I have been troubled by several methods Christians use to share their faith on the Internet.

Some Christians spend most of their time pointing out what is wrong with different religious leaders, denominations, cults, and false teachings -- and we should try to help people that are deceived to come to the truth. However, I rarely see the love of Christ in the actions of some of the critics.

I have seen comments that insult atheists and homosexuals and belittle Muslims. There must be a better way to share the Gospel.

Ken and Paula Hemphill have written a small book on personal evangelism titled Splash: Show People Love and Share Him. This simple strategy can be applied to Internet Evangelism Day which will happen on Sunday, April 29th.

We can show people that we care about them by posting a sincere thank you on their Facebook pages for something they have said or done recently. If we owe someone an apology, then we should tell them we are sorry for how we've wronged them.

We should look for opportunities to have a conversation rather than a debate.

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:35

In this short video Angelica tells how her life was changed when she attended a Christian film festival. A short film played an important role in her spiritual journey.

La Búsqueda is the film that changed Angelica's life. FULL POST

This video is a simple reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do is listen.

April 29th is Internet Evangelism Day and some of us will focus on trying to share the Gospel. Perhaps we should spend more time listening to the people around us that are hurting, fighting depression, looking for work or looking for love.

This week Gabrielle "Elle" Devenish, a writer for Christian Post, died and found true peace.

Elle lived in Utah, a state famous for its Mormon history. In response to Mitt Romney's run for president, Elle wrote articles about Mormon beliefs and that led to a seven-part series Cults in Culture.

But the article series she will be remembered for is Dying to Meet Him in which Elle described her declining health and spiritual battles as she faced death.

Elle and I would talk by phone about her struggles. She wondered why people have to suffer. We discussed Romans 8:17 which says, "... if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." (New Living Translation)

Elle liked to cook and tried to eat healthy meals. When I jokingly told her that hot dogs were a gift from God, Elle was disgusted.

Elle was sad because of life experiences she would never know. She wanted to find real romance and get married. It is not surprising that The Princess Bride was one of her favorite movies. FULL POST

Saturday I joined almost 60 Christians in observing Passover. It was a fascinating experience to participate for the first time in a ceremony that has been practiced for 3500 years.

In preparation for Passover, Jews look for leaven in their home and then burn it. Christians have altered some of the rituals. For example, I was instructed to write on a piece of paper the sins (or leaven) in my life and then this sheet was burned.

I was asked to fast before Passover and to wear a white shirt for the occassion and learned that white clothing symbolizes death. In ancient times Jews wore clothing at Passover that resembled a burial shroud.

Each of us had a copy of the Haggadah which is a text of instructions and commentary on how to observe Passover. This booklet has been translated into English by multiple scholars.

We recited Jewish prayers.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.

Eventually we got to the part where we were able to eat. Parsley dipped in salt water does not satisfy hunger. Matzah, the unleavened bread, is sometimes used in church communion services. Matzah was eaten with horseradish (I will never understand people that like horseradish)  and charoset (a mixture of apples and nuts). Shank bones are a reminder of Jesus, the sacrificial lamb.  Some people claim that Easter eggs are of pagan origin, however, eggs are also a part Passover. Both wine and grape juice were available. FULL POST

Photo: James Emery

Preparing for a Christian Seder

Thursday night Jews around the world will begin to celebrate Passover and a growing number of Christians will also participate in this biblical ritual.

Shortly before delivering the Hebrew people from an Egyptian pharoah, God instructed his people to celebrate the first passover. This story is told in Exodus 12.

Jews for Jesus has popularized Passover celebrations among Christians by giving the 45 minute presentation Jesus in the Passover.

Have you ever encountered a preacher that used shock tactics in sermons?

Matt Chandler, pastor of The Village Church describes such an experience.

The Christian Post reported today that Sheila Schuller Coleman, daughter of televangelist Robert H. Schuller, has left the Crystal Cathedral to start a new church.

1) Does God want Crystal Cathedral to split into multiple churches?

2) Who should be paid first, the Schullers or the church's creditors?

3) Should the sermons, videos and literature produced by the Schullers with the donations given to Crystal Cathedral be intellectual property of the church or the Schullers?

4) Should the church continue to produce the TV program Hour of Power?

In 1992 Cornerstone magazine published an investigative article revealing that Christian comedian Mike Warnke was a fraud. For close to twenty years Warnke told fictional stories of being a former satanic high priest.

And then the truth came out.

Cornerstone reporters Jon Trott and Mike Hertenstein spent two years investigating the comedian's stories, interviewed Warnke's classmates and produced a compelling story about deception in which a Christian book publisher failed to check out the authenticity of the story that its author wrote.

Cornerstone wasn't the only Christian magazine attempting investigative journalism.

Later that year a prolife doctor would go undercover at a meeting of the National Abortion Federation and learn about partial birth abortion.  Life Advocate Magazine then broke the story about the new abortion technique then described as "dilation and extraction."

The Bible provides support for this investigative reporting:

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.  - Ephesians 5:11-13 NIV

Patrick Johnstone develops some of the best resources for people interested in world missions. Johnstone recently finished the book  which includes this word map.

Photo: Patrick Johnstone's "Future of the Global Church"

Johnstone is also the author of Operation World, a guide to praying for each nation in the world.

Operation World  provides a daily prayer guide. Today it suggests praying for the nation of Bangladesh and reports that 88% of the country's population is unreached.