Faithnet Launches Newsletter
With Naming Contest

We are proud to publish this first edition of the Faithnet newsletter, though we have no name for it!

That's where you come in. Help us make a good name for ourselves, and win a free copy of Richard Foster's Prayers from the Heart if your submission turns out to the one we choose.

[Editor's note: the contest is over]

Check Out Our New HTML!!

Faithnet.org has a new design! We hope you like how we've opened up the site and created more options for our users. This is no cosmetic surgery--it is a total rebirth, down to the html code!
Yes, the antique chat room is history! We've thought of auctioning it off at eBay, but decided to store it away in hopes that internet archeologists will someday pay big bucks for it.

Highlights of our redesign are:
-No more frames!
-Easier nagivation
-A training center for our volunteers (hint)
-Renovated Kid's Room (Staccato's working hard on it)
-The Faithnet Care Center: easy access to pastoral care
-Weekly calendar
-Trevor on Firetalk! It's hot!!!
-Swap-A-Link Board--reciprocal advertising!!
-Newsletter subscription
-Oodles of ways for you to interact with us!!!
-And . . . (drum roll) . . . the new Faithnet Meeting Place!!!

The new site was launched on September 14. It may take a few days for the DNS info to get disseminated throughout the internet.

Make Our Meeting Place One of Your Places!

For a place to fellowship with other Christians, check out our new Faithnet Meeting Place. You will find our Chat Foyer and Message Board a convenient and powerful way to connect with other Faithnet users and members. We will be scheduling regular events, featuring topics of interest. So, stay tuned!

What Happened to Our Passwords?

At present, we've opened Faithnet up to all users. We're planning a members area in the future, and we'll try to retain the current passwords, if possible, in the new system. But, all members will need to sign in again so we can update our database.

Is it .org or .com?

Faithnet is a bona fide 501C3 non-profit organization devoted to internet ministry. We are funded by donations (really!). As such we duly qualify for the .org status. But, you can reach us just as well with the .com extension. Same site.

Security

Cool Scripture Cite

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Hot Internet Site

Do not leave your computer unprotected, where hackers break in to destroy and steal! It is not hard! If you have a DSL or Cable Modem connection, use Zone Lab's ZoneAlarm firewall, which is free for personal or non-profit use: www.zonelabs.com.

Perform a free security check of your PC by logging onto the Gibson Research Corporation's ShieldsUp web site at www.grc.com.

With ZoneAlarm's stealth mode, ShieldsUp could not even detect that my PC was on the net!

If Only It Were That Easy . . .

INSTALLING LOVE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REP: Can you install LOVE?
CUSTOMER: I can do that. I'm not very technical, but I think I am ready to install now. What do I do first?
CS REP: The first step is to open your HEART. Have you located your HEART ma'am?
CUSTOMER: Yes I have, but there are several programs running right now. Is it okay to install while they are running?
CS REP: What programs are running ma'am?
CUSTOMER: Let me see....I have PASTHURT.EXE, LOWESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE, and RESENTMENT.COM running right now.
CS REP: No problem. LOVE will automatically erase PASTHURT.EXE from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually overwrite LOWESTEEM.EXE with a module of its own called HIGHESTEEM.EXE. However, you have to completely turn off GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ma'am?
CUSTOMER: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
CS REP: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE. Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.
CUSTOMER: Okay, I'm done. LOVE has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal?
CS REP: Yes it is. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your HEART. Do you see that message?
CUSTOMER: Yes I do. Is it completely installed?
CS REP: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other HEARTS in order to get the upgrades.
CUSTOMER: Oops...I have an error message already. What should I do?
CS REP: What does the message say?
CUSTOMER: It says "ERROR 412 PROGRAM NOT RUN ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS." What does that mean?
CS REP: Don't worry ma'am, that's a common problem. It means that the LOVE program is set up to run on external HEARTS but has not yet been run on your HEART. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in nontechnical terms it means you have to "LOVE" your own machine before it can "LOVE" others.
CUSTOMER: So what should I do?
CS REP: Can you find the directory called "SELFACCEPTANCE"?
CUSTOMER: Yes, I have it.
CS REP: Excellent, you are getting good at this.
CUSTOMER: Thank you.
CS REP: You're welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the "MYHEART" directory: FORGIVESELF.DOC, SELFESTEEM.TXT, REALIZEWORTH.TXT, and GOODNESS.DOC. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any faulty programming. Also, you need to delete SELFCRITIC.EXE from all directories, and then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
CUSTOMER: Got it. Hey! My HEART is filling up with really neat files. SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that WARMTH.COM, PEACE.EXE, and CONTENTMENT.COM are copying themselves all over my HEART!
CS REP: Then LOVE is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go...
CUSTOMER: Yes?
CS REP: LOVE is freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some really neat modules back to you.
CUSTOMER: I will. Thank you for your help.

(Contributed by: Bill Simpson, Faithnet Volunteer, olspice@earthlink.net )