There is a lot of buzz in the Christian community about the effect that the web is having on ministries. Internet ministries are constantly congratulating themselves on being able to reach vast numbers of young people who they wouldn't have been able to talk to before, all with the creation of a few simple websites. There is something to be said for this type of Christian witnessing. It certainly is useful to be able to talk to people thousands of miles away, spreading the word of Jesus without even having to leave your own house. Something is lost, however. Christianity, you see, is not simply about preaching a set of doctrines. It is about Christian fellowship – joining with fellow believers in a righteous community dedicated to spreading Christian values.

As part of a Christian Baptist Fellowship group, I recognize that the most important relationship is between the worshiper and God. No Christian Fellowship can make up for not having accepted Jesus, and if you do except the Lord you will be saved even if you don't spend any time with fellow Christians. You won't, however, be doing much to spread the word of God. You see, we have been a community since the beginning of our religion, and we were intended to be a community. Christian church services, Christian youth groups, and other traditional assemblies are some of the ways that we have been able to look out for each members physical and spiritual well-being. The Internet is great for talking, but it is no good for maintaining real Christian Fellowships.

Even a modern church shouldn't only use modern methods of Christian fellowship. Just because the new ways of preaching help reach the younger generation doesn't mean that the old ways should be discarded. You can worship Jesus from in front of your computer, but you should also worship Him with other believers. For some, Christian Fellowship may start with the Internet, but it can't end with the Internet. Christian ministries need to spread the word of God in the actual world, and believers need a community around them to help them stay true to God's path. Only in that way can we make sure that a church stays strong and true to it's principles. On your own, it is very easy to preach one thing and do another. With fellow believers, however, you're much more likely to be held accountable for your actions.

1) Convenience. This is a word we are quite familiar with. Right along with instant gratification. We are a society of people who have lived with drive thru banking and fast food and are rapidly moving in the direction of drive thru pharmacies and dry cleaning. We live in a fast paced world and when we can work education into our busy schedules and on our own terms we find that this is something we tend to like a lot. I recommend that you watch for a growing number of online classes and online students in the coming years as more and more professionals decide to further their degrees and their careers.

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"The Ventriloquist"

A young ventriloquist is touring the clubs and one night he's doing a show in a small club in a small town in Arkansas. With his dummy on his knee, he's going through his usual dumb blonde jokes when a blonde woman in the fourth row stands on her chair and starts shouting: "I've heard enough of your stupid blonde jokes. What makes you think you can stereotype women that way? What does the color of a person's hair have to do with her worth as a human being? It's guys like you who keep women like me from being respected at work and in the community and from reaching our full potential as a person, because you and your kind continue to perpetuate discrimination against, not only blondes, but women in general...and all in the name of humor!"The ventriloquist is embarrassed and begins to apologize, when the blonde yells, "You stay out of this, mister! I'm talking to that little idiot on your knee!"

Weighty Issues: Most women want and need to be affirmed and want to know that they are still attractive to their man. So, when she asks if she looks fat, she's simply fishing for compliments and wants to know you think of her as beautiful. Make sure your answer is honest BUT accentuates her attractiveness and her appeal (In fact, if you don't like how she looks, you may want to say, you look lovely in that but I tend to prefer you in a dress, or pants, or in that red outfit, etc)

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