Tech Tips for Catholics

If you’ve been using MyChurch.org for an extensive amount of time, as I have, then you’ve probably seen the site go through many changes over the years.  I really miss some of the old features!  One of the features that I really miss is the capability to search blogs.

I contacted the admins and they said that, though you won’t be able to access the feature directly from the site, you can still search blogs by Clicking Here.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a MyChurch.org tip.  Well, they have been doing some tinkering around and one the new features that I am pretty excited about is the ability to sinc your Twitter account to your MyChurch.org update status.  It is pretty easy to setup, but just in case you need a little guidance, I am posting this little how-to.

What will this do? When you post a tweet to Twitter, it will automatically update your MyChurch.org status as well.

Step 1: Log into MyChurch.org and sinc your Twitter by clicking the icon shown below from the status update page.  Then click the “Integrate Your Twitter Account” link and allow Twitter to share information with MyChurch.org.

Step 2: Post to Twitter.

Step 3: The tweet is then automatically posted to your MyChurch.org update status.

Simple as that!

Over a year ago, I suggested they figure out a way to integrate Ping.fm with MyChurch.org and they were going to look into it.  I think with this new sinc feature, there really is no need to integrate Ping.fm, unless of course the user only wanted certain key updates to their status (rather than posting all tweets to their status update).

Hope this tutorial has been beneficial to some of you.  God Bless.

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Season 5 is closely upon us!  And  if you are as excited as I am, then you might want to check out this very cool widget!

Flip Title is a site where you can easily generate upside down text.  You can use this generated text in a couple of different ways:

• IM screen names
• Put it in your profiles like MySpace, Bebo, Hi5, Facebook, Youtube
• Create strong passwords
• Encrypt your download links to prevent leechers
• Freak your friends

Now, I think this is somewhat annoying if you are using this to micro-blog, but I kind of like the idea of using it to create strong passwords, encrypt download links, and to freak out your friends : )

Enjoy!

Like the different divisions within the Protestant Reformation, some of the social networking identities are “throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” for the sake of “unity.”

Both MyChurch.org and MySpace have been making changes to be more like Facebook (or so it seems).  Facebook is making changes to try and distance itself from the copy-cats (or so it seems).  Then MyChurch.org goes and tries to copy the changes that Facebook is making (or so it seems).

MySpace has managed to implement some of Facebook’s features pretty well.  I just hope they don’t go even further and try to copy facbook’s latest changes.  This is what MyChurch.org is dong and it will probably backfire on them.  I wonder, how many less people are logging onto Facebook since the new changes?  The only time I log onto Facebook anymore is to check a post someone has left on my wall or to view my friends’ pictures.  MyChurch.org is headed that direction.  I find myself using MySpace more than I previously had been.

MyChurch had some neat things that set them apart from other social networking sites and these are some of the things they are getting throwing out.  It just doesn’t make sense to me.

4marks.com, which is similar to Facebook, has not made the switch to the new Facebook format yet.  Who knows, they may become my new social networking home.  I do like their built-in poll feature.  I stumbled upon 4marks a long time ago, but you had to pay a monthly fee to use many of its features.  They have since opened it up and you can now use these features free of charge.

I would be interested to hear what features our readers like about their favorite social networking sites and what they dislike.  Click here to take part in the discussion.

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MyChurch.org is donig a great job of using applications to draw folks to their social networking site.  These include a Facebook app simply named My Church, a MySpace app called Famous Christian Quotes, and they have a couple blog tools as well.

Here are the descriptions of each of these apps that I’ve listed above:

Famous Christian Quotes (MySpace App) ↓


Display Inspirational quotes from famous Christian preachers and leaders on your profile and share them with your friends.

My Church (Facebook App) ↓


Show what ministry, denomination, or church organization you’re a part of. You can also find others on Facebook who are members of your church organization. Stay in touch with your larger church body.

Your Church Calendar on your own Website (Blog or Website Script) ↓


Share your church’s events on your blog, Myspace, or church’s main website.

This Quick Tip is on how to blog using MyChurch.org. Lets begin by describing what a blog is:

A blog, a portmanteau of web log, is a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Do you write poetry? Have you recently read a book, seen a movie, or have something you need to get off your chest? Your blog is a perfect place to share your opinions, creativity, or whatever else with others. Some people use their blog as a sort of online diary visible to all (though I do not use my blog in this way). However you want to use your blog is up to you. I’m just here to show you how to post to your blog.

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How to start a blog:

1. Login to your MyChurch.org account using your user name (e-mail address) and password.

2. Click on the “Write” button under your “Home” menu.

3. When the blog entry page loads you should see “Add New Blog Entry” at the top of the page. This is where you can let your thoughts flow. Start with a Title for your blogpost (each time you post a new entry you should give it a good title). After you have typed in the Title then click in the Content box below the Title box and begin to blog.

4. Once you have typed the content of your blog and have given it a title then you have the options of allowing everyone to see your blogpost, letting only your MyChurch friends see your blogpost, giving access only to Church/Group members, or keeping it private so only you can read your blogpost.

5. If you think you have everything correct then hit the “Submit” button and you are now officially a blogger.

Have fun with it. Share your creative side (poems or thoughts on topics that interest you).

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Below are some related Tips for MyChurch.org newbies:

• MyChurch.org QuickTip #1: Setting E-mail Notifications
  
• MyChurch.org QuickTip #2: Personalizing Your Profile

Did you know that you can personalize your profile?

• To tell a little bit about yourself click here.
• To upload photos click here.
• To add your favorite books, music, and/or movies to your profile page.
• To subscribe to my MyChurch blog click here.
  (I just threw that one in there for the fun of it ; )

Below are some related Tips for MyChurch.org newbies:

• MyChurch.org QuickTip #1: Setting E-mail Notifications
  
• MyChurch.org QuickTip #3: Starting a Blog You can Call Your Own

Did you know that you can set when you receive e-mail notifications and when you do not? Just click here and login to your MyChurch.org account to choose your settings. Below is a screen-shot to show the settings page.

Please Note: Be careful which options you deselect. You may not receive important bulletins from your Church or Group if you uncheck the wrong option.

Below are some of the other Tips that I am working on:

• MyChurch.org QuickTip #2: Personalizing Your Profile
• MyChurch.org QuickTip #3: Starting a Blog You can Call Your Own

Over at Pro Blogger, Daniel Scocco has a very good look at the etiquette related to the use of Social Networking sites. Take time to read through the comments, which give added value to the article. If you’re using social networking tools to market your work, you want to make sure you are following these rules rather than driving folks away from you by your online behavior. I witnessed something last week on one of these sites that changed my impression of one of the participants (and not for the better). Good to know the culture of these places before diving in!  What Are The Unspoken Rules of Social Networks?

This post is courtesy of the Productivity @ Home Blog.