Rest Ministries, a Christian non-profit organization for people who live with chronic illness or pain, was recently featured as “one of the organizations doing it right” by Jenni Prokopy who spoke a the SXSWinteractive technology conference.

San Diego, CA — (SBWIRE) — 03/31/2011 — Rest Ministries, a Christian non-profit organization for people who live with chronic illness or pain, has had a website since 1996 and was recently included as an example of some healthcare social networks doing their work well . Founded by Lisa Copen, 42, who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for eighteen years, their health social network is called “The Sunroom” and it was recently featured as “one of the organizations doing it right” by Jenni Prokopy who spoke a the SXSWinteractive technology conference. Her presentation was called, “Health Communities: Superheroes Who Need a Justice League.”

Prokopy says, “Lisa’s work, like that of so many others, has a profound impact on thousands of people.”

Copen began Rest Ministries when she found a lack of resources or support networks for those who were chronically ill yet still believed in the healing power of God. “We believe God still heals,” Copen explains. “But healings seem to be on God’s schedule, not our fast-paced timeline. Rest Ministries provides support and friendships while one is living with illness or chronic pains. I was honored that Jenni wanted to include a faith-based health organization in her presentation.“

You can listen to Prokopy’s presentation online here: http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_IAP7498 .

Questions Prokopy asked include what do we do when health social networking sites have a member who may be suicidal? Are we equipped to help and can we legally do so? What do we do when people sign up for a group and then leave because they are not getting the support they needed–which was more than the social network was created to meet? What social network tools can we benefit from?

Prokopy purposes a resource that helps founders of the largest to the smallest health and illness-related social networks make these tough choices, support one another, and create guidelines to be followed. “After my presentation I learned the room was-capacity and they had to turn people away!” says, Prokopy. “While I hate to hear that some folks missed it, I’m glad to know the demand for health technology conversations is so high at SXSWinteractive.”

“Social networking and health forums can be a vital connection for the nearly 1 in 2 people who live with chronic illness,” says Copen. Various studies have reported that physical illness or uncontrollable physical pain are major factors in up to 70% of suicides (1) and more than 50% of these suicidal patients were under 35 years of age (2).

“The internet is a source of not only information, but inspiration,” says Copen. “Rest Ministries Sunroom has over 2500 members and each day someone writes how our health and Christian social networking site has ‘saved his or her life.’ We cannot underestimate the value of encouragement, support, and faith-based understanding when it comes to chronic pains.”

Both Lisa Copen and Jenni Prokopy are speakers as well as the women behind the computer screens of their social networks. You can find out more about their speaking, writing, and consulting services as http://LisaCopen.com and http://www.JenniProkopy.com .

To connect with others who live with chronic illness at Rest Ministries visit the Sunroom at http://RestMinistriesSunroom.com .

Sources:
(1) Mackenzie TB, Popkin MK: “Suicide in the medical patient.”. Intl J Psych in Med 17:3-22, 1987
(2) Michalon M: La psychiatrie de consultation-liaison: une etude prospective en milieu hospitalier general. Can J Psychiatry (In French) 38:168-174,1993

Over at Rest Ministries, we’ve had daily devotionals for over ten years. We’ve seen technology continue to move forward and so are excited about this new addition to the devotionals! If you have a Kindle, the popular e-reader from Amazon.com, you will be excited to know that our daily devotionals are now available on the Kindle! If you don’t have a Kindle, you can just keep this information in the “things I don’t need to worry about” file.

[Or if you are considering buying a Kindle use this link and Rest Ministries will get a small donation with our affiliate link!]

If you are interested in subscribing to the devotionals via your Kindle, you can do it at the direct link here on Amazon or do a search on the Kindle itself. It will pop up if you search “chronic illness devotionals” or even “Rest Ministries.”

Each day our devotional will be loaded automatically to your Kindle. You can try it free for 14 days. After that you will automatically be billed $1.99 a month. I don’t get to set the price –Amazon.com does that. And in case you are wondering Rest Ministries earns 30%. This may frustrate some of you that Amazon gets to keep $1.40 of your monthly fee, but try to think of it as Rest Ministries receiving $.60 per subscriber and it’s not costing us anything out of our pockets.

I will still continue to post devotionals here each day and the ministry will not EVER charge for them, so don’t worry about that. But if you find having them available to read in bed, at the hospital, waiting rooms, or to recommend to a friend, I hope you will find this one of the personal perks of technology that we can take advantage of to stay encouraged in God’s Word each day.

PS: There is a free Kindle “App” for many devices such as the iPhone, iTouch, iPad, etc. However, if you are logging on to the net anyway, it may be just as easy to zip on over to our web site to view the devotionals.
PPS: We have not discovered how to make them available on other e-readers yet such as the Nook. It is fully automated with the Kindle and Amazon.com . We’ll keep you posted if this changes.

But what about Grandma? Or is there someone in your family who refuses to jump on the FB bandwagon even though you have told them all about the fun photos and updates they are missing out on? Well, here is a solution I love: PostEgram. It’s not cheap, but considering what is does, I think the price is pretty good! And even Grandma may be willing to help out with costs so she can get the family news and photos once or twice a month (see pricing plans here, about $4.99 for 1 newsletter a month, less in bulk).

You log onto your Facebook account, choose the family member’s updates you think Grandma would like to read about and then choose the subscription plan and enter Grandma’s address. postEgram prints it out and sends it right to her, an automatically created full-colored printed newsletters of your status updates and your Facebook photos. Isn’t that kind of cool? And think of the time you will save, as well as the guilt you won’t endure over her not knowing what all is going on.

If you are going through a difficult time with your chronic illness too, and perhaps posting updates from the hospital or having a loved one post updates for you–and there are people not getting these who you would like to get them–this may be a nice solution for those not on the computer or who feel overwhelmed by the internet.

Still a little confused? They have a great video that explains it all. Now, if only they made it in large print. . . .

I haven’t tried this yet but rumor says to use the coupon code “BLISS” and they’ll send out the first issue of your “Facebook Newsletter” for free –but only to addresses in US and Canada.

Internet Evangelism Day is an annual digital outreach focus day for churches. This year, it is scheduled for Sunday April 25. It’s an opportunity for any church to explore with its members the exciting opportunities for sharing the good news online. Ready-made free downloads – PowerPoint, video clips, h&outs, drama scripts & music can be easily built into a presentation of five minutes or 50.

2010′s focus day will be the sixth to be used by churches around the world since the initiative’s launch in 2005. Over this period, digital media have developed dramatically, with the advent of YouTube, Facebook & Twitter, & the growing use of mobile phones to access online services.

IE Day’s website is also a one-stop resource covering many subjects including: how to build a church website that is ‘outsider friendly’, using Twitter in evangelism, & ideas for effective blogging.

Perhaps surprisingly, you do not need to be technical to share your faith online. And you can volunteer to be an email mentor to inquirers with several large online outreach ministries.

Internet Evangelism Day is an initiative of the Internet Evangelism Coalition, based at the Billy Graham Center, Wheaton. It is supported by a wide range of Christian leaders & groups. “I am glad to commend Internet Evangelism Day,” says John Stott.

While we are trying to keep it as simple as possible here at Rest Ministries with emailed subscriptions & search boxes, we know it can feel overwhelming sometimes–especially if your medications are making your brain feel like it’s on a roller coaster ride.

But don’t sweat it! A quarter of Internet users said they wanted to search Google for something, but when placed in front of a computer, couldn’t figure it out. Instead, they either completely failed to get to any search engine or ended up running their query on a different search engine — usually whatever type-in field happened to be at h&.

If you’re looking to learn how to better use the internet or some shortcuts to what you already know, check out the web site Internet Tutorials. And we are happy to do our best to help.

If all else fails, grab a family member or neighbor around fifteen years old to show you how something works!

According to the company warmmouse.com:

The Warm Computer Mouse is a new product by ValueRays(TM) & available online. A Warm Mouse uses infrared heat to create a soothing deep penetrating warmth to your mouse h&. Infrared heat warm mouse improves blood circulation & relieve tension & stress to the mouse h&.

The Warm Computer Mouse retails for just $25.95, which is around the same price range as most computer mice. There is also a heated, warm mouse, heated, warm mouse pad, a heated, warm keyboard pad & a fleece mouse h& warmer blanket pouch to house the warm mouse & warm mouse pad.

You can find them all at IGM Products .

Most are connected to the computer with a USB port using a low 5v electrical current.

IGM Products state:

The heated computer mouse, heated mouse pad & heated keyboard pad are made using a carbon fiber. Carbon fibers create infrared heat. Infrared heat has healing qualities making the time the user spends holding the warm computer mouse therapeutic in nature. Studies reveal a minimum of 20-30 minutes daily of infrared therapy has healing effects.

So, what do you think? If you decide to try it let us know by coming back & writing a review!