Keep it Private

I just finished watching another news clip about hacking into personal computers and folks getting scammed or losing information. I shake my head as I'm guilty of some laxed habits but I learned in my computer education that the big World Wide Web (aka: www ) is a DANGEROUS place. When you were a little person, a kid, I'm sure your Mom or some "big" person told you about looking both ways before you crossed the street. Well, I'm always advocating technology so I feel my due diligence is warranted with this post. Stop reading now if you feel you know it all.

Things to think about when you log in:

Are you logging on to the Internet at someplace other than your home computer? If yes, are you at work? Does your boss or company have access to your email inbox? Your keystrokes? Are you saving online passwords on this computer? (bad if at work. REALLY BAD if on a public computer like the library , car wash or coffee shop).

Do you shop online? If yes, believe it or not, it's one of the more safer places for your credit card. I have been a victim of credit card abduction from a restaurant. Yes! Just remember, you hand your card to a person who in turn walks away with it. Where does your card go for those magical minutes? Chances are, if you're credit card is going to be compromised, it's not because of your made a purchase online; instead, because someone working at the restaurant is a thief. Online fraud happens more when you purchase from a fake website. Know if the company is reputable before submitting your information.

Another thing about online shopping, I suggest not saving your credit card to the site. This service is often available. If your computer gets compromised, this is a risk.

IMPORTANT! Do you participate in a social networks? I have encouraged people to use social networks such as Facebook to use for forums and groups. I still advocate this. Just remember: you may be sitting in your bathrobe in the privacy of your home office or slouched on the couch in your underwear, BUT you are in the most public place you can ever be in when you enter a social network arena. Make sure your settings are closed to friends only or friends of friends, if you feel comfortable. Signing up for a service like Facebook has default settings that allow everyone to read and see your information. Head straight to account settings and make those changes to safeguard your interaction.

But even MORE IMPORTANT..... Do you answer the questionnaires on social networks? Let me help you with this one. Have you ever answered any of the following:

• Which Book of the Bible are You?
• What is Your Personality Type?
• Which Female Grease Character Are You?
• Which 1980's Television Show Are You?
• What Dead Rock Star are YOU?
• Twenty-five things no one knows about me?
  
• Etc., etc, etc......

I'm guilty! Let's all make a pack to stop, okay? Why? Have you ever thought about who created this fun little application? Have you ever thought about where your answers go? Have you pondered what secrets you are innocently imparting to entertain yourself?

Folks, This is the single-most easy way we give away the farm. We innocently allow copious information about ourselves to be released into the sea of the unknown. This one simple non-threatening act opens the door for hackers to know far too much about us. You may think I'm nuts stating this... so let me ask you this? If you have filled in one of these fun little questionnaires, has any answer been related to protected information? Such as the secret answer to the question you must to give your credit card company to retrieve the password you forgot? Ah-ha! yes.

I won't start preaching about the information and images on your website. That's for another blog. But please, be mindful. There's no one "big person" in cyber to hold your hand or remind you to look both ways when you open the Internet door. Just remember... there's a lot of traffic out there and you never know how fast or how big the cars and trucks are because you can't hear their engines or see them coming. Play nice, share sparingly, and WATCH what your fingers say! Peace-

eBooks? What will happen to all those book swaps in the Fellowship Hall?

Last week I wrote in my blog about saving money by “going electronic”. I continue this topic again this week by pondering eBooks. Hey, I’m old school. I love the tactile feel of a book in my hand; the experience of starting to doze off as I scan the words and the weight of the book slipping slowly, then quickly, on to my stomach, or worse, tumbling to the floor to jolt me awake.

The market is small but growing and soon the cost of this latest gadget will trickle into more affordable prices (currently around $279-299). Can you image it? All these people, everywhere, heads buried in the glow of the 10 ounce or less screen reading as they wait for a meeting. Or reading on the transit, or reading in church! Reading! That unto itself is a lost art in many forums. Yes, the cliché’ holds: the times, they are a changin’.

Your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents had to learn to adapt to Henry Ford’s new assembly line that rolled out all those cars. I’m old enough to remember folks who didn’t have telephones in their homes. The list is infinite of the many objects and gadgets in our lives today that just weren’t there a few years ago.

What’s my point to this? It’s a question back to you: What steps are you taking to move yourself and your congregation in to tomorrow? You don’t have to run out and buy eBooks for your pews, but think about what you can do to help those around you , maybe including yourself, recognize where today’s tools need to replace outdated ones; where today’s processes and thoughts need to change and adapt; kind of like new wineskins. Hmm. Seems like there’s some scripture about that that….maybe I’ll ask Santa for an eBook for Christmas to read up on it.

Sites to visit for more information on eBooks:

• Kindle from Amazon: http://tiny.cc/vrNGD
• beBook: http://mybebook.com
• Sony Reader: http://ebookstore.sony.com/reader

Going Electronic

A couple of weeks ago I mention in my blog adding credit card transactions to your website (July 21: “Donation$: Is Ca$h a Four-Lettered Word?”). Have you considered other steps you could take toward making our electronic world work for you? Have you thought of eliminating your paper newsletter and going exclusively to web-driven readership? Instead of sending out letters on upcoming events, do you have an email distribution system that helps cut cost on postage? I can feel your squirms and cries from here…… read on.


This isn’t a cold turkey thing. You’re not going to just stop all delivery. There is going to be a contingency of people who absolutely, positively will NOT get information any other way than through mail distribution. But consider the possibilities… Not only will you eliminate some debt, you will maintain connections with your congregation outside of scheduled meetings and Sunday worship. Making this move does require some administrative effort. You must encourage it. Promote it. Keep it in the forefront until it is a natural part of your congregation.

Here’s a test: How many congregants know your web address? Can tell you the last time they went to your website?

Promotion is the key. Get them interested in going to your site for information like newsletter and announcements or looking through recent photo of events that have occurred in the life of the church. Add forms to sign-up for activities; or better yet, receiving electronic communication!


In time, your efforts will produce results. We’re a busy and a scattered people. An email mid-week or a visit to the website jogs our short-term memories that we are a part of the people of God.




Just a few features a website/emailing can provide --- even for the smallest of organizations:

• Information that may have been forgotten.
• Forms: sign-ups, enrollment, requests: such as prayer requests
• Blogs- a personal thought process
• Links to group forums: Facebook is free. How about an online Bible study??
• Newsletters
• Announcements
• Events
• Credit card transactions
• Pictures from an event