about Jesus? ‘No way! I could lose my job. They might think I am weird.’

The bible likens soul winning to planting a garden, but generally we consider soul winning an individual thing. ‘Its Brother Bebop's job to win people to God, after all he seems to always bring someone.’

However, how many private gardens have you seen where there is only one plant growing? Usually there is several of one type, and its repeated with lots of other plants, flowers, or vegetables. We produce after our own kind, so I am asking what is in your garden? It is the whole church’s responsibility to plant, water, take care of, and harvest the crops. God never intended one person to do it themselves. The scripture even says, ‘one plants, one waters, and God gives the increase.’ Our churches should be a mixture of all kinds of people in all stages of growth.

However, we have become complacent in our active ‘ministry.’ We are comfortable with just those who seem to know where our church already is. It is just too much effort to actually do something ourselves, and of course, they should all 'look like’ me.

Just today while returning from a trip to the store it was pointed out to me by someone with me that they had seen two groups of Jehovah Witnesses out knocking doors. I saw a couple of guys at someone's door, but honestly whether or not they were JW, Mormon, or someone else I cannot be sure, but I do know they were no one I recognized, so they weren't part of my sphere of Christianity.

We know what ‘our group’ looks like and sadly, we seem to ignore everyone else, even those that used to be a part of us. We make assumptions on their level of godliness based on rumors, our own ideas, and the way they look.

Chances are they don’t even know we are a Christian, let alone where our church is. So what do we do to change that?

Marketing Your Ministry

Marketing seems like such a foreign concept to us. We have all these ideas of what it might be, but when it comes to ministries and churches it is really very simple. A few of the ideas below you might actually recognize.

Door Knocking – well no one does that anymore
Bake Sale – not those in the lobby of the church but actually in the community
Spaghetti Dinner– let them know you are there, even if you are taking up donations for some mission, charity, or celebration
Car Wash – raise money for youth events instead of taking it from the parents
Home Bible Study – we preach it but do we do it?
Advertise in Newspaper, TV, or Radio – we are here to reach the lost right?
Church website, postcards, prayer request cards, funeral services – you get the idea

This list could go on and on, but to me it is sad that most of us think marketing our ministry is going to cost a lot of money, but most of the above would actually raise money or at least tell people we exist. It is much easier than most of us are willing to admit.

So what really is the problem?

Well if we are honest, it only comes down to one of two reasons. Or perhaps both.

We are lazy.
We don’t care about souls.

That’s it!

Yes, I work as a graphic designer. I can give you a good deal on a website, printable marketing items for your ministry, helping you create a Facebook presence, but to me its more than about the few dollars I would receive. It is about the souls and my desire for them to know Jesus like I do.

If you are really interested in seeing more souls saved and what you can do to change the image of your ministry, then contact me and lets have a conversation. Consultations and quotes are always free. You might be surprised how affordable my services are, but you might also learn that reaching into your community isn't as hard as you thought.

Isn't it time you made an effort in Marketing Your Ministry?

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. Rev. 3:20

Becoming New!

2011-01-14T11:12:00.001-08:00

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These past couple of weeks have flown by and its already two weeks into a new year. It seems as if days are less than twenty-four hours lately, because there never seems to be enough time to get everything done we need to do.

Christmas has come and went and 2011 is here and yet we get so far behind it seems it will be Christmas again before we catch up on everything. Sometimes, life just gets in the way of our plans. But it is a new year, a new time to reflect on the past, and time to start over and make this year better than the last.

We all do it, at least subconsciously, and yet we never seem to complete the task. What am I talking about? New Year’s resolutions of course. Usually by a couple weeks into the year we have already broken our resolutions at least somewhat.

I started on another blog post about resolutions but it became so large that I have decided to offer it instead as a book. Yes, a real book. I will probably make it available as well in formats suitable for e-book readers, free for a limited time. I will do my best to keep the costs down in printed format because I truly believe it contains principles that is vital for making ministries grow and blossom into the revival we all want. Stay tuned for that! In fact, bug me about it if you do not hear about it soon. :)

Did You Accomplish All You Wanted in 2010?

I know I didn’t. Not only in my personal life, but in doing things for God that I had made great strides toward. Sometimes, it is difficult looking back over a year and seeing the places we have slipped and the trials and tests that have come our way. Maybe we have lost friends or loved ones, perhaps a job, or maybe even our home.

It can be very gloomy at times to reflect back on the year if things did not work out the way we planned. I have to admit there were situations that arose in my life last year that, while I did not cause them to happen, hurt me in many ways and really tested my faith. Sometimes our dreams even when we are serving God can come crashing down around us.

We can begin the new year thinking about all that we went through and be sad about it, or we can look at the fact that it is a new year and start again. It is much more productive if we take the lessons we have learned and make this year even better. That is my hope for 2011. I want to accomplish more for God this year and get a fresh outlook on new possibilities in my life rather than being weighed down by the past.

Quit Crying Over Spilled Milk

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

With God, we only have to wait until tomorrow to find new mercies. Isn’t that amazing? There are situations we find ourselves in where we may have let down our guard or even failed in our walk, and it can be very trying on our mind. But the bible says ‘his mercies are new every morning.’ In a sense he is saying, ‘quit moping about what happened yesterday.’ It is a new day, move on and do better.

The Apostle Paul talked about dying daily. While he did not mean we need to take our life, he meant that the sins or problems we got ourselves into, we need to just repent about it, forgive ourselves, and move on.

I used to have a friend that his wife came to God, but he did not for quite a while. He was a nice guy. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone, and you could always find him doing something to help other people. He seemed like the perfect person to be in church, but the only times he came was for Christmas programs or Easter. Unfortunately, many are like that.

However, he started trying to come more for his little boy and before long he was always there. He would sing the songs, fellowship after church, always go to the altar and pour out his heart to God, but it took a few months before he got the Holy Ghost. He was so excited. He started getting rid of anything in his life that he felt was not pleasing to God.

I sat by him at church camp. It had only been a couple weeks since he prayed through, and you would have thought he had served God his whole life. He whooped, shouted, sang, and danced with the best of them. He was so thrilled that he had God in his life. It was a great thing to see. He even talked some about maybe becoming a preacher in his little town. Whether he meant as a pastor, or just being a witness I do not know.

However, about two weeks after church camp, one of his old friends had lost someone, and was going fishing and he was invited along. He went with the intention of being a comfort and a witness to his friend.

However, out there on the water it was hot and the fish were few and far between, and his friend offered him a beer. Without thinking about it, he drank it. It was what he had always done before he was saved.

He missed church that following Sunday morning but managed to make it to the evening service but it was obvious something was wrong. Over a few short weeks, he stopped coming, him and his wife started having problems in their marriage, and before you knew it, they were separated and the excitement and vigor he had about God was gone.

I spent a lot of time working with him, praying, talking, just hanging out, but it became clear to me after a few weeks that he wasn’t coming back to church. I struggled it with it very hard, and one day after several weeks I asked him why he stopped and he told me about the beer.

I tried to explain to him that he could just ask forgiveness, that no one was going to blame him, but in the end he could not forgive himself. He could not come to terms with the fact that God forgives, even when we struggle to do so ourselves.

His mercies are new every morning!

Too many times we get caught up in a situation that takes us down a path we never intended to go. We can keep on that path knowing that it leads to trouble, or we can get up and brush ourselves off and switch lanes. I have seen so many people over the years that are on fire for God, some with even a definite call to the ministry and some circumstance comes up and before you know it, they are out the door.

Oh, sure, they still love God. They are still good people. But many times, they rationalize their change in behavior as ‘God still understands.’ I agree he does, but he has set before us life and death, and it is up to us to choose life. We all have situations in our lives that can knock us down, but we have to keep in mind that his mercies are new every morning!

And here we are a brand new year. Not just a new day, but a whole year ahead of us! What are we going to do with it? Become new! Start fresh. Make this year the best of your life so far.

As a reminder, I have included downloadable links to a new twitter background below. It is free and available just for reading this article. How is that for a deal?

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Do They Know Why Its Christmas?

2010-12-18T17:43:00.001-08:00

This past week the words to “The Master of the Wind” have kept running over and over in my head. Even when I slept it was as if I could still hear someone singing it and as soon as I was awake, it was on my mind again.

To some that might seem odd when everywhere we go right now there is nothing but Christmas music. In the malls, and even in the grocery stores, the speaker systems blare out their versions of Christmas trying to get us to spend more time and money before we leave their store. Most places we hear the familiar “Jingle Bells”, “Here Comes Santa Clause”, or some jazzed up version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” A few places my opt for more christian themed music, but those songs are not so loud or impulsive and may not get us to buy so they don’t play them so much.

Today, I ran across a link on one of my usual social media and design blogs that I read nearly every day and it was entitled “9 Ways to Connect With Santa on the Web.” While that seems harmless enough, and even on Facebook the last few days a few apostolic friends have posted photos of their children, grandchildren, sometimes even themselves, sitting on Santa’s lap.

Yes, most of us know that Santa isn’t real, and its about the spirit of giving, and we only do this because the children are small, and any number of other excuses we tell ourselves. Yet, in this day of iPads, iPhones, Android Tablets, and other technological marvels, about the only mentions of Christianity is from YouTube, and even most of those have to do with Baby Jesus and Mary. Sure, we can see around town,online. and maybe on television somewhere, nativity scenes, camels, and wise men. But most of it is about hurry up and spend your hard earned dollars here, or Santa, Frosty, Rudolph, or some Christmas fantasy romance thing.

Where is Jesus?

Sure, he is present as a baby in a manger in some forms, but they are even trying to stop that. This year there was a lot of news articles about even changing the traditional Merry Christmas greeting to Happy Holidays instead, so as to not offend those who aren't Christian. They want to take Christ out of Christmas. And the sad thing is, we help them do it.

No, I am not saying we should stop buying gifts for each other, or shopping at this time of year, putting up a Christmas tree, or even going to see Santa. I don’t think we should shun the traditions of Christmas and act holier than thou. However, a big part of the problem is that we don’t proclaim Him as much as we should. I don’t think we intentionally hide him from those we work, play, or hang out with, but many times the message is hidden and only is open for discussion and worship in our churches.

We used to knock doors, hand out tracts, and even have the occasional service in the park or on a street corner. Yet, now, most of us don’t even share what we believe online. Facebook has opened all kinds of doors for many of us to reconnect with those from our youth and with new people all around the globe and yet many play games online instead of telling who they are and what they believe. Sharing online really isn't that hard, and many tell us things that we wish we never knew about. We certainly didn’t need to know how many times a day someone changes their baby's diaper, but some people post that. Not really sure why they do but they do. Some people post where they are going to be at even given moment from the places they eat, to where they shop, play, and sometimes even photos of what they are eating or doing. Yet, where is Jesus?

Is He Still Just A Baby In Our Minds?

For many of us, God has done miraculous things and we should be eager to share it. Yet, here it is Christmas again and we are sending out cards, wrapping presents, getting ready to travel, and somehow he gets lost in the mix.

“I know the master of the wind. I know the maker of the rain. He can calm a storm, make the sun to shine again. I know the master of the wind.” Very powerful words. Those words were a reference to the disciples on the sea when a storm hit and fear entered in and they were afraid they were going to die. Jesus was there, he was just resting, and even though he was with them, he wasn’t WITH them. At least not in their eyes. They didn’t see him as the healer, deliverer, or anointed one. Even though they had seen the miracles, in the time of the storm they forgot who he was and what he could do. He wasn’t a baby anymore. He was their strength, and yet, he was hidden away and wasn’t in their thoughts. They would have been lousy at that moment at being a witness. Had their been non-believers on the boat, they wouldn’t have believed in Jesus. There was no assurance that it was going to be okay since he was in the boat. They forgot for a moment who he was.

We all do that. At Christmas and Easter, he is on a lot of people’s minds, even those who do not believe in him. The rest of the time he is either a baby in a manger, an image on a crucifix, a swear word, or a reason for controversy. They don’t really know him.

Where is Jesus?

I mentioned earlier about the article, “9 Ways to Connect With Santa Online.” My question is where do we connect with Jesus?

Did you know that 8 out of 10 people spend at least two hours a day online, and most of us spend closer to five hours online. That could be through use of smart phones, computers, or other devices but five hours a day.

There are more than half a billion people on Facebook, and most of them know Jesus as simply a Christmas Baby or the man hanging on the cross at Easter. They don’t know him as the master of the wind. When they face trials and tests, they run to their friends, their alcohol, their drugs. They do not know how to connect with him. Why is that?

Where is the message?

On average, only one third of churches have an online presence. That is all churches and ministries, every faith, every belief. If we take that down to Apostolic or Pentecostal churches and ministries, the number drops significantly.

Recent studies show that only one out of fifty Apostolic or Pentecostal churches in America has any kind of presence online. When you compare that to how many people are online, even in our own churches, the number is staggering about how easily the message is getting lost.

And of those ministries who are online, most of them have used some sort of free website that cannot be found in search engines, and almost none of them have a page on Facebook.

Try this. Go to Google or Yahoo, the two most popular used search engines and type in “church” and the “name of your city.”

Is your church on the first page? Is it even listed?

Most churches and ministries that believe the message of salvation and baptism in Jesus name are not online. We preach we have the message. We preach about the revivals that God has promised. And yet, we somehow expect our pews to be full of people wanting the truth but we don’t reach them where they are.

Reach Them

If we do not go to them who will? How will they connect with Jesus, if we keep the message in our sanctuary and do not go tell them. Yes, many of us still tell our family, maybe our friends, and those who are hurting that we will pray for them. But do we tell them how to find him? Most of us are not even listed in the local newspaper and generally that is a free listing. How will they find him if they don’t know where to go? Jesus said go to into the highways and byways and compel them that my house might be full. The internet IS the information super highway. It reaches into homes, businesses, and even phones, around the world. Nearly everyone has access to the internet, or knows someone who does. My mother just a little bit ago called me up to ask me what the weather is like in a certain town. She knows I can find out, online. She is even planning to take classes at the senior center in town because she knows if you are not online you are lost in the crowd.

Yet, somehow our message isn't there? Oh sure, it is there in the bigger churches, the well known ministries, but most churches either think it is too expensive or they just simply haven’t tried.

It really isn’t that hard to spread the message online. You don’t need a big budget. You do not have to be like the big boys and spend lots of money for online video streaming. Did you know that you can record your messages to audio and share it online free? It isn’t just about a way for those who decide to sleep in to have church. There are millions, even billions of people who haven’t heard that Jesus is not a baby in a manger.

Need Help?

In just a few days it will be a new year. Isn't it time your ministry was online?

Apostolicvision Design Services was created to help churches and ministries have an online presence, affordably. There are options for every budget. Contact us, and we can even tell you about many things available that are free of charge to spread the message of salvation online.

We are also on Facebook. “Like’ apostolicvision design services on Facebook and receive a discount on all graphic design services.

Connect them with Jesus

Isn't it time they know Why its Christmas? Isn’t it time the focus was back on Christ? Without a vision the people perish. Have a Merry Christmas!

A Thankful Heart

2010-11-15T15:16:00.001-08:00

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The last couple of weeks have been to say the least trying. I woke up in the middle of the night close to the end of October and blood was coming out of my mouth and nose. The very next day, someone I was very close to decided that I no longer was a welcome part of their life.

I struggled for days with my emotions and health. The blood kept gushing out of me. I would go to the ER and run tests and they would send me home saying they could not find anything. It didn’t make any sense. How could so much blood be coming out of me and no reason why? What could possibly be the reason I would lose the one person that meant a lot to me? Why was all this happening?

My first instinct was to think I must have surely did something wrong. I thought about Jonah, not sure why, and how he was tossed about on the sea with the other passengers on the boat and they all would have died had he not come clean with his refusal to do what God had asked. But, no, I was trying to do exactly what God had requested of me, so that didn’t make sense. Apparently, God was mad at me for something, otherwise that wouldn’t happen.

It is very easy in the midst of a trial to assume that God is the reason for our troubles. I mean after all, He is God. He has the power of life and death, surely he knows what is going on in our lives and as thus, he must be responsible for it.

I admit I was not happy with God. Vomiting up blood, taking away someone who mattered to me. How dare he? And yet, the more I began to reflect on it, the more I realized how selfish I was being. Sometimes, life just happens. I know, it does seem it happens to us more than other people, but still and all it is still life. And more than that, we still have God, even if we are sick and hurting.

Someone asked me if I had ever read the book of Job. I have been through quite a few battles in the last several years, and yes, even before that, I had read the book of Job. I found myself compared to him in many instances when the doctors could not explain how I lost so much blood, and then got leukemia, and then too high of red count. It really doesn’t make sense to our natural minds.

We like to think that this is the way God is testing us. Allowing the enemy to put us through the ringer and realizing that in the end Job had three times as much as he had before. It is a nice thought to believe that when this battle is over, not only will we have what we lost, but even more so. But what if that doesn’t happen. What if we never get the answer we are looking for? Are we still going to keep the faith?

Next week is Thanksgiving in America. The day we all sit around and stuff our faces and fall asleep in front of a TV blaring some football game. Or perhaps we play games with the relatives that normally we don’t even have time to talk to, let alone really spend time with like we used to.

We have gotten so busy with our day to day lives that many of our friends, and yes, even our own family go unnoticed. Sure, when they call, we say hi, be nice, and maybe even pray for them, but when it comes to spending time with them, well most of the time, we just find too much to do for that to happen.

So, we will get busy making a turkey, baking a few pies, perhaps actually peeling potatoes instead of mixing up those packaged ones. We might even find time to make a cheese ball, or perhaps that famous cranberry salad. But, I wonder when will we find time to be thankful?

Are we thankful for our company? Are we glad that our family is not somewhere in a foreign land being shot at by an enemy? Are we thankful that even though times are tough, we still have food we can prepare? Have our lives been so busy with things and ideas and people, that we have forgotten to take time to really be grateful and tell God thanks for his keeping power?

In many places around the world, the stuff we take for granted doesn’t even exist. And yet, in those places many people are thankful for whatever they can get. We wonder why they have so many miracles and we hear stories of amazing things,but maybe it is just as simple as saying thanks to God.

In the story of the ten lepers, Jesus healed them, but only one came back to thank him. The one that did was made whole.

We don’t often think too much about leprosy, but those with it were outcasts, no one visited them, no one allowed them to come around the dinner table. At times, they might be missing fingers or toes, perhaps the skin would flake off on whatever they were doing. They could have even been missing an arm, leg, or even their nose.

Yet, they went away and did what Jesus commanded. They went to show themselves to the priest, but the one that came back was made whole. He didn’t have the scars, he may have been missing an arm, and that was back. The bible says he was whole from that very hour. All because he said thanks.

It is an amazing concept. Having a thankful heart can change our very life. I wonder this year, if instead of being in such a hurry to grab the yams, or perhaps that turkey leg, we can stop for a few minutes and find something in our life to be thankful about? It could change our lives!

In honor of Thanksgiving I have included a FREE downloadable Twitter page for anyone who is interested. The dimensions are 1216 x 983 pixels.

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Identify Yourself

2010-11-06T21:15:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, the phrase ‘Identify yourself' can strike fear into even the toughest individual. Usually it means that we are in a place where we do not belong.

A flashlight may shine into a dark room where there is a rustle in the background and the voice may come from a police officer, or perhaps the voice may come from a military aircraft when we have not let them know why we are in restricted airspace, and then there is a reason to fear. However, many times, it is just a question that people wonder about us. Who are we? What are we about?

It is easy as a ministry to just wear the tag christian or perhaps religious, but there is such a varied mix of spiritual ideas and theologies that sometimes, no one knows what we are. That isn’t a good thing in most situations. Our beliefs can be so varied, yet in our hearts and minds we know what we believe but sometimes we are either afraid to tell anyone, or perhaps we do not know how.

Individual spirituality is very important. We have to know what we believe without question, otherwise we are just a boat on the ocean with no engine and no oars to help us get where we are going. Stranded, just riding the waves. It is a scary thought, especially if you are in the ocean.

Having a church with no identity is the same way. Oh, I know everyone wants to be identified as a christian, but in the world we live in, we need to be sure and let them know what we actually believe, who we are, and where we can be found.

Yet, most churches don’t have an online presence of any kind. Not on Facebook, not a website, not even a church logo in most cases. So, which is more important? A logo or a website?

A Logo or a Website?

I thought about that a lot the last few days. Which really is more important? With a website you can show people what you you are about, how to find you, and contact information. A logo though is your brand. It is how you want to be identified. Maybe you are Pentecostal? Maybe you are Apostolic? While they are both very similar there are differences. There are a lot of Pentecostal churches that are independent and do not belong to an organization, not that I think an organization is the most important thing, but there are also Pentecostal churches that practice the Trinity faith. I don’t really get that one since Pentecost goes back to Peter, and he told them exactly how to baptize, but that is for another blog.

There are also differences between Apostolic churches, but most of those have to do with personal convictions and standards. However, does your city, your community, your neighborhood know who you are or even where you are?

How are you identified?

A logo can make the difference. It is a brand, the same way McDonalds is different from Burger King, the way AT&T is different from Verizon. We know what we are going to get because of the branding.

Your church or ministry is the same way.

When they see your logo they know about you even if they have never entered your church. They have heard about you already. They know your brand.

So make sure your brand is something that you are ready to be identified for a long time. It is how people are going to know you. If you say the word Nike, everyone knows they make tennis shoes. If you say Boeing, you know they make aircraft. And Kodak is known for? Exactly. You know without even having to think about it. So, what is your brand? How do you want to be known? A cross? A flame? Something else in mind?

Here are a couple ideas for you to think about.

If you are interested in defining yourself, creating a brand, an identity, contact us. We can help. Any of the above logos, for a limited time we will offer for a one time price of $49. We will edit them with your church name, ministry, or organization. If you are interested in something more unique, when you contact us mention the phrase “Identified with Christ” and we will take 30% off your logo design order. Hurry though, this is a limited time offer. Identify yourself!

Catching The Vision

2010-11-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

Recently I have become surprised at the lack of desire for many churches to get involved in online ministry. Maybe they do not understand that we are in the end of days and we must do anything we can to reach the lost.

Or perhaps they have heard so many negative stories about the internet that they have decided there is no one worth reaching online? I really do not know but somehow we have to reach the lost.

Jesus taught the disciples to become shepherds and in a parable he described going after that one lost sheep rather that just accepting those that were already in the sheepfold. Yet in seems in today’s churches, we are content with those that we have and don’t seem necessarily interested in reaching beyond our four walls to win those that are not already inside the gate.

There also seems to be a great lack of compassion and desire to extend a hand to those that are hurting or have strayed from the flock. I have heard comments myself that ‘they know where the church is.’

It seems we have forgotten the most important commandments. Love the Lord thy God with all they heart , and love thy neighbor as thyself. Something has to change or not only will those who are hurting be lost forever, but so might we.

Jesus in a parable taught about being given talents, and one servant hid his talent because he knew if he lost what he had, the master would be very upset. However, the master was very wroth with him because instead of sharing what he had, even if he lost it, he became so fearful, and so content in keeping it to himself that he didn’t even try to share what he had.

Have we become like that unjust servant? Are we keeping the message to ourselves? Are we so apathetic about what we believe that we do not think it is important to even be nice anymore?

I was in the hospital recently, and I know there were several people who were asked to come see me by my mother, and yet, only one person of those she invited came. Why is that? Did they think I no longer believed in God because I do not hang out with them? Was it that they were just so busy with life that they couldn’t talk a few moments out of their day to reach out to a friend? Or is it just that they didn’t care at all.

I know some would say well they prayed for me. I do appreciate that, but how is that not like the Levite in the good Samaritan story Jesus taught about? He too was on his way to church and didn’t have time to reach out to the man that was wounded by thieves and robbers. I am sure he prayed for him but his work of God was more important than reaching out to the hurting. However, I have already forgiven them. It doesn’t matter that they didn’t come. I am not the judge.

So what is the reason really that we do not seem to reach out to others anymore?

Do we not know how? Are we blinded by so much of life that we just don’t see the way to do it anymore? Are we just lazy? Do we think it costs too much to reach into our community? Why don’t we use the tools we have already? Why are our churches filled with empty seats?

Have we lost the vision?

Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18

The suggestion that we have no vision or we have lost the burden makes many of us hot under the collar. How dare you suggest that I don’t care about people! I go to church, I say my prayers, I give to missions.

Somehow, many think that what we do on a church pew determines the validity of our Christianity. We think that because we are active in our church that we have no other function to being a christian. Did not Jesus say to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature? Have we really figured that because we drop a dollar in an offering bucket that somehow we are covered when it comes to reaching the lost? “I gave to missions because someone has to go win those overseas, but I cannot.” We think missions stops there. The vision doesn’t though.

On a daily basis we see more people than the average missionary sees. In our jobs there are people who once came to our church. At Wal-Mart we bump into our neighbors but somehow we no longer seem to act as if we have time for each other. How have we become so busy in our lives that the vision of reaching the lost, the hungry, the needs of our generation doesn’t seem to matter anymore.

I don’t know how to do it

The way we used to do it still works. You talk to them, you invite them for coffee, or perhaps you visit a sick person in the hospital. I don’t know if anyone hands out tracts anymore, or even knocks doors other than Mormons and Jehovah’s witnesses, but why don’t we? Are we afraid of what people might say? Or has the message lost its impact on our own lives that we just don’t share anymore?

Well, if there was an easier way I would do it. Yet, there is and many don’t even try. What am I talking about?

Did you know there are half a billion people on Facebook? That is a number that none of us could count to by mouth. And even if we could it would take years to do so. Most of us, whether we admit it or not, are on Facebook. But we only upload photos, or play inane games, and we do not somehow see it as a witnessing tool for God.

Yet, it takes less than five minutes to set up a page for your church or ministry to be online on Facebook. Sure, you may need to add some pretty photos or other information later, but it doesn’t take a lot of work to make an active Facebook page for your church. If you can play Farmtown, you can get your ministry’s message on the most popular social network in the world.

How about having your own church website?

We cannot afford a church website

You can, if you would only investigate that as a positive influence in your community. Most designers give discounts to churches and charities, but even still there are free options available online. The problem seems to be that everyone thinks it is so hard, or out of their budget that they are content in keeping things the way they always do. Yet, they miss huge amounts of potential saints because they simply think they can’t.

How long has it been since you advertised in your local newspaper? Did you know that in most newspapers they have a special section for churches or religion and generally, funeral homes pay for ads that include a local church register? You don’t even have to pay, you just have to ask to be included. Do people even know where your church is? Do they know you exist?

Well, we are in the phone book.

Four out of five people turn immediately to the internet when trying to find a business or church. If you have a phone number chances are you are on the internet on a search engine, but your content is buried under the other churches because they have a website. I dare say if you searched for a church online with your zip code, you would find that nearly every church in town but your own has a site of their own. Why don’t you?

This is the age of technology and we don't think twice to using our cell phones, or emailing and yet, the most important thing in our life, being a christian, gets buried because we simply think that we don’t have what it takes to share. Or is it that we want to keep it all to ourselves?

Pastors, you preach every week to those on your pews, but even the time you spend writing, studying, or whatever you do to get prepared, those same notes and thoughts could be in a blog online reaching those who never will hear elsewhere. Are they important to you? Or is it someone else's job?

Blogs typically are free. You just sit and write just the same as you do in your documents when you are preparing a message. You might even have your church copy the messages to DVD for sale. You could be uploading those messages in a podcast that will reach people you may never see. Yes, there are free options for that as well. And even if you do not record your messages, most cell phones have a mic built in where you can record messages, your computer has a built in mic and recording potential, and there are lots of free software options. I even know of one podcast option where you can call a phone number, talk and record, and it automatically uploads your message online.

So, yes, even the most computer illiterate person can use the technologies of the internet to reach to others. Not knowing how isn’t an excuse anymore.

Catch the Vision

We just need to catch the vision of the lost.

What mother or father, if their house caught on fire, even at their own peril would not run into the rooms and try and get their children out? Yet, our world is destined for hell and we have so many ways to reach them, and we don’t.

Jesus said to go into the highways, hedges, and get the halt, the blind, the lame and bring them that my house might be full. We are to reach the world, and we even display graphics in our church that spout out our dogma of the whole gospel to the whole world, and yet, millions don’t know. I dare say that even your next door neighbor doesn’t know what you believe, Pastor, but he could, if you were online spreading the gospel. And it is free.

If you need help catching the vision contact us. We can tell you many other ways to share your message before it really is too late. God Bless You!

Design for iPad? NO!!

2010-10-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

This past week I was laying in a hospital bed recovering from surgery and I decided to turn on one of my favorite online apostolic video broadcasts. I have made a habit of watching the services from this particular website for several years and have been very blessed.

However this past week it was different. I tried to tune in as usual but they had decided to change the video format and it just wasn’t as good. The video content was choppy. It kept timing out. A couple of times I had to reboot my computer because it froze the screen, and truthfully I started wondering if I was going to be able to watch them anymore.

The pastor came on and mentioned that they were doing some updates to their website and in trying to keep up with technology they had decided to host their video feeds elsewhere, and were planning to have the services broadcast live for iPhone and iPad. I sent them an email about how degraded their content was, but they never responded back. I am hoping that they can fix it, but I have to say that their tech and design people have made a huge mistake in changing the usual windows media format for their online webcast. And this is the reason why…

Breaking down the iPad

I realize that right now iPads are all the rage. It is the newest ‘cool’ technology. On street corners, in bus terminals, on airplanes, and even in some church pulpits, the usual laptop, paper notes, or other formats have rapidly been changed to those who have this idea that the newest toy is the best. The majority of them are also the same people who have bought each new version of iPhone, Macbook, or other apple product. There is even an ideology that somehow having apple products that you have the best there is and many are willing to pay the high prices multiple times even when the technology hasn’t changed that much. It has become a church-like social group or perhaps even a cult.

Lets break it down though. From a design standpoint the iPad looks cool. It is lightweight, easy to hold in your hands, and already developers have made hundreds of applications to work on it. That is applications, not software, because unknowingly to many, the iPad is not a computer.

I realize some would disagree and they have their reasons, but from a technology standpoint the iPad is missing many of the key elements that would make it a must have for most people.

First, there is no keyboard. Yes, it does have a touch screen keyboard, but the average person needs the feel of the keys in order to type quickly. So, for most it would not be any good for any sort of data entry.

Second, there is no stylus, or even software for drawing available unless you want to use just your finger, and as a designer, that just wouldn’t cut it. You cannot do precise enough edits or touch ups with your fingertip regardless of what videos they show you. There is also no handwriting ability, even without recognition software. You can do a better job on some android phones than you can with an iPad.

Third, there is no video or camera component built it. Almost every computer you buy now has a built in webcam whether you buy a desktop, laptop, or netbook. Even the newer generation of televisions are coming out with built in video capabilities so that you can talk to family, friends, or perhaps do business and do a live video fee. Even most cell phones have built in cameras and video cameras that can take high resolution photos for you to share. Yet, somehow in the design process of the iPad they didn’t think a webcam was necessary.

The list could go on and on from no usb port without a special adapter you have to purchase separately, no hardware to even play a video on the iPad unless you download it online. Simply put, the iPad is just a reader with games, and internet capabilities. Its usability factor is just not there for most people. There will come a time when handheld touchscreen computers will exist and be a part of our everyday lives, but for now, the iPad is just a fad. It isn’t even a beta version of what is coming though, by then we will speak to the computer like they do on science fiction shows.

The souls factor of iPad

If you are still reading you may be wondering what all the tech perspective has to do with whether or not your church website should be available using iPad technologies.

With the way technology and the internet is changing, even the most ugly, poorest designed websites are live online, even on your current cell phone if you have a data plan.

While it seems nearly everyone wants an iPad or iPhone, the truth is not very many people actually have one. Number one, anything apple makes is very expensive for the average person.

Right now the price for even the cheapest iPad is about $500. If you are an apple fan you can get the brand new MacBook Air for around $1250, or you can use a windows based computer and get the same speed, bigger hard drive, bigger screen, and much more software for about $600. If you are not a tech person, you can get other laptops that you can do your emailing, social networking, video watching, etc. for around $350. If you go with a netbook, you can cut about $150 off that price. We are in a recession and most people cannot afford $500 for a reader and another $6-800 for a cell phone.

According to Fortune Magazine last week, there were 8 million iPads sold in 2010. There were 9.5 million iPhones sold. These figured are worldwide, not just U.S.

As for Windows-based computers, there was 240 million Windows 7 computers sold. I am not a fan of Windows 7, I still prefer Vista and XP, but the fact remains that the huge majority of people are still buying Windows-based computers.

If you go into a coffee shop probably one person out of everyone in there will have an iPad, unless you are in a tech region. Most libraries and schools still use Windows computers,and some are open to the general public who may not have a computer.

I have never in my life seen so many people begging for help on the street and I can guarantee you that they do not have an iPad or they would be selling it for food or to pay bills. We are in a hard recession, and the likelihood is that in the next year it will turn into a full blown depression. People are losing their homes, their health, and divorces are on the rise from so much stress in just day to day life. I hardly think that any of them would give up their bed for an iPad.

I know it sounds as if I am jealous of iPad owners. I am not. I have one. I won it in a design contest. I am thinking about selling it though because honestly it really isn’t useful for me. The Peek with its texting and email capabilities is more useful for me than an iPad. And it is much more affordable.

So, back to my point. You shouldn’t let your web designer create your church site, or produce your media on a format that most people do not have. I realize they are just trying to keep current but at what price?

That soul that is homebound doesn’t have an iPhone or iPad to pull out on Sunday and hear the word of God. That saint who used to come but has had a run of bad luck isn’t going to look for his church on an iPad. That missionary in a far off land is not going to grab his iPad when it is time for church in America. That lost junkie in the boroughs of New York is not going to hear the message of God told on an iPad. He may be lucky if he even has any computer.

The bible says to ‘go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ That used to seem like such a monumental task, but now because of computer café’s widespread affordable internet, knock off computers even those in remote areas of Peru, or the Deserts of the Sudan, or perhaps even in the Kremlin or White House have access to the truth. It is our job to tell them, and now we have the ability to do so without having to ‘go.’

It cost less than an airplane ticket to broadcast your service live online. Actually it is probably closer to the cost of what you will have for lunch on Sunday afternoon. The message and technology has made it finally really reachable to the uttermost parts of the world.

Again, according to Fortune Magazine, statistics say that apple computer products; cell phones, laptops, iPads only has a 25% market share of the United States.

But no, lets design for the 8 million using the iPad and forget about the 7.5 billion who don’t. Without a vision the people perish.

Would Jesus have used an iPad? Don’t design for the fad. Use today’s technology to preach the old fashioned gospel.

FREE Twitter Background

2010-09-16T17:49:00.001-07:00

There are not a lot of Christian Twitter Backgrounds available. I have decided over the coming months to try and offer at least one background a month, FREE to my blog followers, and to those who ‘like’ my Facebook page.

As promised, today I am offering a FREE Twitter Background.

Based on Isaiah 9:6, this background is ready to go. You can either download it in .png or .jpg format but either should fit on your Twitter page. The dimensions are 1216 x 983 pixels.

Show your spirit or that you are a Christian on Twitter. This could also be used at Christmastime, as it is a very common theme for Christmas.

You can share it with your friends if you like, and tell them about the Facebook page, blog, and website. God Bless You!

Download

jpg version
png version (higher quality)

Twitter Tips

2010-09-15T19:53:00.001-07:00

If you haven’t heard of Twitter by now, come out of the cave and into the sunlight.

According to recent Twitter statistics, there are 160 million people on Twitter. With 370,000 new people joining each day, the likelihood is that almost everyone you meet is already on there.

If not, you can pretty sure guarantee that the majority of your church 40 years and younger is active on Twitter, either by cell phone, website, or some other application on the internet.

Is it for your ministry?

Yes, it can be. Your ministry or church can keep your members, friends, and even new prospects up to date with happenings in your ministry with a ministry Twitter account.

Special events or announcements, prayer requests, scheduling changes, special offers on CDs, or books, and many more uses to numerable to mention are available to all of us through 140 characters on Twitter.

You can also update your website or Facebook page at the same instant either by the Twitter page, an email or text, or even with applications that are available to most cell phones. Share photos, share links to other sites or events, share your burden, free and easy. It can definitely benefit your ministry.

However, there are a few suggestions or guidelines I would make in having a Twitter account for your ministry.

The Basics

I cannot stress this enough. Have a separate account for your ministry than you do for your family and personal thoughts.

Too many times between family and friends we may say things, that will have an effect on other’s perception of our character. We may not even do it intentionally, but sometimes, things are said that we did not mean, or we may accidentally post a link to some site, and have it wrong or there could be something on part of the page, and people may get the wrong idea.

Keep your ministry and your personal life separate.

That being said here are a few more tips:

Don’t make claims you cannot back up. It will be on the internet forever.
Do not post photos that you wouldn't want someone to see. Again, it is online forever.
Don’t become all holy on Twitter. Be who you are all the time, not just show how righteous you are online. People will find out you are a hypocrite.
Focus on sending tweets that are vital. Do not ‘forward’ or ‘retweet’ every kitty link that comes your way. People will stop following you.
Do not use Twitter to criticize the speaker at a conference. Use it for encouraging, uplifting comments. Remember the person you criticize has a Twitter account too.
Don’t tweet during your own sermon.
Remember Twitter is just a tool like many others available to help spread the Truth of God’s word.
Don’t follow everyone who follows you. You will not be able to keep up with everything everyone says. Ministries should be leaders more than followers.

There are many more tips I could write but I will cover some of those in future blog postings. I may also offer FREE Christian twitter backgrounds, so stay tuned.

A Few Terms

Twitter ID – The name you choose for your profile. Without one, you cannot participate in Twitter.

Tweet – Your message sent out to your followers in only 140 characters. It is also live for anyone to see on your Twitter page unless you change your privacy settings.

ReTweet – (RT) Essentially it is forwarding what someone else has said to your followers. However, the 140 character restriction applies, so it may be hard to add your own take on the saying.

Twitter Page – Your own personal page that will have a small bio, your most current tweets, your lists, and people you follow.

List – You have the option of categorizing your followers by topics. For instance I have lists for friends, networking, designers, church, and other lists. My followers are categorized in the lists in how they relate to me. It can be more than one list, but it helps you keep track of who is who.

Followers – People who have decided to get updates on what you write. You have the option of deciding if they can follow you, and if you want to follow them.

Direct Message – (d) Sending a message direct to one person and bypassing everyone else or your Twitter page. You must be followers of each other for this to work.

@ – You have to use the @(TwitterID) to reply, reference, or otherwise include specific individuals in your tweets.

And…

Since the inception of Twitter, many other words have been crafted using the Tw prefix. Tweeple, TwitPic (for photos), Twittonary, and many more. However, if you start adding Tw to all your words, “Twust me, you will look like an twidiot.” LOL

These are just a few guidelines and tips for using Twitter. If you are looking to make your church website match your Twitter page, or perhaps you just want a custom Twitter background to display the message of salvation, contact us, we can help!

Choosing Your Domain Name

2010-09-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

You have a ministry, you feel the calling, and now you need to get an online presence. You know you want a website, but what about a domain name?

Our first instinct is not to worry about a website when we first get our ministry going. However, we live in a much different era than our grandparents, and being online is becoming increasingly more important.

In the past most churches were started by door knocking, a preacher who had a burden for a city, and some sort of place hold services. We met people on the job, on the streets, in the supermarkets, and told them about God, but they came to know him, and us, by coming to church.

While for the most part that is still true, we are a society that wants information now. We don’t want to wait, and frankly there are so many similar names for churches these days, the church down the street may have a similar name as your church, and they may not believe the way you do.

There are varying levels of what Pentecost is about, and depending on the particular church, it can be a big shock if you expect holy rollers, and find that Pentecost is just the name on the building. And did you know that there are apostolic catholic churches? So, just putting up a banner, or even just saying we are the church by the ice cream shop is not enough anymore.

However, most of our world is online now. And most of us do research, at least somewhat, before we even buy furniture, let alone determine our soul’s destiny. We want to know what we are getting into. The best way to do this is to have a website for your ministry. Not only can you differentiate between who you are, and who the church down the block is, but you can more easily be identified with others who believe the same, you can let people know what to expect, you can sell books and media, and most importantly, you can give them the best directions with a map. You do not have to say our church is by the ice cream store followed by a myriad of directions.

Choosing your domain name is just as important.

The fact is, millions of domains are sold each day for websites that may never happen, as well as those that are created and uploaded. And if your ministry already has a name, then most likely you want that name for your website.

If you get lucky, or have purchased a domain when you first got a burden, then you are set. Your email can be pastor@yourdomainname.com instead of pastor122344@wherever.com.

That already makes you more identified with your church on your business cards, phone book, newspaper, or just in person. It lets everyone know that is how you are identified. They have your email and so they know you are a pastor, and when they have a need that they believe you can help with, whether it be advice, a funeral, wedding, or anything of spiritual needs, they have a way to get in touch with you directly, and that will influence their decision on who to contact.

Plus, whether you have a full blown website with media downloads, bible studies, and just about anything else you can imagine, or just one page with your church name, address, and phone number, people can find you on their cell phone or computer by going to that domain.

It makes it much easier for them to FIND YOU.

You do have to realize though that the domain name you want, may already belong to someone else. This happens quite a bit even to large businesses, let alone other ministries that are similar.

So what then?

The simplest idea is to add another word to your domain name. Instead of just using churchname.com, add thechurchofyourcity.com or other variations. Sometimes, you can get lucky by using just the initials of your church name followed by your city name, and it would be easy for anyone to remember.

Another option is changing the first level domain. First level domains are the ones we all know. The .com, .net, .org, etc. are called first level domains. Typically, most churches, ministries, and organizations opt for the .org on their domain names, but these days most any of the others are also options you can consider. The top three everyone has heard of, but there are many other options available, from .cc, .us, .info, .me, .tv, and many more. Some domains may cost a different amount to use, but it won’t take long that people know your domain name and identify you with it.

Tell them how to find you, and in doing so, help them find Jesus!

Want to see if your chosen domain is available? You can check out here on godaddy. Click here! I choose godaddy.com because I have found them to be easy to work with, affordable, and reliable in my own dealings.

Win A FREE Website

2010-08-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

That's right! Between Sept 1, 2010 and Oct 31, 2010, you have the chance to win a FREE website for your ministry, church, or non-profit. There are many churches, evangelists, and even apostolic musicians and artists that have no online presence. Maybe you want a special website for your church youth group or choir?

In celebration of our new website redesign, as well as the launch of this new blog, we are offering a FREE website and hosting for one year for the lucky winner.

We have also launched a Facebook page as well, where you can find out more information. Also by liking our page on Facebook you can receive a discount on all your graphic design needs.

We are also offering other prizes for those that enter the contest.

It isn’t hard to enter. Only three real steps to being on your way to having a professionally designed website for your church or ministry.

Join the apostolicsconnected group on Facebook.
“Like” apostolicvision design services on Facebook.
And, submit a 30 second to two minute digital video of why your church or ministry needs a website; or a video describing how a website can help ministries, churches, and non-profits to grow.

That's all it takes.

Maybe your church or ministry already has a website, but you know of a small church that needs one? You are welcome to give your prize to them, however it cannot be sold, and the website will be started in November, so we will have to get the contact information as soon as possible.

Enter the contest today and let’s make a greater impact for God online!

Click here for Official Rules & Prizes!

Reach Them Where They Are

2010-08-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

I was struck today with some of the reasons that it is important that ministries have some sort of online outreach. I hope you will allow me some of your time , and a little personal reflection to explain how important it is to reach people where they are.

While working on a project, I tuned into The Pentecostals of Alexandria, and the gentleman speaking there brought up one of his friends in a wheel chair and proceeded to tell a little bit of her story.

Her unrealized dreams, her hopes, and her plans that were struck down by some situation in her life to where now she is bound to a wheelchair. Her plans and her story were changed due to circumstances out of her control, and yet she came to the realization that she could be a witness regardless of what happened in her own life. A couple weeks ago while she was giving a bible study in the center she attends because of her disability, two of her friends began to speak in other tongues. She reached people where they were.

While I am not in a wheelchair, I have had my own experiences with health issues, and not being able to attend church always. The feelings of abandonment, loneliness, and lost feeling would grow increasingly worse as you feel isolated from others and God, but the circumstances are out of your control. At times, laying in a hospital bed, other times spending time in front of my computer at home, I was encouraged and my life was made different because of the witness I found online.

I wasn’t always this way. I used to be one of the first people to church. I was an evangelist, a Sunday school director, and grew up on church pews. It was all I knew. But let a little adversity come along in life, and you find out who is real in your life and who isn’t. You really find out how strong you are and how much you can endure without the fellowship of the saints and an encouraging word.

It is sad that people will walk out of our lives when we are facing hardship, but it is a fact of life. I have seen it happen to others, and I have experienced it myself.

I grew up in church, so I do have maybe more strength than some, but the fact remains I too feel alone and lost when I don’t have a place to call my church. I know how it feels to wonder where God is.

And what about those who have never heard the message one time?

They too go through the same struggles we all do, and yet, they may not have anyone to be a witness, or to give them that needed hug. What are they supposed to do? Drown their disappointments and sorrow in a bottle and drugs?

Let’s face it. We don’t knock doors like we used to. We don’t hand out tracts at the supermarket, or set up some sort of witness at the mall. Most of us make a conscious decision to not wear our church on our sleeve or our face, and many people we meet on a daily basis, or even work with will never know we are a Christian. Are we ashamed of God? Are we afraid of being identified because someone will think we are strange? We don’t want anyone thinking we are crazy. God forbid.

And yet, even for those who still make the effort to be a witness on a daily basis, even then there are many in our cities and communities that we do not reach. It isn’t that we are not trying, we just don’t have the time, or the ability to reach them all.

I live in an area where there is around 100,000 people in a thirty mile radius, and there is ONE spirit filled church in over 100 miles. There was a time when everyone in the valley knew where this church was, but now, not many people could find it if you asked them on the street. Some people have moved away, some have just quit attending, and still others, well, they have their reasons.

There is no way that all these people can be reached when none of the other area communities even have a church, most of them don’t even have a family in the area that believes the truth. So, how do we reach them?

We have to use the tools available to all of us.

Did you know that there are more than half of a billion active users on Facebook? Latest statistics say that Twitter has more than 100 million, and on a daily basis, 50 million plus tweets go out to the internet to friends, followers, and other people.

Four out of five people online (2007) go online in search of businesses, churches, or other needs instead of word of mouth, phone books, or local directories. I am sure by now the number is even greater than that. I haven’t even covered texting or cell phones, and only God knows how many of those there are.

And yet, most Apostolic-Pentecostal churches, evangelists, missionaries, and ministries do not have some sort of online presence. Why?

I would dare to say more than half of your congregation is on Facebook or Twitter on a daily basis, but your community doesn't even have a map to your church, even if they know that you are there.

So are you reaching them?

I know we can’t all be like the POA. I know we do not have budgets that can hire professional designers to make us some flashy site. Most of us think we could never afford to broadcast live over the internet, even if it meant saving our cities.

And in some respects that is true. But really if you check into it, the price isn’t as great as you would imagine. Maybe you aren’t very tech-savvy and just do not know how to do it. You would do more if you only knew how or if you had the time.

There are solutions that are much simpler than you would imagine. There are affordable, even free ways to have an online impact that maybe you have not thought about. You just have to be willing to reach out and ask for help, or do a little research and before you know it, you will be touching lives that you did not even know existed.

Reaching into homes, offices, cell phones; on the streets, in places you never dreamed you could be a witness.

Jesus said for us to “Go Ye into ALL the World and preach the Gospel to every creature.” That sounds impossible, but with the knowledge and technology we have now, it is possible to reach everyone, WHERE THEY ARE. “Go into the highways, byways, hedges, and get the halt, the lame, those who may never hear?”

Are you ready to reach them? To reach outside the four walls of your building, your comfort zone, your own perceptions?

Reach them where they are.

The Importance of Media Ministries

2010-08-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

Are you using all of the available tools to reach the people in your community? Are you an evangelist who travels the world and you know that the message isn’t getting to everyone you would like it to? Do you have a church choir, and love the way Sister Susie sings that one song, but she doesn’t have it recorded?

There are all questions we should be asking ourselves when we sit down to determine how to do a better job at reaching the lost. With the technology available today, it is a shame if we don’t use more of the options available.

We have all heard of tape ministries. Most of us would purchase cassettes at conventions or even take home tapes from the message the pastor preached last Sunday. But in most instances, there were very valuable messages, and insights that have been lost because we did not really put enough effort into that ministry; it was mostly just an afterthought. Yet, a tape recorder, a few blank cassettes, and hook it up to a microphone and we had a way of reaching those that didn’t make it to church that day.

Now, I realize not every message is worth documenting for posterity, but the bible says “all scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Even those Bible Studies where it was all we could do to keep awake, had some importance, but most of them are lost in some box and we have no idea where to find them.

Having a tape ministry was more than just something to add to our already overburdened church, it was a history of what transpired, and for those of us who still have a few tapes lying around, and a way to play them, we can still glean inspiration from those messages of old.

It is too bad we did not use that tool to its full effectiveness.

Many years ago, God gave insightful messages to my late pastor, Peter Shebley, involving the end time, and things that would transpire. Usually, the church was packed out during the messages about the mark of the beast, black helicopters, and how we could be persecuted, but it was a message that not many wanted to hear. Yet, even today, someone mentioned a friend talked to them about the earthquakes, wars, and all that is going on us right now, and said they wish they could hear Bro. Shebley talk about the end time again. The sad thing is, even though I am sure someone has a few tapes stored somewhere, they are not available to those who really want to hear the messages. The message has been lost.

I remember several times in the past of discussions with the pastor, and different ones would say, we need to have you write a book, or perhaps record it on cassette or video, so that when the time comes, we can know what to do. There was even a time or two where his relatives started to do something like that, and yet it never happened for some reason.

I still remember portions of those messages, and sometimes in my closeness with my pastor, we would discuss certain aspects, but for the most part, those messages have been lost, because the value of documenting those topics was not fully seen, or at least not enough effort was made.

My aunt wrote a book in the final days of her life, and labored even though she was gravely ill. She was a pastor’s wife, a minister and great preacher in her own right, and would also do revivals in her younger years, and there were some topics that she felt were important for people to hear, or read about, even after she was gone. They made tapes of some of her final messages she preached,and they are sitting in a box somewhere at my parents, but her anointing and her fervor is greatly missed because she is gone, and the messages are misplaced. The book she wrote, and even left funds to publish in her will, has never been completed or published and it sits somewhere, collecting dust. Again, the message has been lost.

What I wouldn’t do to be able to sit down with either of them, and talk about what is happening in my own life, let alone what is happening in the world around us. It is heartbreaking really.

I preached a message once called, “Memorial Stones.” In it, I talked about the children of Israel when they crossed into the promise land, were told to leave behind twelve stones beside the Jordan river, and when asked what those stones meant, they were to tell about the victories, the trials, and wars and about how God delivered. I am fairly certain those stones are gone, but in my message I tried to explain to others how important it was that we left behind memorials for all the things God had done for us so that those that come after would find something to draw strength from.

I still believe that today. Sometimes, the message gets so confusing in our world today, and while we still have the bible to draw from, there are times when we all wish we could hear someone preach one more time, or we could talk to them, or even read what they left for us to help us find direction. Yet, much of that message has been lost, because we did not realize how important it was.

Now, I realize that almost no one has the necessary equipment to play cassette tapes anymore. Many years ago, most churches that recorded messages put them on CDs, and when the time came moved to DVDs. So, if there is any documentation it is on those items, if they can be found.

Many ministries have moved on to video in the past several years, which is understandable giving the technology is more readily available and affordable than it used to be, but the fact is, most churches still think it is too expensive, or even impossible to get their message out in these media applications.

However, being able to record your messages in mp3 format is very easy with the available hardware and software that is very affordable. Using programs like Audacity, gives us the ability to edit, encode with titles, dates, etc on each file with relative ease.

It is becoming more and more possible for even the smallest ministry to spread the message even further than ever before. We just have to make the effort.

But what do you do with the messages you record? You could put a series of them on a DVD available for sale, which is what a lot of new media ministries do. Or, you can upload them to a website, not looking to profit from the message, and let anyone who has access download them for listening at their convenience.

Whether you are a shut-in in a nursing home, a miner working underground, or even an airline pilot, the technology is available to spread the message across the world in ways we never dreamed of in the past.

MP3 players are very inexpensive and most of us even have one on our cell phones, ready to play at a moments notice.

Preacher, is your message worth sharing? Are you ready for it to go to the uttermost parts of the world? It can, if you will let it.

But, you say, you don’t have a website? That too is no longer a problem, because another part of your ministry, is what you write. And there are many places online where you can create a blog, for FREE! You are reading one right now. It didn’t cost me anything, but I can let you know who I am, what I believe, what I do, etc. And, with some of the FREE Hosting options available, you can upload your message in mp3, and link to it in your blog, and it won’t cost your ministry a cent.

In the coming weeks, I will be covering some of these topics in more detail:

FREE Hosting Options
Blogging Site
Audio & Video Software Sources
Your Message Online FREE
so much more!

Your message is just as important to reach those who are busy, or shut-ins, or across the world, as it is to preach to those who walk thru the doors of your sanctuary, and now you have the power to do it. Paul, Peter, even Jesus did not have the options to spread the message the way we have it now. It is a very important time in the world, and our world needs Jesus.

Media Ministries can change the world. Is your message worth sharing?