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!

Church: Let's Get Honest About Social Media!

New friend Jay Kranda posted this video recently and I want to help him out! What kind of job is the church doing with social media? How much emphasis should we put in learning about stuff like let's say Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube? And if we already know how to use these social media sites, how much time should we spend using them? And for what?



You can also vote in the poll, "What grade is the church getting in the usage of Social Media?" posted in Jay's The Church & Social Media? post. Thank you!

Outreach New Media is Here!

Make Your Message Known!

Getting your message out there is no longer about just contacting a few local newspapers and hoping for some publicity. Media surrounds us in all forms. News sites, blogs, social networks, and other Internet-based forms have made public and media relations a new kind of business.

Outreach New Media is here to help get your business, or event, or ministry, out into the world. Whether it be a local barbecue or a global movement, we can provide the message and the means to make your message known!

Contact us today!

Outreach New Media and Easter

Must be spring! I'm launching a new business, Outreach New Media, and wanted to let you know that we will be providing public, media, and social network relations services.

I look forward to serving you in whatever type of business and/or ministry you are involved with.

In doing research for this project I ran across "Communicate Jesus - insights and inspirations to maximize your ministry."

The site's latest blog post, 108 Easter books for $1 each, is a good example of how timely and informative Communicate Jesus can be.



While we are on the subject of Easter, Outreach New Media has connected an event hosted by seven South Orange County churches to not only many traditional media outlets, but social networking sites as well. Easter Together can be found on its own website here and the following social network sites (click name):

Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook

More to come...

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts!

Do Not Crave His Traffic

PROVERBS 23:1-12, BLOGGERS EDITION

When you login to network with a moderator, note well what is before you, and delete your post if you are given to trolling. Do not crave his traffic, for that social networking is deceptive.

Do not wear yourself out to get rich or drive more traffic to your site; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at blog ratings, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky or blogosphere like an eagle.

Do not comment in the post of a stingy blogger, do not crave his traffic; for he is the kind of bloggger who is always thinking about his ranking. "Post and comment," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have Dugg and will have wasted your shouts.

Do not reply to a blogging fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your comments.

Do not try and change moderators rules or trespass on the forums of the clueless, for their webmaster is strong; he will take up their case to ban you.

Apply your heart to your profile and your ears to His "About Me" pages.

- Proverbs 23:1-12 (Bloggers Edition, Alexander)

See also:
Bloggers Demand Miraculous Signs

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.