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

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?

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.

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.

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?

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!

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.

1. Join the apostolicsconnected group on Facebook.
2. “Like” apostolicvision design services on Facebook.
3. 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!

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.