Where I hang out...

These days find me blogging at alexmurashko.com, Facebooking at Outreach New Media, and tweeting at @AlexMurashko.

Oh, by the way, The Scrooge Report is up and running this holiday season!

If you stop to think about it...

I hope you either already have a copy of Rick Warren's The Purpose of Christmas or plan on getting one soon. Remember, I'm asking you to join a "blogger's book study," if you will, right here, starting this coming Tuesday (Dec. 9).

I read the opening chapter last night and found it to be not only to the point, but fun!

Also, I wanted to share the back cover of the book with you here:

If you stop to think abouit it, it is astounding that the simple, unasuming birth of a peasant baby boy more than two thousand years ago in the Middle East can today cause traffic jams every December in places like New York City, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.

The night Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, a small group of poor shepherds were quietly tending their flocks of sheep in a nearby field, looking up at the stars. Nothing seemed any different from a thousand other nights. But what was about to happen would transform not only their lives, but billions of other lives as well. The world would never be the same again.

Then the back cover also includes this:

Regardless of your religious background, you need to know how the three purposes of Christmas solve your three greatest needs.

Understanding and receiving God's Christmas gifts to you will transform your life...forever!

See you back here next week for the beginning of a study on The Purpose of Christmas!
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WEEK ONE: Why Celebrate Christmas?

Bloggers Demand Miraculous Signs

A recent series of comments about Intelligent Design in an exhaustive BlogCatalog discussion prompted me to post verses from the Bible that talk about the foolishness of this world.

This morning, I've run with those verses and come up with a "different" interpretation. Hope you like!

For since in the wisdom of God the blogosphere through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was posted to save those who believe. Bloggers demand miraculous signs and trolls look for wisdom, but we blog Christ crucified: a stumbling block to bloggers and foolishness to pagan posters, but to those whom God has called, both bloggers and trolls, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than blogger's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than blogger's strength. Blogroll mates, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were Dugg; not many were of noble ranking. But God chose the foolish posts of the blogosphere to shame the wise; God chose the weak comments of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this blogosphere and the despised things--and the things that are not--to bury the things that are, so that no one may rank before Him.

- 1 Corinthians 1:21-29 (Bloggers Edition, Alexander)

See also:
Do Not Crave His Traffic

Alexander is a writer in the online spiritual battlefield. You can also find him at The Scrooge Report.

ShareYourStoryNow: 'Finding My Identity, Growing In Self-Esteem'

Sometimes my "blog time" appears to be going nowhere. I have no devotion to write. I don't know if I should be "Digging" or "Googling" or what...ever. I don't have a plan!

This morning was just such a time, when shortly into it I ran across shareyourstorynow.org and found a gem. Now whether you'll get as big a kick out of it as I did is not my call, but I hope you do.

It made my blog time all the worthwhile!

This from Abby's story on shareyourstorynow.org:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

The other night I caught myself cleaning the house, and during one of my many breaks, a song by Ginny Owens came on called “True Story.” It’s one of my favorites, but I hardly ever really listened to the lyrics.

The chorus melted my heart. I must admit, it made me say “Oh wow.”

You see my imperfections
Still You say I’m a masterpiece
A marvelous reflection
The image of Yourself in me
You paint with strokes of grace
Undoing my disguise
You say beauty lies in the true story

She nailed it right on! God sees all my imperfections: my stubborn mind, my doubting heart, my constant learning soul. Through it all, He sees His reflection.

He takes every label that I have placed on myself and slowly but surely He peels them apart till they are no more.

As a young child I dealt with self-esteem issues. Daughter of parents who were immigrants, I didn’t speak fluent English until the age of 11, my hair was a frizz ball and my clothes were often hand-me-downs.

In my parents attempt to have me in the best schools possible, I was always in schools where little girls had the latest brand-name clothing, had perfect smooth hair and could speak more than English, but also French.

As I grew older and was finally able to tame my wild hair, learn English to the point it became my first language and had a part time job where I was able to buy some clothes for school … I learned that I was never the daughter of immigrants, but the daughter of a mighty King.

It took me a bit to accept that. Geesh, I still deal with it today! It’s something that on a daily basis I have to remind myself of … that I have a God who loves every curl on my head, and then some. Amazing isn’t it?

Be sure to visit shareyourstorynow.org!

Choosing Blogosphere Battles, Internet Missions

There's something about the stream of thoughts on the internet that makes humanity very real...and that includes the exposition of good and evil.

Blogging, forums, discussions, and comment sections bring out the best and worst in people.

I'm going to try and discuss this kind of "spiritual battle" as often as I can here. I wanted to start today with part of this discussion found at BlogCatalog.

If you are new to social networking, just hang in there...there's nothing too complicated. Just follow along.

The group at BlogCatalog is Religious Debate. The Discussion headline: to all blievers. The discussion text: to all believers 2 simple questions do you thing that your religion is the true and the only true religion and if yes then why

BlogCatalog does a great thing...they allow "religious" discussion although, there was a moment when its managers were fed up with the "personal attacks" (a common social networking problem) so, they decided to sequester "religious topics" out of general discussion and into its own discussion group. However, it appears that's no longer the case.

Anyways, my response to the "2 simple questions" is this:

I don't belong to a particular "religion". I am Christian (which is not a religion). It means I am saved through Jesus. Yes, I made a decision to follow Him...but it was by His grace that I can have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus is the door.

My faith is real by the assurance I am given since the time I made that decision.

Now, whether someone follows a certain "religion" and then is able to spend eternity in heaven upon his death or not...is not my call!

Let me say this, I would highly discourage anyone from ignoring the possibility that Jesus is the answer! He has been for me and millions of others. My life has been transformed...and I have never been the same since!

....and I still have "fun"!

So, I'd like you to ponder this...we choose our battles...do you choose the blogosphere as your battleground for what you believe is right? ...and if you are a Christian...do you consider the internet a mission field?

Alexander is a writer in the online spiritual battlefield. You can also find him at The Scrooge Report.