tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34769665836319694392024-03-14T08:13:47.597-04:00Cyber Ministry - Tending 21st Century SheepPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-15750697440684242702008-10-19T20:14:00.003-04:002008-10-19T20:22:09.909-04:00The blog is moving!<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CHANGE OF ADDRESS</span></span><br /><br />This blog is hosted on <a href="http://www.blogger.com">Blogger.com</a>, a free service that has been great. You may have reached this blog by typing in the address <a href="http://www.21stCenturySheep.com">www.21stCenturySheep.com</a>. That address redirected you to this address on Blogger.com.<br /><br />I have moved to a different blogging service where I have more control of the server and can use the <a href="http://www.wordpress.com">WordPress</a> software. I setup the new blog using the WordPress software on my <a href="http://www.godaddy.com">GoDaddy</a> account. You can reach the new blog by typing in either www.21stCenturySheep.com or www.21stCentury Sheep.net.<br /><br />This will be the last entry on this site. If you have it bookmarked, make sure the bookmark is set to <a href="http://www.21stCenturySheep.com">www.21stCenturySheep.com</a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-59155694224725549752008-10-11T17:02:00.004-04:002008-10-11T17:17:50.694-04:00Alabama - West Florida ConferenceI had a great time working with folks from the <a href="http://www.awfumc.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=1427">Alabama - West Florida conference</a> of the UMC this weekend. I'll fly out of Montgomery tomorrow morning.<br /><br />I liked the format of this training. Participants were encouraged to bring laptops and most did. There was time built into the schedule for the participants to try out the things we were discussing. Several of them joined the <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/21stcenturysheep">Google Group</a>, a couple joined <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a>, and one couple even setup a <a href="http://www.rloumc.org/">web page</a> for their church.<br /><br />The training seemed to go well and I met some great folks. Meredyth and Leigh have been great hosts.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-65077889381696850252008-10-07T19:29:00.003-04:002008-10-07T19:43:11.779-04:00New Cyberbullying StudyA <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081002111425.htm">new study</a> out of UCLA finds <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cyberbullying</span> is more common than previously thought. Almost 75% of teens reported some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cyberbullying</span> during the prior 12 months. The most common type of bullying was name calling. That didn't surprise me, but the second most common type did. The second most common tactic was password theft. If someone steals or guesses your password they can send email in your name, visit websites and make it look like it was you, or edit an online profile and post untrue and unflattering information.<br /><br />We have to teach our kids to use <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/create.mspx">strong passwords</a>, and to keep them private!<br /><br />Even though nearly 75% reported bullying, only 10% reported it to their parents. The most common reason for not telling was the teens felt like they just "need to learn to deal with it." The second most common reason was that they were afraid if they told, their parents would limit their access to the Internet.<br /><br />We need to develop relationships that allow our children to tell us what is going on in their lives without fear of us overreacting.<br /><br />You may also want to listen to the <a href="http://www.publicradio.org/columns/futuretense/2008/10/children-hide-o.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">APM</span> Future Tense podcast</a> on this report.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-80757080587753876432008-10-04T22:11:00.002-04:002008-10-04T22:15:17.868-04:00Jog The WebA friend pointed me to this website today and I found it very interesting. The site is <a href="http://www.jogtheweb.com">JogTheWeb.com</a> and it lets the user setup a "tour" of websites. You can add comments or directions about each website. <br /><br />My <a href="http://www.jogtheweb.com/reader/index.php?trackId=752">first effort</a> is a quick tour of several Internet safety resource sites. Give it a try and see what you think. <a href="http://www.jogtheweb.com/reader/index.php?trackId=752">Click here</a>. The site is free and relatively easy to use.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-55166645066265388062008-09-28T20:32:00.002-04:002008-09-28T20:55:45.347-04:00Porn and the ChurchI was asked to draft some policy and procedures that address situations where pornography is being accessed using church computers. We may think this doesn't happen, but it does. As I was doing some research for this project I came across this <a href="http://www.fox11az.com/news/topstories/stories/texas-20080925-pastor-child-porn-probe.b4b65a8c.html">terrible story</a> from Texas.<br /><br />Pastor Steve Richardson of <a href="http://www.fumcroysecity.org/">First United Methodist Church</a> in Royse City Texas, has admitted to trafficking child pornography from the computer in the church. The <a href="http://www.fox11az.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/wfaa/08-09/richardsoncomplaint.pdf">full complaint</a> documents his actions and how he was caught.<br /><br />First, this is a congregation that needs our prayers. Please pray for all involved in this situation. <br /><br />Second, it is time for the Church, and the UMC specifically, to face the issue of pornography head-on. There are estimates that up to half of all men access pornography online, and persons in ministry are not immune. There are resources available to help us get started. Here are a few I've found interesting.<br /><br /><a href="http://xxxchurch.com/">XXXChurch</a><br /><a href="http://www.safefamilies.org/">TechMission Safe Families</a><br /><a href="http://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/">Breaking Free</a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-22887537745720621042008-09-28T20:18:00.005-04:002008-09-28T21:16:59.570-04:00Great day at Wesley Memorial UMCWe had a great day of training at <a href="http://www.welcometowesley.com/">Wesley Memorial</a> in Wilmington yesterday. Bill, Steve, Jay and Donna took care of all the arrangements and made us feel very welcome.<br /><br />We spent more time on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/">MySpace</a> yesterday than we did the previous week. After reviewing the basics of MySpace I asked the group why they thought MySpace was so popular. They gave some great responses.<br /><br />1. It is empowering.<br />2. Kids can define themselves in the way they want to instead of being defined and classified by others.<br />3. Kids who are shy in real life feel more free to express themselves.<br /><br />I love the interaction we have in these training sessions.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-5697340907740659572008-09-24T21:50:00.002-04:002008-09-24T22:06:07.129-04:00Youth and Video GamesThe <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/index.asp">Pew Internet & American Life Project</a> is a great source for reliable information about Internet use in America. One of their latest reports is <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/263/report_display.asp">Teens, Video Games and Civics</a>. <br />This reports shows virtually ALL of American teenagers play video games and at least half of them play games on any given day. I'll confess, I'm not a big gamer. I like Solitaire, the original Mario games, and Brain Age on the Nintendo DS. I tried World of Warcraft but I don't think it is something I'll spend much time with.<br />This new report shows that for most teens, playing games is a social event. They play with others. This report dispels the myths of gamers being socially isolated and games having no redeeming value. I encourage you to take a look.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-11245514434125544182008-09-21T15:44:00.003-04:002008-09-21T16:05:35.902-04:00White Plains FollowupWe had our first <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/5396968/Cybersafety-Workshop-Brochure">Shepherding 21st Century Sheep</a> workshop yesterday at <a href="http://www.wpumc.com/">White Plains UMC</a> in Cary, NC. Rob and Emily were great hosts. They had everything setup and made sure everything was taken care of.<br />I was very pleased with the workshop, and based on the evaluations, most of the participants were too. I'd like to mention several highlights for me.<br />1. Great participation by the attendees. There was a lot of expertise in the room and people were willing to share.<br />2. As mentioned above, the hospitality and facility were great.<br />3. The <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/21stcenturysheep">Google Group</a> worked as I hoped it would. Derek even posted a couple of things during the session to share with others.<br />I'm looking forward to <a href="http://www.welcometowesley.com/">Wesley Memorial</a> in Wilmington this weekend.<br /><br />I haven't had time to explore this yet, but here is the link to the <a href="http://webempoweredchurch.com/">Web-Empowered Church</a> software that was mentioned yesterday.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-80423039163417841212008-09-16T20:21:00.002-04:002008-09-16T20:35:27.571-04:00Cool Cat Christian BlogI came across a new blog this week that I want to share. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/05549879610620143027">Vicki Davis</a> is a teacher who is well known and respected for the technology projects and activities she does with her students. I've been following her <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/">Cool Cat Teacher Blog</a> for some time now. Just this week I saw that she also has a <a href="http://www.coolcatchristian.com/">Cool Cat Christian Blog</a>. On that blog she advocates for churches to use the new media and technology in ministry.<br /><br />I especially appreciated her blog entry on <a href="http://www.coolcatchristian.com/2008/09/christianity-is-based-on-christ-not.html">Christianity and voting</a>!Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-71556707944194310892008-09-14T08:56:00.003-04:002008-09-14T09:32:09.359-04:00God and Rambo - UMM Devotion 09.14.08I try to see God in everything but I never thought I would see God in a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462499/">Rambo</a> movie!<br /><br />Rambo movies are not the kind of movies I normally watch, too much blood and gore. However, this week I did watch the new Rambo movie on DVD. I had seen a behind the scenes special on the movie and that got me interested. Sylvester Stallone was talking about the situation in <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html">Burma</a>, where the new movie is set. He chose the setting because he wanted to bring attention to the problems of Burma. Basically, the story is about a group of Christian aid workers getting captured and Rambo trying to rescue them.<br /><br />The movie prompted me to do some of my own research. Burma has been ruled by a brutal and oppressive military government since 1962. The National League for Democracy won a landslide victory over the military government in 1990 but the was never allowed to take power. The Burmese people are going through an economic crisis and just buying food is a challenge for many. Add to that Cyclone Nargis which hit the country earlier this year. Some have estimated the number killed by the cyclone at over <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,355538,00.html">100,000</a>. <br /><br />Just when you think things could not get worse, add a plague of rats. "<span id="dio0" class="articolo_inside">The disaster, known in Burma as maudam, is caused by a cruel twist of nature. Once every 50 years or so the region's bamboo flowers, producing a fruit. The fruit attracts hordes of rats, which feed on its seeds. Some believe the rich nutrients in the seeds cause the rodents to multiply quickly, creating an infestation. After devouring the seeds, the rats turn on the villagers' crops, destroying rice and corn. In a country once known as the rice bowl of Asia, thousands of villagers are on the brink of starvation." (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/10/burma.famine">from The Guardian</a>) <br /><br /></span>A very large number of the Burmese people are poor, abused, taken advantage of by their government, and struggling to survive. On the Rambo DVD commentary one person remarked, "The poor in the world, without justice, are but shadows." Nowhere is this more true than in Burma.<br /><br />How do we respond to poverty and injustice in Burma and elsewhere? I think the scriptural commandments are clear.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Leviticus 23:22 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the <span id="xdt04" class="highlight">poor</span> and for the alien: I am the Lord your God.<br /><br />Deuteronomy 15:11 Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the <span id="q6zw3" class="highlight">poor</span> and needy neighbor in your land."<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Psalms 41:1 Happy are those who consider the <span id="q50w2" class="highlight">poor</span>; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><br />Proverbs 31:9 Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the <span id="lphs3" class="highlight">poor</span> and needy.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span>Luke 14:13 But when you give a banquet, invite the <span id="rp6s2" class="highlight">poor</span>, the crippled, the lame, the blind.<br /><br />It seems to me there is probably no work more Godly than caring for the poor, the exploited, and the abused. I am very proud of our local church and its food pantry ministry. Each year the food pantry provides food and financial assistance to hundreds of needy families in the county. I am also very proud of the United Methodist Church that works to feed the hungry around the world. <br /><br />That being said, I have to examine how I can be more involved in poverty and social justice issues. The challenge for all of us to acknowledge the hunger and injustice in this world and acknowledge the abundance and freedom we have in our lives. Then, through prayer, study, and meditation, decide how we can can be part of the solution and minister to God's people.<br /><br />For more information<br /><a href="http://freeburmarangers.org/">Free Burma Rangers</a><br /><a href="http://uscampaignforburma.org/">US Campaign for Burma</a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-67824161688666647512008-09-06T16:32:00.002-04:002008-09-06T16:43:46.299-04:00Saving video from the webHave you ever found a great video on <a href="http://www.youtube.com">YouTube</a> or <a href="http://www.godtube.com">GodTube</a> and wanted to save a copy? Maybe you were planning a presentation at a location where an Internet connection was not available or was unreliable. If you are like me, you always feel better knowing you have the video downloaded.<br /><br />I've tried several websites that provide this service. The easiest one I've found so far is <a href="http://keepvid.com/">KeepVid.com</a>. Go to KeepVid.com, enter the url where you found the video and click the Download button beside the url box. This will take you to a new page. Near the bottom of the page are two links. One will download a high quality (large file) copy of the video. The other is for a low quality (smaller file) copy. You can save the video to your computer or a flash drive.<br /><br />Happy Viewing!Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-42842393205911519912008-09-03T21:50:00.004-04:002008-09-03T23:30:40.467-04:00Hanna cancels Haymount presentationThe latest projection calls for Hanna to be over Fayetteville on Saturday morning. Not wanting to put anyone at risk, the organizers have decided to cancel the presentation this weekend. At least we will be ready for White Plains UMC on 9/20. (Image from <a href="http://www.wunderground.com">www.wunderground.com</a>)<br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/PAULOB%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyubxrcIecq1PIP8QPXw0gJHA0bgBeRV79EqWzvmjbbqA9RJq5I2rYwYHJh0BTHcx3G-Cpr1_GLnLQnNFjXwhBeE-rxjvSHk1zvfo9HluAxPEvlHUT9n6U5qhMuXU5ow9qE0gj_0RYc8w/s1600-h/Hannah.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyubxrcIecq1PIP8QPXw0gJHA0bgBeRV79EqWzvmjbbqA9RJq5I2rYwYHJh0BTHcx3G-Cpr1_GLnLQnNFjXwhBeE-rxjvSHk1zvfo9HluAxPEvlHUT9n6U5qhMuXU5ow9qE0gj_0RYc8w/s320/Hannah.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241979174160714402" border="0" /></a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-1636739041504406532008-09-01T14:08:00.004-04:002008-09-01T14:18:15.378-04:00Preparing for HaymountI've been putting the final touches on a presentation and handouts for a <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/5396968/Cybersafety-Workshop-Brochure">Cyberministry training event</a> this weekend. The event will be held at <a href="http://www.haymountumc.com/">Haymount UMC</a> in Fayetteville, NC.<br /><br />I'm trying something new to make the files available to the participants. I've created a <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/21stcenturysheep">Google Group</a> that anyone can join. You will see there is a link to it on the right side of this page. Once folks join the group, they can access the files, and participate in a discussion board.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-88224059242403336592008-08-24T16:42:00.003-04:002008-08-24T17:01:06.393-04:00Men's RetreatThis weekend I had the honor of speaking at a Men's Retreat. The retreat was organized by Jerry Barnett and "his best friend" Kenny Nelson. The retreat took place at <a href="http://www.caleretreat.org/">Camp Cale</a> just outside of Hertford NC. The <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11525953@N00/tags/cale/show/">location was beautiful</a>, the accommodations great, and the staff friendly.<br /><br />One of the reasons I agreed to speak at this retreat was because it was an inter-denominational gathering of men. It seems to me the Church is far too fractured today. I think if Jesus returned today he would look at all the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other_Christians">different denominations</a> and ask, "What have you done with my body?"<br /><br />I went expecting to give a short devotion and to enjoy a little time away from work. I got so much more than that! It was a time of renewal, refocusing, and re-dedication to God's work in the world.<br /><br />Thanks Jerry and Kenny.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-31359478051395359382008-08-20T23:00:00.002-04:002008-08-20T23:08:28.952-04:00Follow-up to Jott postIt just figures. I wrote a post last night praising the free service offered by <a href="http://jott.com/">Jott.com</a>. This morning I got an email that says Jott is out of beta testing and their offerings have changed. They still have a free service, but if you want to receive email like I described earlier, it will cost you <a href="http://jott.com/jott/get-started.html">$3.95 per month</a>. That is not a bad price for the service, if you put it to good use.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-15318857379285645472008-08-19T21:21:00.004-04:002008-08-19T21:32:21.032-04:00Jott.com - A cool toolHave you ever had a good idea while driving, and wished there was a safe way to write it down? You may want to try <a href="http://jott.com/">Jott</a>.com.<br /><br />Jott lets you call a special toll free number and record a message. Then, it emails the text of your message to your email, or to any other email you have set up in your contact list.<br /><br />Today, I was driving to one of our schools and I was thinking about a devotion I will be giving this weekend. A scripture came to mind and I didn't want to forget it. I took out my cell phone, called Jott, and left a message about the scripture. When I got home this evening there was an email in my box reminding me of my scripture.<br /><br />I've just started using Jott so I'm still learning, but I've been impressed with it so far.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-44736432588867148322008-08-09T14:20:00.002-04:002008-08-09T14:23:49.290-04:00Communion - UMM Devotion 08.10.08<span id="kklm" style="font-family: Verdana;">Communion</span><br /> <dl style="font-family: Verdana;" id="d25j"><dt id="d25j0"><span id="d25j1" style="font-size:85%;">Psalms 42:-5 (New Revised Standard)<br /> </span></dt><dd id="d25j3"><span id="d25j4" style="font-size:85%;"> <i id="d25j6">1</i> As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. <span id="d25j7" style="color:maroon;"><i id="d25j9"><i id="d25j11">2</i> My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? </i></span> <i id="d25j13">3</i> My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, "Where is your God?" <i id="d25j15">4</i> These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. <i id="d25j20">5</i> Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help </span></dd></dl> <span id="kklm0" style="font-family: Verdana;">This scripture tells of the writer's longing for God, to be restored to the place of worship. This is a comforting scripture for me. Even though the psalmist acknowledges feeling cast down and disquieted, he still hopes in God.</span><br /> <br /> <span id="kklm1" style="font-family: Verdana;">Last Sunday morning I had a small bowl of cereal for breakfast before coming to church. By the time the 11:00 service was ending, I could tell my stomach was empty. I wasn't really hungry, in fact I've probably never experienced real hunger. But I could tell it was about lunch time. As you know, it is our tradition to observe communion every first Sunday, and last Sunday was Communion Sunday. As we prepared for Communion I remember thinking, this empty feeling in my stomach will be eased by eating the bread. The words of the psalmist came to mind. "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." Perhaps we should all approach Communion with a hunger and a thirst, not necessarily in our stomachs, but in our hearts and souls. </span><br /> <br /> <span id="kklm2" style="font-family: Verdana;">Over the years, I have had the honor of assisting our Pastor with Communion on several different occasions. He hands out the bread and I hold the cup for the congregation to dip the bread into. One of the things that strikes me is the different ways that folks approach communion.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;font-family:Arial, Geneva, Helvetica;font-size:85%;" id="dyta" > <span style="font-size:100%;"> Some come humbly, almost to the point of tears. Some bring traditions from other religions, crossing themselves, when they eat the bread. Some mutter a short prayer, "Thank you Jesus", when they receive the bread and dip the bread in the cup. The children come with curiosity and excitement. Some come displaying joy on their faces.<br /><br /> It seems to me that none of these is better than the other. Perhaps the only demeanor that should be a cause for concern, is a cavalier attitude, one that doesn't take the ritual to heart. We all have to be very careful that we don't just go through the motions during worship service. Try some of these things. Follow along with the scripture when it is read. Listen to the words of the prayers and echo your Amen. Pay attention to the words of the hymns and sing them sincerely and joyfully. Pray for those seated around you. All of these things can help us to have a deeper experience of God during worship.<br /><br /> How do you occupy you heart and mind during the Communion service while you are waiting your turn, or after your turn. I suggest you try one of these strategies to give God a chance to work in you and through you.<br /> 1. Re-read the scripture text from the sermon.<br /> 2. Prayerfully read the words to the hymns sung during the service.<br /> 3. Pray for each person who goes up to receive communion.<br /> 4. Pray for the Pastor and his or her family and their ministry in the Church.<br /><br /></span> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;font-family:Arial, Geneva, Helvetica;font-size:100%;" id="iy_e" >The Communion service is a holy place and a holy time. Don't let it go to waste.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana;font-family:Arial, Geneva, Helvetica;font-size:100%;" id="iy_e0" ><br /> My prayer for all of us is that we will approach Communion with a hunger and a thirst for God. No only that, but we will approach with an expectation to have that hunger and thirst satisfied. "Hope in God, for we shall again praise him."</span>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-75274375422961389332008-07-26T09:49:00.005-04:002008-07-26T10:29:58.229-04:00Reflections on a Beach<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"As I was walking on a North Carolina beach one morning, the idea for this parable began to take shape in my mind. Knowing we relate to God in many different ways, I saw those relationships reflected in the people on the beach. This book is about exploring and understanding our relationship to the Divine."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is the introduction to a little project I've been working on for some time. I finally finished it up this week. <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/777306">Reflections on a Beach</a> is a short parable and guidebook about relationship with God.</span></p>I wrote the first version of this parable several years ago and used it in a sermon at <a href="http://www.pilmoor.org/">Pilmoor Memorial UMC</a>. Since that time I've alternately worked on the story, studied publishing options, and just ignored it for months at a time. The thought of finding a publisher was overwhelming. Then, a couple of years ago, I heard about <a href="http://www.lulu.com/">Lulu.com</a> in a presentation by <a href="http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/">David Warlick. </a><br /><br />The wonderful thing about self publishing through Lulu.com is it does not cost a dime until you are ready to buy a book. The author has complete control over the text, the cover, the price, etc. I uploaded the text as a Word document, uploaded a couple of pictures for the cover, and used their online tools to put it all together.<br /><br />Even after finding Lulu, I still had trouble getting to a final edit. I blamed it on a new job, courses I was taking, etc. Then, early this year, on three separate occasions in church, I felt compelled to finish the book. Maybe it was God communicating with me, maybe it was my subconcious, but the message was clear. Finish the book.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/777306">So here it is.</a> I hope someone finds it helpful.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-41839168638268873042008-07-20T18:07:00.002-04:002008-07-20T20:04:07.434-04:00The Porn TalkThis month, I've been working on an Internet safety program for parents of children and youth. I know the subject of sexual predators on the Internet gets a lot of ink and TV time. However, the issue that leads some kids to taking sexual risks is often ignored. That is Internet pornography. <br /><br />There was a <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080702/pl_usnw/president_bush_boosts_porn_industry_with_economic_stimulus_plan__according_to_aimrco">news release</a> out this week from the Adult Entertainment Market Research Company that claims a large increase in the number of people signing up on Internet pornography sites. In fact, they link the increase to the economic stimulus checks that were distributed this spring.<br /><br />Hiding our heads in the sand and ignoring Internet pornography will not make it go away. It is time we face it directly and acknowledge the effects it has on children. <a href="http://www.theporntalk.com/home.asp">ThePornTalk.com</a> is a website with a lot of resources to help us address the issue of pornography with our children. They suggest we begin these discussions when kids are in the 6-10 year range. You may think this is too early, but remember, the <a href="http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html">average age of the first exposure to internet pornography is 11.</a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-7184370327906539022008-07-12T15:05:00.002-04:002008-07-12T15:19:24.296-04:00Devotions for United Methodist MenFor years I have been giving devotional messages at our monthly meetings of the <a href="http://www.gcumm.org/site/c.miKWLaPKLnF/b.3576813/">United Methodist Men</a>. I've often thought I should have saved the messages, if, for no other reason, just to make sure I don't repeat one! (That has happened once, but the men were very gracious. Only one person mentioned it. He said, "Sometimes a message is so important you need to hear it more than once.") For the next couple of months, I'll post the devotions to my blog.<br /><br /><a href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dghkfkn7_4023dvdczxch">Here is the link to the message I'll give tomorrow</a>.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-83147062196806480582008-07-05T10:17:00.003-04:002008-07-05T10:29:47.192-04:00Online safety: Dispelling common mythsI had the pleasure of attending the National Educational Computing Conference, <a href="http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/NECC2008/">NECC 2008</a>, in San Antonio, Texas this week. This is the premier educational technology conference in United States. Frankly, it was a little overwhelming. I attended several very informative sessions.<br /><br />There was a panel discussion on online safety featuring several prominent experts. They discussed the research I mentioned on this blog in an earlier post. I encourage you to go to <a href="http://www.eschoolnews.com/">eSchool News</a> and <a href="http://www.eschoolnews.com/conference-info/necc/highlights/?i=54386;_hbguid=212e53a8-cf24-4f96-842e-78980623233b&d=aasa">watch the video</a> of their presentation.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-61062926994808820902008-06-29T22:38:00.002-04:002008-06-29T22:46:31.706-04:00Identity Theft and ChildrenDid you ever think your children could be a victim of identify theft? It turns out there are up to 500,000 cases of identity theft each year that effect children or youth.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.html">The Identity Theft Resource CenterĀ®</a> (ITRC) is a nonprofit, nationally respected organization dedicated exclusively to the understanding and prevention of identity theft. They have prepared a <a href="http://www.idtheftcenter.org/artman2/publish/v_fact_sheets/Fact_Sheet_120.shtml">report</a> that outlines the problem of identity theft for children.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-19798106084270870632008-06-23T22:05:00.002-04:002008-06-23T22:16:03.324-04:00Online Safety Resource ListI came across <a href="http://www.fosi.org/resources/parents/">this page</a> recently while researching Internet safety. The <a href="http://www.fosi.org/">Family Online Safety Institute</a> has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for parents. There are some that I was already familiar with, like <a href="http://www.netsmartz.org/">NetSmartz</a> and <a href="http://www.cybersmartkids.com.au/">CyberSmart Kids</a>. A new one for me that looks very interesting is <a href="http://www.getnetwise.org/">Get Net Wise</a>. It has some great resources.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-55820998134957964592008-06-17T23:02:00.001-04:002008-06-17T23:03:53.314-04:00CyberMinistry PresentationThis is the ppt I will be using for the CyberMinistry presentation I'll be doing at Pilmoor UMC.<br /><iframe src='http://docs.google.com/EmbedSlideshow?docid=dghkfkn7_4018ggv7j7dr' frameborder='0' width='410' height='342'></iframe>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476966583631969439.post-60398742956241942322008-06-15T14:16:00.005-04:002008-06-15T14:48:21.077-04:00Cyberministry - In 30 minutes or less?This week I will be finishing up a series of presentations for my local church, <a href="http://www.pilmoor.org/">Pilmoor Memorial United Methodist Church in Currituck, NC. </a><br /><br />The first presentation was entitled "The CyberSpace Landscape." <iframe src="http://docs.google.com/EmbedSlideshow?docid=dghkfkn7_3996gp774kg8" frameborder="0" height="342" width="410"></iframe><br />I tried to give folks a very quick look at the new media and new technologies that are available online. That is tough to do in 30 minutes.<br /><br />The second presentation was "CyberSafety." <iframe src="http://docs.google.com/EmbedSlideshow?docid=dghkfkn7_4009g6wq9qgf" frameborder="0" height="342" width="410"></iframe><br />We talked about identity theft, computer security, and online safety. Again, an ambitious topic for 30-40 minutes.<br /><br />I'm now putting the final touches on the third segment, "Cyberministry." I'm hoping to help the church begin to ask two questions.<br />1. How can we harness the new media and new technologies to advance the mission of the Church?<br />2. How do we educate or members about responsible and safe use of online resources?<br /><br />Again, I think I have bitten off more than I can chew for another 30 minute session.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257287081222277480noreply@blogger.com0