"Can you hear me now?" It seems everyone is on their cell phone, all the time - in the checkout line, on the street, even in church! And they're not just talking! They are texting, taking photos and shooting videos, reading books, and tweeting! And to the cell phone, you can now add the iPad, Kindle Fire, and a host of other digital mobile devices on which people are connecting and engaging! Without even noticing, we've entered a brand new age of mobile technology! The mobile platform has tremendous potential for helping to fulfill the Great Commission! And the church, definitely, cannot afford to sleep on this game changing technology. Mobile ministry is all about connecting and engaging people with the mission, message, and community of Christ through personal, mobile technology! It provides a unique, two-way communications channel that represents one of the most important technologies for Kingdom expansion in the last ten years. Why is mobile ministry so important? Here are just a few reasons to consider: ~Mobile devices, like cell phones, are everywhere. There are currently over 5 billion units in use worldwide! ~Mobile technology can provide Gospel access to hundreds of millions of people outside the reach of the Internet or other media. ~The mobile device is highly personal and is a great way to share the Gospel in a personal way! ~Mobile is one of the most economically viable ways for Christians to create and distribute content. ~Research shows the majority of Internet usage will be through mobile devices rather than through personal computers by 2015, at the latest! For all the above reasons, the church cannot afford to overlook mobile ministry as a very creative and effective means to accelerate Kingdom growth and influence! How are you using mobile devices to the glory of God? For more information on mobile ministry check out the following: Mobile Media Magazine Mobile Advance Mobile Phone Evangelism Until next time, Stay Blessed! Kenneth Lillard
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"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:1-2 As Hurriucane Irene approached the East Coast of the U. S. last week, I began praying for the safety of family members and friends who lived in the path of the oncoming storm. I reached out and made contact by social media and phone to make sure everyone was getting prepared. Batteries. Flashlights. Water enough to last 72 hours. You know the drill! Then the LORD directed me, in no uncertain terms, to seek higher ground! So, during the height of Hurricane Irene, on the last Saturday and Sunday in August, I was on a mountaintop in Shepherdstown, WV! The sun was shining gloriously on a beautiful setting of magnificent, blue mountains. Sparkling streams flowed through the lush, verdant valleys surrounding this historic, university town. It was truly a breathtaking fortress of natural beauty, a refuge from the hurricane that raged down below! I have family roots, on my father's side, in WV, so it was a homecoming of sorts for me. And in that peaceful, mountaintop refuge, I spent some real, quality time with my heavenly Father, in reflection and prayer! This is one of the things which was revealed to me there. Earthquakes and hurricanes will surely come into our lives. They may strike suddenly, threatening to endanger or destroy cherished relationships and many of our hopes and dreams. We will be challenged and confronted by harsh, brutal conditions overwhich we have little or no control. We may be rocked by eathquakes in our careers or finances! Perhaps we may experience hurricanes in our marriages or church home. But I just stopped by to tell you that when the earthquakes and hurricanes of life strike, we have a refuge, a strong fortress we can always go to! His name is Jesus! Just call on that name and He will rescue you from the violent rumblings of your life. He can speak to your personal hurricane, "Peace, be still." And calm your stormy seas. (See Matthew 8:23-27.) He is a true refuge; a very present help in a time of trouble. Trust me, when trouble approaches seek the higher ground in Him!. Until next time, Stay Blessed! Kenneth Lillard Social media is all about connecting with people and engaging in online conversations about the issues of everyday life! For me as a Christian, that means engaging from a perspective of faith. I'm excited about engaging with others on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking platforms. We have incredible conversations about purpose, faith, family, and goals and dreams. Social media is also about fulfilling the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissions us to take the gospel to every nation. Social media is custom-made to do just that! It is global. instantaneous, and provides innumerable hyperlinks allowing for even more connections over the web. The interactive Web 2.0 features of most social network platforms add even more possibilities to share, organize and collaborate around faith. Join in the conversation with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ at Kenneth Lillard, and on Twitter @revkenlillard! Also, check out my blog, Faith Based Media 2.0 for discussions about social networking, faith, and technology. Look for updates on how you can use social media more creatively and effectively on these blog pages soon! What are your thoughts on faith and social networking? Until next time, Stay Blessed! Kenneth Lillard Google is currently rolling out Google+ (Google Plus), the newest entry in the social networking arena! While still in the beta testing phase, this confident, new arrival touts such innovative features as circles, hangout, and huddle! Facebook is surely looking over its shoulder at this flashy, new upstart! Check out the following for more on this new kid on the block, Google+ : Getting Started With Google Plus, Chris Brogan How To Use Google Plus, ReadWriteWeb Is Google+ About To Transform the Web?, ZDNet Will Google+ be just another flash in the pan, or the next real deal? From here, it beginning to look like the latter! Until next time, Be Blessed! Kenneth Lillard Thanks for your generous comment, 2787kumar! Google+ is a great addition to the ever evolving social media landscape. Wishing you all the very best! A journal is a personal record of occurrences, experiences and reflections. Journals have been kept by individuals for as long as men and women have written. Some of history's more famous journal writers include John Adams, the 2nd U. S. President, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Bob Dylan! I have to believe that some of Jesus' disciples, including Matthew and John, kept some type of journals to so accurately record their accounts of Jesus' life. A personal journal, often referred to today as a blog, typically contains a sequence of personal thoughts or feelings. My entries posted below are more along the lines of reflective writing. Some of these entries have appeared previously as updates on my Facebook page @ Kenneth Lillard! I invite you to join me there, and on twitter @revkenlillard. The subject of these early summer entries is one of my favorite topics: The Favor of God! ~ "Hope to the end for the divine favor that is coming to you." See 1 Peter 1:13. Don't give up on God! Keep living favor-minded. God promises good things will come to you. ~ The favor of God is far better than silver and gold! ~ One touch of God's favor can turn your whole life around. ~ The favor of God will cause others to go out of their way to contribute to your success and happiness! ~ You can proceed with confidence and boldness knowing the favor of God is all over you. ~ Don't take God's favor for granted. Learn to say, "Thank you, Father, for your favor! Thank you for blessing me today!" ~ Learn to live favor-minded! Look for, and expect to receive God's favor in the course of your daily life! And remember to Thank Him whenever He bestows it on you! ~ Learn to speak God's favor over every area of your life. ~ You can dare to be bold and ask for things you wouldn't normally ask for because you have the favor of God! ~ You will begin to view your adversities in a new light, knowing that you have the favor of God to see you through. ~ Know that you have a major advantage in life. You have a special edge. You have the favor of God! ~ Remember, you can only receive God's favor if you trust and believe in Him! "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts You." Psalm 84:11b-12 ~ Praying God's favor over your life! For those interested in learning more about God's favor: 1) study the Bible, and 2) develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for yourself! And for those interested in learning more about journals and journaling see the following: Journal The Diary Junction Until next time Stay Blessed! Kenneth Lillard This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
More and more people across America are reading e-books - on Kindles, iPads, and even cell phones! And it is a major trend that is only likely to accelerate. An e-book is an electronic version of a printed book. It is a book length publication in digital form readable on a computer or dedicated e-reader such as an iPad or Nook. Smart phones can also be used to read e-books. Amazon's Kindle e-books now completely outsell hardcover and paperback books combined! A tipping point has been reached. For every 100 p-books (paper books) sold, the retailer now sells 105 Kindle e-books! E-book sales are soaring because of the following trends: E-book readers and tablet computers, like the Kindle and iPad 2, are catching on with the public at a rapid pace. And these digital devices can often store up to several thousand e-books at a time! Low prices! Many popular Kindle e-books sell in the range of $0.99 - 2.99. Many mainstream titles and New York Times bestsellers are available on Kindle for $9.99 or less. Popular content makes e-books very appealing to the reading public! Mobile availability! E-books can be downloaded immediately without having to go to a bookstore to purchase. In 2010, 66% of U. S. public libraries were lending e-books. Btw, my new book, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MINISTRY Sharing The Gospel In The Digital Age, is now available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch at iBookstore, and on your computer with iTunes. It is also available as a NOOK eBook at Barnesandnoble.com! These very popular trends, along with the rapid development and increased availability of digital technology, will only make e-books more popular! To get up to speed on today's e-book explosion check out the following: E-Book - wikipedia Best Sellers In Kindle E-Books Kindle E-Books Outselling All Paper Books on Amazon Project Gutenberg 30 Benefits of E-Books Apple Launches iBookstore SOCIAL MEDIA AND MINISTRY Sharing The Gospel In The Digital Age, E-Book Until next time, Stay Blessed! Kenneth Lillard Everyone has heard of the Da Vinci Code, the runaway best selling novel and blockbuster motion picture! But how many have heard about the QR code? QR codes are popping up everywhere - in bookstores, at movie theatres, and even in restaurants. QR stands for Quick Response. A QR code is a 2 dimensional-type barcode that can be scanned with a cell phone camera to provide information such as maps, websites, and phone numbers! ( I use a free QR reader app, ScanLife Barcode Reader, on my cell phone to scan the QR codes that I encounter daily. Some smartphones have the QR reader already built in!) I had seen QR codes in magazines, on billboards and elsewhere, but had no clue what they were until I did some research. QR codes first appeared in Japan, spread to South Korea, and then on to Europe, where today large QR codes can even be seen on the exteriors of some buildings. QR codes are now quickly catching on in the United States! QR codes are widely used in marketing, entertaiment, and even artwork! They are great gateways to worlds of interesting information all around you! Don't get left out! For more on QR codes see the following: QR Code - Wikipedia What Are QR Codes And How Do I Use Them In My Mobile Marketing? QRCode.com Until next time, Be Blessed! Kenneth Lillard Social Media is sweeping the planet! It is the greatest communications revolution of our time. Facebook counts over 500 million registered users! Represented by social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn, social media is spreading faster than demographers can keep track. Here are 10 winning tips to help individuals and organizations leverage the power and infuence of social media to achieve their communications and marketing goals: 1. Develop and implement a smart social media strategy. (See my new book, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MINISTRY Sharing The Gospel In The Digital Age [Lulu.com and Amazon.com] for helpful pointers here.) 2. Establish an online home base, e.g., by starting a blog or putting up a website, to communicate your message, promote your brand, and engage your target audience. 3. Create a social media presence by establishing accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. 4. Build real relationships with your target audience by replying, retweeting, and joining discussions on social media sites. 5. Monitor and protect your online reputation by utilizing tools such as Google Alerts and search.twitter.com to find out what is being said about you on the web, and join in the conversation. 6. Harvest insights from social media comments and replies to continuously improve your online strategy and refine your message. 7. To further engage your audience, open up your Facebook page by allowing fans and friends to post on walls updates, photos, videos, and discussions. 8. Add your blog feeds to your Facebook fan page. 9. Upload videos to YouTube to communicate your message and promote your brand. 10. Create your own YouTube channel to further connect with your target audience and showcase your brand in a more focused manner. These are just a few suggestions to, hopefully, get you started with effective social networking. Look for future posts here exploring the new and exciting social media landscape! Your comments and ideas are always welcomed. Until next time, Be Blessed! Kenneth Lillard This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
The term blog is short for web log. A blog is a type of website or part of a website where individuals make regular entries of commentary, news on a particular topic, or personal thoughts and opinions! A great blog can include a rich mixture of text, photos, audio, and video to make it more interesting and exciting to its readers! Blog, basically, refers to an online journal. It can also be used as a verb to denote the act of writing a blog. For example, I blog at Faith Based Media 2.0, which is also my personal blog about the intersection of social media, ministry, and technology. Can you believe blog tracker, Technorati, has identified over 100 million blogs? Writing a blog is a lot like embarking on a great adventure, a quest! Webster defines adventure as a hazardous or uncertain undertaking. In many ways, that's just what writing a blog is! When you begin a blog you embark upon a journalistic journey which can take you to many new and exciting places where you encounter a myriad of new and interesting people and adventures! One of the great hallmarks of blogging is that it is interactive! That means readers are usually able to comment on or respond to your blog entries or posts . You never know what kind of feedback you'll receive! However, the great thing is that it allows you to connect with your readers and engage in real conversations about topics of mutual interest. Like an adventurer setting sail, the blog writer needs to have a clear goal in mind - a specific destination. Otherwise, he or she may end up getting totally lost. As the adventurer sets sail he may get blown off course, encounter sands bars, or run into unexpected storms enroute to his destination. For the blog writer the goal is to tell the elusive truth about his subject! He is on an mission to seek the heart of his subject, and to share it with his readers! In this quest, the blogger will encounter strong headwinds of sagging enthusiasm, sandbars of publishing deadlines, and the inevitable storms of writer's block! And these are just a few of the obstacles he'll face! By maintaining his focus and following his moral compass, the blog writer can stay the course! However, in order to reach his goal he'll need vision, passion, discipline, perserverance, and mastery of all the blogger's tools. But the goal's the thing! The blog writer can choose to sail across the pond in his own backyard, or he can choose to sail around the world! The bigger the goal, the greater the adventure! What is the goal for your blog? Look for future posts here on the adventure of successful blogging! In the meantime, listed below are some excellent resources to have on the journey: Blog - wikipedia How To Write A Blog That Others Will Want To Read - Sarah-Jayne Gratton How To Write Effective Blog Posts - Chris Brogan What Makes Great Blog Writing - Leo Babauta Top 100 Blogs - Technorati How To Change the World - Guy Kawasaki Blogging Resources - Problogger Until next time, Enjoy the journey! Kenneth Lillard This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
The question is often asked, "What do Christians believe?" Well, that's a very broad question! Let me began to answer it in the following manner. It is generally agreed that Christians believe that 1) the Bible is true, and 2) the God of the Bible exists! Furthermore, there are a number of universal creeds that most mainstream Christian churches accept. A creed is a summary or statement of what one believes. It comes from the Latin word credo, which means "I believe". Ecumenical creeds is an umbrella term used in western Christian churches to generally refer to the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. The ecumenical creeds are accepted by the Anglican churches, Lutheran churches, and the Roman Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church accepts the Nicene Creed, but does not use the Apostles' Creed or the Athanasian Creed. The United Methodist Church accepts the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed, but does not use the Athanasian Creed. Other widely accepted historical confessions of Christian faith include the following: Chalcedonian Creed Thirty-nine Articles Westminister Confession New Hampshire Baptist Confession Baptist Faith and Message Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy What We Believe - COGIC Those who closely read these creeds will discover they provide excellent summaries of the doctrinal teachings of the Holy Scripture! Until next time, Be Blessed! Kenneth Lillard |
AuthorHi! I'm Kenneth Lillard, author, ordained minister, and motivational speaker. This blog is an expression of some of my thoughts and opinions. I'm glad you stopped by. Hope you'll share some of your comments while you're here. Be Blessed! |