1.  Communications.
Have you ever wanted to chat with everyone at once but weren't able to get together? Maybe your church community is spread out over the city or country and meeting in person isn't a convenient option. There are many services out there for online meetings, including free services within Google Apps or Skype.

If everyone you want to communicate with has a Gmail account, you can not only have a free email, you can also have:

• live voice or text chatting
• live video conferencing
• set up a blog via Blogger
• set up a free website
• set up an events calendar
  

Skype is another option for free computer calling (to other Skype users), text chatting, voice or video conferencing.


2.  Website Design.
I think every church group should have a website.  It's the perfect information hub to let everyone know when, where and what's going on.  It can be a message board and a place of contribution, pictures, testimonies, stories and more. 

My favorite web design program is Weebly.com. It's an easy-to-use online design program with drag and drop simplicity so even someone like me can build a website! You can have a basic or Pro account depending upon what options are important to you. You can even create a fully functional website for FREE if having your own domain name isn't important to you. I put a short demo on one of my Weebly sites to show you how easy it is to work with.

Since Weebly is an online program, this allows me to access and update my websites from anywhere with internet access. I don't have to be at my home computer where my design program is. I've made 10 websites with Weebly and recommend it to anyone. 

Now what if you want a website, but don't have time to build and maintain it?  No problem!  I might be able to help.  Visit my special website page for ideas and my "Hands Free" website option.


3.  Web Hosting.
You can host a website almost anywhere nowadays, but I've had pretty good luck with JustHost.com.  I chose JustHost because with one account, I can have an unlimited number of add-on domains for FREE.   In other words, I have ten websites but I'm only paying to host one. The other nine are FREE. Run the numbers and see if you can beat that some where else!


4.  Online Business & Working From Home
Who isn't looking to make some extra money - especially if you can do it from home?  Consider this exciting twist on a home business: Instead of finding something to make or sell,  Turn your passion or hobby into a money maker.  Rather than type out what I mean, watch this short video. If you'd like to work from home or make money from something you already enjoy doing, watch this short intro video...

If you liked what you saw there, then your next step is to grab a cup of coffee, click the video again and watch the 30-minute overview about how you can have a profitable online business doing what you love to do. It will also explain why most online businesses fail and while others succeed.   It's really worth the time!

Would you like to work as a freelancer?  You can connect to employers who need your skills through services like Freelancer.com.  If you can type, answer phones, know Photoshop, can write articles or have other talents, there are hundreds of employers out there who'd like to work with you from all over the world.  Get started today, start bidding on projects today.  I get project notices every day and can bid on the ones that interest me most.


5.  Self Publishing & E-books
I've met some talented Christian writers out there who just need a nudge of encouragement to turn their gift into a blessing for others.  If you're one of them, please keep reading.

The internet has forever changed the publishing world.  Self-publishing and Publish On Demand (P.O.D.) services are everywhere for the writer who wants to avoid the possible rejection or hassles of a traditional publisher.  You can all the work yourself or go through a non-traditional publisher.  Consider all the pros and cons and do your homework before signing up with a publishing service.  Some are good and some are vultures!

Linda has gone on to form her own publishing company: OneStopPublishing.com. I highly recommend her services if you don't want to do the formatting  yourself.  She's and an affordable alternative to many other overpriced self-publishing services that charge an arm and a leg to do what she can do.  I still do cover artwork and offer other marketing services which you can see on my other websites: DurangoVideo.com, GilbertVideo.com or NovelBookTrailers.com.  If this seems like shameless self-promotion, well...it is.  : ) 

E-books are another popular way to get your materials out to the world. Most people save their text as a PDF and upload it to a website like what I've done here with several Bible Studies.  Or if you'd like to make your works available for immediate purchase and download 24-hours a day, consider Payloadz. 


Hopefully some of these tools and ideas will come in handy for you or your group.  Feel free to leave a comment and share other ideas and tips you've found helpful within your church community!

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The man in the Allstate commercial asks in a deep voice, “Are you in good hands?”  It's a good question about our earthly concerns and possessions. No one wants to be caught in an accident without some protection.

Here's another good question, and this one has eternal implications:

                          “Are you covered by the blood of Jesus Christ?"  

We understand how insurance works and how having proper coverage involves more than just a handshake, doesn't it? It's a legally binding, contractual relationship.  In like manner, receiving the soul cleansing blood of Jesus involves more than just bowing our head and saying a few words.  I'm referring to water baptism that the Bible talks about. Why this isn't widely preached today is a mystery to me because it's repeatedly commanded in the scriptures.

To understand the purpose and importance of baptism, let's go back to the Old Testament and to the first unforgettable Passover night.  With a mighty hand, God delivered his people from bondage in Egypt...

For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.  (Exodus 12:23)

Passover is the celebration of that specific night. The blood of a lamb would spare a family from the destroyer causing him to “pass over” their house. Any house which did not have lamb's blood on the door post and lintel would be visited by death. The crying that could be heard all over Egypt must have been grievous, while there was joy in the houses of Israel. The difference was the blood of the lamb.

Many years later, God manifested himself in flesh and became our passover lamb. The Almighty, invisible, immortal Spirit became a visible, mortal man to die for our sins and to spare us from eternal death.  We are made clean by the blood of Christ!

We don't put blood on the door posts of our houses today to have remission of sins. Rather, we follow the pattern of Christ who died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried and rose again.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (Romans 6:3-4)

Jesus Christ commanded his apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins to the world. The book of Mark ends this way...

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  (Mark 16:15-16)

How exactly did the apostles preach the gospel? To find out, we need to go to the book of Acts where they preached the same message over and over...

(Acts 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...

(Acts 8:12) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women...

(Acts 10:48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

(Acts 16:30-33)  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Why must we be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ? Because he was that Lamb of God who died for us. His blood washes away our sins.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  (Acts 4:12)

In Acts 19, Paul found certain disciples of John the Baptist who only knew part of the gospel. They had already been baptized, but not in the name of Jesus Christ. When Paul told them that Christ had come, and that they should be baptized in his name, they didn't argue.  They were re-baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ.

Insurance offers protection from potential accidents. The blood of Jesus Christ offers protection from the inevitable judgment to come like the ark saved Noah and his family...

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:21)

Are you covered by the blood of the Lamb?  If not, today is a great day to make sure!

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.  (Acts 22:16)

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                                     Jordan River + Wash 7 Times = Healing.

No therapy, no change in diet, no follow up visits. Sounds like real health care reform!  Here's Naaman's reaction...

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. (2 Kings 5:11-12)

Leprosy is an infectious disease, characterized by disfiguring skin sores, nerve damage, and progressive debilitation. It's not a “take two aspirin and call the doctor in the morning” kind of condition. In ancient days, it was incurable. Naaman's reaction to how he could be healed was puzzling even to the men who were with him...

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? (2 Kings 5:13)

Naaman eventually listened to his servants, did what he was told and was healed. I believe Naaman's story speaks to us today in a variety of ways.

The Bible tells us many times that God's ways are not our ways. He does things for reasons that defy our understanding. His will is often times at odds with our own will and preferences. How often was Jesus Christ misunderstood even by his own disciples? Nearly everyday!  Consider these scriptures...

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
(1 Corinthians 1:27)

I've come to the conclusion that God is okay with me not always understanding His ways. Sometimes understanding comes by obedience. Remember Samuel's admonishment to King Saul, Obedience is better than sacrifice... ? Walking by faith is often accompanied with uneasiness at first.  I'm sure Abraham scratched his head more than once while climbing the mountain to sacrifice his promised son Isaac. But we know  that story had a happy ending.

I look at Naaman and marvel. He was willing to refuse his own healing because God didn't meet his expectations.  I shake my head...until I consider my own ways.

How often have I rejected life changing blessings because I was unwilling to do the simple things God was asking of me? How often have I complained, “The Jordan is dirty! These other rivers (my ways) are cleaner and better.” And you know what? I might be 100% right... but do I want to be "right" or do I want to be healed? The healing is in the Jordan River (God's ways).  I'll just get wet doing things my way and remain unhealed.  Now that's a box of stupid!

Folks, if we're requiring God to live up to our standards, we are going to miss him. He will take his blessings that could have been ours and will visit the humble, the open and the willing. He will perform wonders to those who have that childlike faith and an obedient heart to submit to his every word.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him... (2 Chronicles 16:9)

You might also like the post: What Do You Expect?

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Church Is Not A Building.
Most of us know this, but how do we typically answer the question, “Where's your church?” Without thinking we usually say, “Oh, down the road across from the hardware store...” We give directions to a building, right? Is that how we'd answer the question, “Where's your family?” Think about it.  The church is the family of God!

Church Is Not A Denomination.
Does the Bible talk about or endorse denominations? No it doesn't. Denominations are a man made creation that in the end elevates men and separates groups of believers from other groups of believers.  Have you ever talked with someone who seemed proud they were Baptists or Pentecostals, Catholic, Independent, etc.,? Proud of our corporate identity. What's that all about?

The Church Is People!
The church Christ came to build is made up of believers who've received Christ according to the scriptures. Each believer is a member of the body of Christ, placed in that body according to his design. Each member has purpose and gifts to edify others.

Jesus Christ is the Foundation and the Head of the Church.
Some folks believe that a pastor is the head of the church like a CEO of a corporation. This isn't scriptural either. Jesus Christ is the foundation and the Chief Cornerstone upon which the church is built.  We are the lively stones of that building.  Additionally, we are the body of Christ and he is the head of that body. Christ is the Alpha and Omega!  If the head is gone, the body is a door stop. There is no second in command. A man may be head of an organization, but the church of Jesus Christ is not an organization. It is a family!

                                                 Important Questions About Church

What Does the Bible Say About The Leadership Structure of the Church?
Jesus tried to instill the heart of church leadership in Matthew 23. In essence he told them to not be like the world. Don't seek titles or positions. Seek to serve! He said, “One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.” Later, Paul taught Timothy and Titus about elders or bishops in a plural sense, not as single leaders. Elders are to be examples to believers, protectors of doctrine, preachers of righteousness and always apt to teach others to teach. In the natural world, parents raise children to become healthy, productive adults, who become parents also.  It should be the same spiritually in the church.

How Many People Make Up A Church? Is There A Certain Number?
The short answer is no, the Bible doesn't specify a number. But Jesus said, that wherever two or three are gathered together in his name, there is he in there midst.

What About A Constitution And By Laws?
These things are trappings of man made organizations and governmental requirements of corporations. The church is not a corporation. The Bible is our Constitution, By Laws and guide for life!

Is House Church Or Home Church Biblical?
Absolutely! But don't take my word for it.  Read some scriptures about it yourself...

Acts 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Romans 16:5   Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:19  The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Colossians 4:15  Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Philemon 1:2  And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

The church of Jesus Christ is the dynamic and flexible family of God. It is not subject to the whims of man nor relegated to a fixed date, time or place. It's bigger than any denomination, able to withstand poverty, prosperity and even the gates of hell! Wherever two or three are gathered together in his name to worship God and to edify one another, there is Christ in the midst! Let's not reduce church to a Sunday morning program! Rather, let us BE the church, the light of the world, that city set upon a hill, until he comes to take us to ever be with him!