(Image via CrunchBase)

I have learned the hard way how important it is to backup your blog or website or even your computer for that matter.

What if tomorrow your blog or hosted website files were hacked into and were changed or destroyed what would you do? Or worse yet- what if your host went belly up and no longer existed flushing all of your blogging files (it has happened)?

Recently the hard drive on my laptop went down and I was sure glad that I had signed up for Carbonite two weeks before. I had all sorts of files and the backups for my blogs and websites on that computer and I would have lost a bunch of stuff that would have been impossible to replace.

After my computer geek son put in a new drive I was able to successfully retrieve it all from Carbonite.com with virtually one click.

On another occasion hackers broke into my hosted blog files and set up some websites of their own at my expense. Since I had it all backed up I was able to transfer all of my blogging files to a new hosting site and flush the old one including 100’s if not 1,000 of business and whatever sites that a bunch of Romanian and Russian hackers had placed there.

That was a few years ago and now there are all sorts of new sites that make automatic backups of your websites and blogs much easier than it used to be. Here is an article from Blogging Pro reviewing some of the current free or inexpensive options:

3 FREE (Or Cheap) Ways To Safely Back Up Your Blog

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Image via Wikipedia

According to the China Internet Network Information Centre China now has the world’s largest online market. Add to that 277 million people with access to the internet through mobile phones.

China presents an incredible potential for reaching millions of folks for Jesus Christ. Even though the government tries to scrub the search engines of links to religious sites many fall through the cracks anyway. The numbers are too great for complete control.

Personally I am increasingly seeing more and more traffic from China on my websites.

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(Image via Wikipedia)

Here’s an article from the Internet Evangelism Day website exploring how cell phones and mobile devices could be used in evangelism:

Mobile phones and other devices: The potential for evangelism

Cells and mobile devices are now being used all over the world even increasingly in 3rd world countries including many that need to hear the Gospel. So this is a timely article especially in this country where almost everyone has cell phones and devices and so many participate in social networking of some kind on the Internet.

The article presents some good ideas and strategies both for personal use locally and in far away undeveloped places. Plus links to a variety of resources to help you out.           *Top

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(Image by Beverly & Pack via Flickr)

The 4th of July 2010, a great day to celebrate and to pray for the future of America.

Today’s Prayer

Gracious Father, as we approach our nation’s Independence Day, we give  You thanks for the Guidance You gave to our founders, and for the way You have blessed this country with so much.

As a people, Lord, urge us to return to You, to seek Your face, to repent of our sins, and to rely each day upon You.

You have promised to bless the nations where You are Lord. We desire that for America. Grant us a revival, for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

(From: The Presidential Prayer Team)

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Here’s a great idea that I found on Church Crunch: “Virtual Prayer Walks Using Google Earth, Maps”

In the article there are links to virtual prayer walks for Haiti using Google.

What a wonderful use of technology. An incredible tool for intercessors. Google Earth and Google Maps can take you right to places throughout the whole world that need prayer. Above is the Google map of Washington DC. Those folks in that city could certainly use a few prayers right now.            *Top

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How are you represented on the Internet? Does Google know you?

It is really important for a church, a ministry, an organization, or even an individual to do a search once in a while and find out what comes up about you on the Net. You might be surprised.

I was surprised one time when I ‘googled’ a church org that I’ve been part of for 20 years and found all sorts of negative misleading junk. Some of the stuff were down right lies.

Remember that the entries on first few Google search pages carry all sorts of implied authority whether they’re true or not. Plus the whole world may be reading it and taking it serious for better or worse. One way or another it is good to know. Especially if there is some negative info that needs to be addressed.

Here’s a good article to read on this subject by Phil Cooke: “Optimize Search Engines to Optimize Your Perception”

*Top

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Today is the National Day of Prayer 2010. Millions will unite in prayer at thousands of events from coast to coast. The theme for this year is “Prayer for Such a Time as This” and is based on the verse from Nahum 1:7 which states: “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”

Join with millions of others praying for America.

<<Here’s a link to the official website>>

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Here’s some quotes in an article on Internet evangelism from Michelle Diedrich of Global Media Outreach(GMO), a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ:

"We are the first generation – ever – to hold in our hands the technology to give every person on earth multiple chances to accept Jesus Christ,"

"There is a lot of evil on the Internet, things that should not be there. When they seek, what are they going to find? If Christians aren’t there to help people find Jesus, what will they find? If that scares you a little bit, it probably should."

"when you use the Internet, throughout whatever device – laptop, Internet cafe, mobile phone – to share the Gospel. These are new opportunities to share Jesus. Churches can reach millions more."

Last year, "10 million Christ decisions were realized. So it’s huge and it’s growing."

"more people use the Internet than go to church. New thinking is required for outreach in the post-Christian age."

"This is only the beginning. We are just starting to touch the things that can be done. I think you’re going to see a huge explosion" in Internet evangelism.

Also here’s a quote in the article from one blogger- Amy Gross who is doing Internet ministry through GMO:

"As a mom, I have my blog and I can disciple people that way. But with Global Media Outreach, I can go on a mission trip every day. I don’t have to leave home. I don’t have to pack my suitcase. It’s a great way to serve. I can go to India in my pajamas, and I love that."

For more info on GMO and how to get involved: Global Media Outreach                *Top

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These folks are there to help you all year long with newsletters, websites, articles, helps, and webinars all about reaching the world for Christ through the Internet. See the info. video below:

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