January 2006

This monthly column features some of the best internet resources for ministries around. If you'd like to contribute a favorite resource, we'd like to include it! Let's get started...

Top Links:

40 Objections
Do you suffer from Delayed Response Syndrome? You know...coming up with a great answer 10 minutes after the person who asked the question walked away? Be prepared to answer common objections to Christianity. CARM's list is a good place to start. They're great discussion starters, too!

Blue Letter Bible
Bible study books can be expensive. Save money (and time) by using Blue Letter Bible. Not only can you read the Bible in a dozen versions, you have one-click access to the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Greek/Hebrew Concordances, Hymns to go with a Bible verse, Dictionaries, and a handy parallel view that shows the same verse in multiple versions. This site is a must for serious Bible study.

Digitracts
Looking for a creative way to present gospel concepts? Part of the American Tract Society, Digitracts are short, simple, high-quality presentations that can be freely used in email, web pages, or in church presentations. I like the one starring Bubby Fly.

Devotionals:

We're busy. Sometimes we're so busy that we neglect God's Word...but there are simple ways to remind yourself to spend some time reading your Bible. An email reminder is often better than a Post-It note, so here's a service to help jump-start your day: Daily Manna from the Net. If you give them an email address, they'll put a short Scripture devotional in your Inbox every day. It's available in eleven languages, and in KJV, NIV, or NVI (Espanol). If you're a geek, you can get the same info in XML for your RSS reader...or for your WAP-enabled phone or PDA. There's even an audio version by Max McLean!

Tech:

Blogging isn't a new technology, but it's still new to most people. A blog is a website that's a lot like an online diary...the oldest "entry" is at the bottom of the page, and the newest one is at the top. Most blogs require virtually no setup, and they're simple to use. You don't need to know any special codes...writing a new page for your blog is as easy as typing an email. Why should ministries think about blogging? Well, for starters, it's a cost-free way to create a website. If you're looking for a simple way to create an online presence, blogging might be the answer. If you've been thinking about publishing a newsletter, a blog is a good way to get the word out. Many bloggers write every day, while others only post a new entry when they have something significant to say. You're in control...and since posting new content to your blog is a no-brainer, you can write whenever the mood strikes!

You can, with a little effort, turn a simple blog into a fairly sophisticated website. Want to use your ministry's logo on your blog? It can be done. Want to post pictures of your latest activity? No problem. Need a place to put sermon notes online? A blog is a logical resource for ministries that don't have a lot of resources. You don't need any money to take advantage of the web...many bloggers write their entries at the local public library! So how do you get started? Visit one of the free blogging sites online, sign up for a free account, choose a name for your blog, pick a design, and start writing. Blogs can be simple or sophisticated. You can use a template or design your own (some assembly required...consult your local geek). I'd recommend starting your research with Blogger. It's probably the most popular, and one of the simplest.

That's it for now. I'll be back next month with more...and, of course, let YouthPartnersNET know if you have a resource you'd like to share. Have a great day!

Tony

Tony Scialdone has been online since 1997, but he isn't a web pioneer or an innovator or a groundbreaker. He is, however, a geek. In addition to spending almost enough time with his family, Tony operates Straight Street Design, a web design and hosting company in Morrison, Colorado. He manages the YouthPartnersNET website, and recently completed the new website design for YPN.

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