If you take fear and strip it down to the core, you will find that it is an illusion.

Define it, and you will see that it actually means “the anticipation of pain”.

How absurd!

Can you believe the amount of things we do not accomplish because we anticipate that it will result in pain. Dreams, ambitions, goals. Thomas A. Edison once said,“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves!” Smart guy.

So where do we start? I am not suggesting that we go jump into oncoming traffic in a superman cape, yelling “I am fearless”. No, I am suggesting you take a little walk down memory lane and think about your past ambitions or present goals. Close your eyes for a moment and dream a little dream. Do you become paralyzed at the thought of turning it into reality? When it’s time to take action, what do you choose? Fear or imperfect action?

Nothing in life comes with guarantees and the sooner we all come to terms with that, the better off we’ll be. Taking an imperfect action with faith in one hand and pure intentions in the other is so much greater than no action.

And when we accept God into our lives, I mean really put Him in the center, that is when the miracles start happening. The things we feared dissolve. So what will you choose, faith or fear?

Have faith and live fruitfully!

Some people want to change the world.

Some people make a difference.

Some people push the barriers of the status quo.

Not most people, some people.

If you intend to plants seeds of faith around the world, great. I do too. People need us to. As new technology emerges, I ask one question: How can we use this to spread our message? God’s message, that is.

Back up. Let’s first make things clear, I am not a theologian and I promise not to pretend to be. I am passionate about my faith and reaching out to others. I also love to learn about new media, and really use it to spread my faith. I know that the world is hungry for it.

So how do we use new media to make a change? Your starting point will depend on the level of understanding you have of the Internet. I recommend signing up for Facebook and Twitter today, if you have not done so already. These sites are great starting places for individuals who want to begin connecting with others. We have entered an age where all people can have a voice. You do not need to be a great writer, or film maker, or musician to have a voice.

New media allows everyone to have the tools they need to make a difference and spread their own faith-based message. New media allows us to test our efforts with very little loss. The important thing is to just start spending time promoting your message. Build community and form togetherness.

What online mediums are you using?

Make a world of difference without even getting up from your chair!?

The Internet and new media have opened the doors to a world of opportunity, opportunity to spread our faith. There is no use in trying to fight Facebook, social networking. It is here to stay and we should feel obligated to use it to spread positive messages rather than latter happening.

Has sticking your head in the sand, in a time of opportunity and change ever worked? Here are some fun, painless ways to spread your Catholic faith.

1) Spread Facebook Faith. Join groups and spread positive messages with Facebook. It’s a great way to connect with others, with whom you may have never had the opportunity to connect with before. More and more people are using Facebook to communicate an it’s certainly not just for youth anymore. There is a group on Facebook dedicated to standing up for the Catholic faith.

2) Be a Social Butterfly. Go to Google and search social networks followed by a keyword of interest to you. Find a social network that you are not currently a member of and register! There are tons of new networks popping up with specialized areas of interest. 4Marks is a social network that allows Catholics to share their faith, grow in their faith, and connect! Mingle with other users, check out current events and share your opinions and interests.

3) Blog. Blog. Blog. In case you are not familiar with blogs, a blog is a web log of articles and information that is constantly being updated by one writer or possibly a team of writers. Blogs allow people to find resources, connect and interact. Google search a topic you are passionate about and find a relevant blog. There are millions of people looking to connect to others and share their passion! Spend a few moments reading posts, searching through archives and articles. Post your own comments about topics that interest you personally!

Faith is a beautiful thing, isn’t it? For those of us who are on fire with God’s love, it is only natural that we would want to reach out to others and bring them closer to the truth. So many musicians and authors do everyday with their own forms of media. If faith is the core of your existence, then I hope you are as excited as me about sharing it!

The time to be active is now.

There is a stronger need now than ever before in our increasingly hungry world. Outreach and evangelism are an essential part of our faith; and now that we have web technology we have an even greater reach. Social media is built on communicating and networking with others that share common interests. So let’s get to it!

1. Communicate with Enthusiasm. Becoming part of social networks is fun! Real people all around the world are communicating with each other with the click of a button. That is amazing! This article can and will reach people globally! This has never been possible in the past. We are living in an exciting era. Take time to research topics that interest you personally. Communicate with others on these sites, get active in online communities.
2. Don’t Dictate. Sharing faith online should be informational and inspirational. No one likes to feel like their faith is under attack. No one likes to feel threatened or judged. So rather than sharing comments that may come across offensive, or seem that you are talking at people, try to lead by example. Share positive messages about how your life has been changed by your faith.
3. Look and Listen. There are many people out there who are genuinely confused about their faith. Take the time to notice a need and uncover what kind of insight you can offer. There may be millions of people online, but don’t forget there is a person behind the computer. And sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in this informal setting can be just as effective as being in person.
4. Get Informed. The Internet is a sea of information. You can pretty much Google anything and find an answer with a couple clicks. Not all sources will be credible but it’s no excuse to label the Internet as evil. The Internet and the social media movement are tools. Tools that, when used right, change people’s lives. Be smart about finding credible sources, following online leaders that are genuine.
5. Tell your story. There are people all over this world that are searching for meaning in their lives, searching for the truth and for answers. Ironically the world is also full of clutter, noise and messages everywhere we turn. If faith is what gets you out of bed in the morning, share your story! If faith is what rescued you from a life that was heading down a dark path, then tell people! Share your story, we all have stories. Let’s learn from one another! What is your story?