I have a couple notes before the article; first up I have a prayer request. I have recently been asked to do two radio interviews on Christian radio stations. While I am very excited about these huge opportunities to share preparedness with other believers, I am 36 shades of nervous! LOL. I don’t do well in the spotlight and can get frazzled easily. Yes, even on the radio! I found that out the hard way, quite embarrassingly, many years ago. You could say I went to the Moses School of Public Speaking.
If you wouldn’t mind praying for God to just speak through me, and let my nerves be calm, to let Him use me to bring this message to those He wants to hear it, and to do it justice. I believe both interviews will be available for download, and if I manage not to run out of the room screaming, I will put a link on the blog later.
Thank you all in advance!
Secondly, you’re probably aware that the forum was launched last week. So far there are just over 100 of you signed up! It is my prayer that this forum be a place for those the Lord has called to prepare to share and have community with one another. I invite those who aren’t registered to do so. If you have questions, this is a safe place to ask them. If you have been prepping for a while, please share your knowledge with the rest of us!
Alternate Ways to Communicate
Margaret recently sent me an email about an article that she found explaining what to do if the DNS (Domain Name System) goes down. I thought this was a good opportunity to explain some alternative ways to communicate in case the normal ways are not available.
Domain Name System
DNS basically translates the name of a website that you are familiar with into the IP address that the Internet uses to communicate. For example when you want to go to Google, you type in Google in your search tab. Your browser then goes to the DNS server which translates http://google.com into 74.125.224.72.
There are different things that can shut down DNS. The article Margaret sent me called How to stay connected when Internet service goes down mentions that many users in Southern Ontario were without Internet service for a few hours, due to a DNS outage.
It is possible to change your DNS server, that way you can still surf the web. The process of changing your DNS is going to be different depending on what operating system you have. For this reason I’m going to link to OpenNIC, a website that has instructions for multiple operating systems. You can also find your closest OpenNIC DNS server.
This is something you’ll want to have a hard copy of. You might even want to do it now so you understand the process.
Cell Service
During large emergencies, cell towers are often so congested that you are unable to place a call. There are a few options available if this should happen. If you can find a landline, you might be able to get out, but they are often congested as well. I have heard that sometimes you might be able to make a long distance call as it is only the local lines that are clogged. I don’t know if this is true, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Texting
Sending a text requires significantly less bandwidth and does not require a constant connection.
Push to Talk
If you have a smart phone, there are some apps you can purchase. I haven’t used any of them, but as they use a different medium to transmit, they should work just fine. You will, of course, need whomever you want to communicate with to have the same app installed. All three apps are free. Their names are Zello, HeyTell and Voxer..
Thanks, Margaret, for the article idea!
If you liked this article please think about sharing it on the social media listed below, thanks!
Informative article…thanks to you and Margaret! The communication part of prepping has always been my biggest worry. Looking into opennic and the cell phone apps!
I will keep you in my prayers for your upcoming radio interview! What a wonderful opportunity! Can’t wait to hear it! Nerves can really get in our way from time to time! I recite the Lords prayer to myself every time mine start up, and it calms my nerves, fears, etc. faster than I can recite it. I used to think that was the magical prayer for everyone, and was so surprised when I found out it wasn’t! ( I was a LOT younger back then!) But I really believe God is behind the “prepping” mentality so many of us are experiencing. Look at what He has driven you to do here!!! It’s wonderful, and now the radio! Truly a gift from God, therefore He will ensure you get His word out! Thank you again, for all you do, and in advance for all you continue to do!
Blessings to you and Trudy, Nancy
Great idea, I have used the Lords prayer at times when I feel called to pray, but don’t have the words.
Thank you Chris – this is one to “print off!’
As for your speaking – never forget it is God Who opens doors no man can shut, and shuts what no man can open – You are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, He puts you in the right place at the right time!!! He is the God who declares those things that be not as though they were. Rmns. 4:17 – so we on here declare and agree – you are filled with God’s wisdom and His favour goes before you like a shield. Cast not away your confidence – for it has great reward.Heb.10:35
Thank you Lord for giving Chris – Your Shalom – and thank you for using him mightily for this ministry. In Jesus’ name!
I am waiting to hear the “Good report!!” Amen!
I agree, this is a good one to have a hard copy of. Thank you for the prayer, I appreciate them.
I will pray for you. I can offer more support if needed as a reader and an Emergency Manager myself.
Thank you Deb, I appreciate that. I thought about getting out of IT and getting into Emergency Management, at time I still want to. Just to hard to find the time on top of everything else.
Chris
If it’s any help – I too used to be a nervous wreck at the thought of public speaking. I learned to – stop trying so hard. Instead of preparing speeches or topics and then sweating over the fear of making mistakes or freezing in the spotlight.
I simply learned a few bullet points, and a handful of jokes / anicdotes and took a deep breath and ad-libbed from there on. The secret is to forget the audience and speak as you would when talking to a friend or aquaintance. Instead of talking / delivering a speech – simply chat as you do under normal circumstances.
I know that may sound like a terrible idea, but if you put your faith in the lord and ask him to provide the words and support you require. It’s always been my experience since that day, that he will always be at your side, when you are in his service.
It’s truly eye-opening to discover that public speaking is as easy as chatting one to one with a friend. Give it a go – I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Bullet points is is a good idea, I don’t want to sound scripted and they will help me keep a reference point.
Great article as usual, Chris.
I remember something Ruth Bell Graham (Billy’s wife) said years ago…”whenever I stand up to speak, my mind sits down” so you’re not alone in that regard.
I am very shy and my mind usually goes blank whenever I have to speak in public. I have to remind myself to speak slowly and to be conscious of my breathing. Also, five or six slow deep breaths before I start calms me down a little.
Asking the radio interviewer what questions they will be asking would help you to prepare and feel more confident. That may not be necessary, though, since you do know this subject matter frontwards and backwards!
I will definitely pray and I’m confident you’ll do well.
Good advice, thanks Dale. They have both agreed to give me a list of questions, this will be very helpful. I might know the subject matter well, but getting my name out when I’m in the spotlight can be tricky
Praying for calmness and clarity of thought during your interviews. You might even make an opening joke about being nervous and the “Moses School of Public Speaking.” That was funny and would make a good ice breaker.
Thank you for the prayers. I’ll give the joke some thought, glad you thought it was funny.
Good post, thanks to you and Margaret.
You’ll do fine Brother, I just know it. Speak from your heart, let your passion show. It’ll be awesome! Praying for you!
Hint; keep a list of several DNS IP addresses.
Now, changing your DNS is a little different if you running a LAN or local area network or if you’re running a hardware firewall. Here’s a page that tells more about that; http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-change-dns-server.htm
I suggest you be familiar with your router or firewall, how to login, how to change things like security settings and DNS. Each usually require a username and password.
Thanks Jim, I appreciate it.
Good ideas on DNS, this is something that isn’t very difficult, but people should familiarize themselves with now.
Be praying for you Chris. Remember, the main job of the Christian is to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to support the Saints. You personally have an opportunity to do this with the “Prepping” discussion. Keep the Glory of Christ in mind, and not your own, and you will do well.
Cell and Smart phones are great to have, and the Internet is a marvelous method of communication. However, there are very many things that can happen that will interfere with these mediums. May I suggest the Family Radio Service radios, or the Garmin personal radios for keeping in touch with those who are near you and are survival partners.
“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Phillippians 2:13
Thanks Carl. No worries on taking away the glory from God, I really don’t want it. I know that God created me with certain gifts and abilities but I am am available to serve at His pleasure. There are times I am uncomfortable with people thanking me for work I have done on the blog, I say thank you, or my pleasure. I have said this before, and believe it to be true, God deserves the credit, I just do the typing.