Once again the alter of God is being filled with the blood of His saints. Pray for your brothers & sisters in Nigeria. Pray that this horrid act lights a fire in the church as a whole. Show Christ's bride that we need to become unified. Please use this as an opportunity to pray for their strength and that this can be a witness to the world. We should not be acting out in viloence. Power does nto come from a rifle, but the very hand of God. Our warfare is one of the Spirit, not of the flesh.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iNCU46VYMVf0VzhqkKJUus45PrDAD9EALSP81

By JON GAMBRELL (AP) – 40 minutes ago

DOGO NAHAWA, Nigeria — The killers showed no mercy: They didn't spare women and children, or even a 4-day-old baby, from their machetes. On Monday, women wailed in the streets as a dump truck carried dozens of bodies past burned-out homes toward a mass grave.

Rubber-gloved workers pulled ever-smaller bodies from the dump truck and tossed them into the mass grave. A crowd began singing a hymn with the refrain, "Jesus said I am the way to heaven." As the grave filled, the grieving crowd sang: "Jesus, show me the way."

At least 200 people, most of them Christians, were slaughtered on Sunday, according to residents, aid groups and journalists. The local government gave a figure more than twice that amount, but offered no casualty list or other information to substantiate it

Many free arcade game sites have many banners that most Christians struggle with. Especially if you are a man who has struggled with pornography. This weekend I purchased a large flash game back, I will go through them each day picking out the best games. I am working on creating two game sites. One that will be part of the First Cyber Church. This will host family friendly Flash games. The only ads I will place on that area of the Church will be ones supporting different ministries or Christian businesses. Send me info about your Ministry and a 125px by 125 pixel ad and I will place 4 up a month. If we get allot of responses I will rotate them.

We are also working on setting up another site, called FutureGaming. This site will not be just Christian material, but it will be a Family Friendly site. Christians need places they can unwind too, and I personally am tired of seeing singles ads, and scantily clad women. To pay for this site, the revenue stream will be geared to wards selling other games, books, items like that. If we can get the hits up enough on the site, I plan to also give large banners to sites that have an evangelistic on-line ministry. Let me now if you have any ideas what would be a great site to make a banner for the people who would want to play on this site.

Here is a link to a single Flash game I have chosen out of the pack. It is called Snow Storm, silly like game

Remember this is a sample game, not the new sites. LOL </p>

Here is the new online arcade site, it is still in process, and we are still picking out games. The ones in the system are just there for building purposes.

I found the website for the Pocket Testament League about two and a half weeks ago. They have a very slick, well done website. I know my website stinks. I am workign on it LOL They offer training classes and a very simple method of evangelism. Much like handing out a tract, they ask you to carry small book of the Gospel of John. They have many different covers. While you commit to carry and read the book of John, you are tasked with offering it to people you meet during the day.

I enjoy giving out Bibles, but the small testaments are good for carrying around. with you They do not sell the books, but ask for a donation instead. I wanted to see if I didn't pay for the books if I would still get them within a reasonable amount of time, So I ordered them and about two weeks later I received them. They were shipped Library Mial. The design layout is very fresh and modern. So it does make them a little easier to read. They also have an achievement like system. So they track how many you order. They also give you identifying stickers to place in the Testaments. That allows you to see if the people you give them to make an online declaration of faith. I also signed up for their new Christian home study course. The overall design was not as professional as their website for their new believer correspondence course. The content was good, but it coudl have had a little more umph to it.

I was impressed with my experience overall with the ministry. I am also pleased that it appears the primary driver is getting the Word of God in peoples hands, not adding to the bottom line of their ministry. I also tracked spam going to the email account I gave them, and I did not see a spike in Spam activity. That means allot to me and I am sure it does to you too. I do believe we should support ministries that are doing a good work, so I plan to send them check. Their suggested donation for 30 copies was $20. Their website also let you support individuals giving out the books, and you can create your own cover and sponsor a print run of Testaments.

You can check them out at http://www.pocketpower.org/

I am working on a new Christchievement image. I will post the image here when it is done. It will be called, He's got the whole book in His hands. Giving out 25 Bibles, New Testaments or Book of Johns will unlock it.

I have just created the second get on tract Christchievement. This one is for those who have given out 100 tracts to a stranger. My hope is that you will start giving me some of your ideas. Remember once you achieve the Christchievement, feel free to add the image to your website. Print it on a mug, make a magnet to place on your fridge, car. Remember you earned it.

If there are any artists out there who can make them better than me, I know there must be about a billion of you, send me an email or post a comment. I would gladly like to outsource it. I cannot pay a ton, but if you make them really rock, I could come up with $25 an image. I will be setting up a Cafepress store just to make it easy for people, but feel free to use them for any Christian purpose. I am working on a CopyChrist, which is an open source license for the Church. Once that is done all of the Christchievements will be released under that license. If you know of any already made, let me know. I am thinking the license will be completely open for any Christian ministry or Christian purpose. So if it is for furthering the Gospel, I am OK with any use to that end. Even reselling it is acceptable. If you are a non-Christian organization, then the license would be closed. That way it would limit its use to anti-Christian purposes.

Praise Him, Praise Him Christchievement

I am currently working on one of many projects at the First Cyber Church. I have purchased hundreds of Bibles for witnessing purposes over the year. Whole Bibles, New testaments, Gospels of John. You always have to balance cost with getting the Bibles into peoples hands.  I have always preferred giving complete Bibles. The one drawback, is that is pretty heady for a new Christian. I like to guide them first into John, Then into Romans, then Acts. You give someone a Bible, they want to turn straight to Genesis. Nothing wrong with Genesis, but I like a new believer to read John first. I think that book, really shows you who Christ is.

Many of the inexpensive paper back Bibles do not have allot of resources geared toward a new believer. So I started working on a new believer "Study" Bible. It will have John and Acts in it. It will be broken into a first 90 days of your new life. I will have back ground info, helping new believers get to a state where they will be more comfortable in the church. It will have a Bible reading plan for after the 90 days. The study will be geared toward teaching them to read their Bible everyday, praying before and after reading, asking questions, applying scriptures.

It will have a list of national numbers where people can get help. It will have articles geared toward starting their walks. I have attached the first day draft. I am about a quarter of the way through the text. I am removing chapters and verses. I am breaking it into specific blocks, so each day starts and ends at a logical break. Give it a review and please give me feedback. If you have some items you think may be helpful, let me know. Once it is completed and the graphics are completed, I will post it in PDF for free. I will add it to Lulu.com with a price just over fifty cents over their publishing costs. This money will be used to do a larger print run to bring the costs down.

ReachOuDraft2t.pdf (84.36 kb)

This post is for all you Pastors out there. I have allot of friends who are Pastors of churches and a common complaint is, why doesn't my Church evangelize?

You have probably devoted numerous sermons to witnessing, the need for witnessing, maybe practical methods of witnessing.

What was that you just said? You Haven't, well shame on you!

That is the first step. They have to know you are passionate on the subject, and many need to see you step out of your own comfort zone and share your faith with others. For those of you who are already doing this step, let me move on and share something that may be perfect for a church that needs a little prompting.

First, make it fun. Take the idea of Christchievements. Start using them in your your youth group. Promote them, and give them out on the Fifth Sundays of the month. You will be surprised how these little steps of faith, will break down the barrios that many people have with approaching strangers and friends with their faith.

Once you have that down, start a 60-90 promotion using this awesome program for Churches.

It is called Invite One.

Here is a blog devoted to it.

http://inviteone.wordpress.com/

It has info for the Pastor on communicating the message to their congregation. It has a sign up sheet. It is just a framework, but the creative Pastor could really use this as a way to reach the lost and grow their local church at the same time.

If you desire a program that is slick and complete. Then the next one is a must use.

http://www.act111.org/

It is free and a similar model. This one has your congregation make a commitment to share their faith with ONE other person. It has some decent video training, a certificate. As a Pastor I would add one thing. I would have my congregation sign up to share with the church just 5 minutes on their experience. This will do a couple of things, It will make them accountable. If you give them a day they have to share their faith, they will not keep postponing witnessing. It will also be a way to keep the program going without you always preaching about it. It will also inspire others, They will see it is not as scary as they think.

What other programs have you found that are similar?

What would stop you from creating a similar program in your church

I am nearing the end of my reading plan, and this was on of the passages I read this morning.

Revelation 5:1 - 5 (NKJV) ¹And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.  ²Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”  ³And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. ⁴So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open ^£and read the scroll, or to look at it.  ⁵But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and ^£to loose its seven seals.”

This verse just really cut me to the quick. Here we have a STRONG angel. Think about that, when I think of angel's I have never envisioned a weak one. John is surrounded by heavenly beings and this ONE angel appears strong to him in comparison to the others, There are seals that need to be opened, yet this angels strength can't help him in this task. The angel declares "Who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals.

The first thing that hit me was;

1) How often do we attempt to do God's work from our own strengths, talents. When instead maybe we should first seek God's GRACE and HOLINESS?

Then this verse was a little too much for me today.

⁴So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it and asked myself when was the last time I wept over an area of God's ministry not being accomplished. When I worked with troubled teens and youth, I frequently wept. As an Associate Pastor and visiting sick or dying people, I have wept. In worship  or watching a dramatic movie I frequently weep. How many of us cry when our favorite sports team loses the big game?

When have we wept hearing about Christians being murdered for their faith, or missionaries harassed for preaching God's Word. How many of us wept hearing that Gospel.com was closing its doors. Churches every day close, due to finances, pastor failure or childish bickering. I have never shed a tear over that, some of you may have. I have never wept hearing about some big name Minister being caught in a sin so serious it tarnishes God name to the lost.

Lord, I ask your forgiveness, open my heart. Let me have John's vision and weep. Thank you for being worthy, even when we are not!

Some are saying it is a Christian movie, others saying it is not. It was a pretty dark, graphic film. I can take lessons from it, like how far will you go to follow God's will. That God's Word will endure....I am on the fence about it though. The ending was not what I expected. There were not many redeeming characters. It reminded me a little of the old Samurai films Zatoichi the blind masseuse. Even if you cast off the dark, violent nature of the film. Eli, Denzel Washington's character didn't share God's Word. He held it within himself. Looking for the "perfect" people to share it with. If God truly was calling him on this mission, based on the message of the Bible, you think Eli would have shared God's Word.

So, what did you think?

I found this article and decided to reprint it. This illustrates one of the ideas I am trying to pass along. If we want to reach out, and really reach out we have to think out of the box sometimes. You need to look at your life, look at the things you enjoy to do. Then turn them over to God and determine to use them for God's Goodness. Get off the couch, get out of the church. Review a few blog postings, read a book or take an online evangelism class and "Git Ur Dun"! I love it!

Have You Ever Considered Campground Evangelism?   by Aleena Denison

The idea of campground evangelism is little thought of by many Christians. I certainly didn't think about it much until I started researching it. Of course, God has specifically laid it on the hearts of some believers to minister to those who travel around and spend much of their time at campgrounds, but maybe most of us don't realize the potential for ministry in this area, and it could be practically in our own backyards.

When we think of campers, we might think about all the adventures they have planned, with little time for "religion." This is true with some, but many people, even those wanting to escape thoughts of religion, are open to meeting new people and talking about various experiences in life, and conversation can eventually be swayed to spiritual things.

Here are a few things that are more common than not among those who frequent campgrounds:

* They're looking to have a good time, so for the most part their attitudes are cheerful and expectant.

* They're looking for a relaxing time away from stress and hassle, and some may be looking to escape serious emotional, physical, or spiritual difficulties in their lives.

* They're looking to meet new people and experience new things.

Aside from those who vacation at the campgrounds, the workers at campgrounds may be open to learning more about spiritual things. One thing about it, when one is surrounded by God's creation, it's hard to deny His existence. It's also possible that you could meet other believers who would love to participate in evangelism while on vacation, and there may be some believers in need of encouragement in their spiritual lives.

Although the door for campground evangelism is wide open, it would be very unwise to rush out right now and burst into camp with preaching and teaching. Prepare first and have a plan! Think about:

* Getting permission from the campground management. Beginning such a ministry without the proper permission from management could cause problems and hurt your testimony when word gets around about what you're doing.

* Building relationships with people; easing into spiritual conversation. Not everyone likes to be confronted by strangers about personal matters, and a person's soul is a personal matter--between him or her and God. Many people like to find an area of common ground on which to build, and even if there isn't anything obvious, those to whom you are speaking are apt to feel more comfortable if you show genuine interest in them.

* Specific activities you could plan according to the ages and capabilities of the people at the campground-- the ages will span from very young children to those who are retired.

* Speaking to people in a language that they understand, which will mean defining "Christianese" so that those who've never been in contact with spiritual things can understand. It would be beneficial to look for tools that help simplify the Gospel so that it's easily understood.

I'd encourage anyone who lives in an area where there are several campgrounds to consider the possibility of this ministry!

About the Author

Aleena Denison has a heart for seeing the message of the Bible presented in a clear way,and is dedicated to sharing Jesus with the lost and helping believers see their responsibilities in evangelism, discipleship, and Bible study. For more information and free downloads, see http://www.goodseed.com

This is the 4^th article in the series on setting up your own outreach program, or ministry of helps.

You have Prayed, taken an inventory, and achieved a vision. Now it is time for the real work to begin. Since you have some high level information such as what your ministry is, what resources you have, and a place to work from, this next 2 steps are crucial.

Who will you serve and who will you partner with. If you step out in faith alone with some guidance as to whom you will serve you may spend allot of time going in circles. When Jesus sent out the disciples, He sent them out in pairs. The Scripture states, where 2 or more our gathered, I am in their midst. It is important for numerous reasons who having at least on partner before moving too far in your ministry.

Whom to Serve.

                These are going to be your lambs. You will be praying for them, crying for them, pushing yourself to the limits physically, mentally and emotionally. So it needs to be a group of people you have a real love for. Yes there are times I believe God may choose a group of people you have a prejudice against. He will do that to teach us love and to break down those barriers.  If with all the praying and seeking God, you still do not know who you are to serve. Ask yourself who do you gravitate towards? When you are with a specific age group, cultural group do you feel recharged afterwards? If the answer to that question is yes, this may be a good indication of your potential service community.

Partners in Crime.

            You need at least one partner that shares your vision. It can be a spouse, family member, friend, church member. If you have no one in your life that shares this passion you must find someone. It is hard enough with a partner; it can be dangerous without one.  You will be more effective if while you are sharing God’s love with someone you have a partner who can be supporting you in prayer. I can pack meals for 50 men in 30 minutes. With my wife and daughter it takes 10 and is much more joyful. When we minister to the homeless in our town, the men enjoyed the picture my (at that time) 9 year old daughter drew for them as much as the food, Bible, Tracts. She gained allot from it too.

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