The Link
The Weekly E-Newsletter of Disciples Christian Church
June 18, 2009
In This Issue
- Updated Prayer Requests
- A Message from Rev. Nordyke
- Thanks Bob Knoll!
- Worship & BBPS Changes
- Young at Heart TONIGHT!
- Men’s Bible Study
- 4th of July
- Even though there won’t be VBS
- From the TechnoManor
- Music Notes
Updated
Prayer Requests
- Gena Hurst’s brother, Brian, received excellent news
regarding his cancer. His ‘numbers’
were much better, even after opting not to have radiation. They thank everyone for their prayers.
- Rev. Diane Clark had tests
which revealed some anomalies with her vital signs. She is now
consulting with a cardiologist for a leaky mitral valve.
- John Prewitt had a “power tool” accident requiring surgery on his
thumb a few weeks ago. The healing
is progressing but typing with only one hand (left) is a test of patience!
The prayer requests in The Link each week are recent
updates. A list of ongoing prayer requests appears in our worship bulletin each
Sunday.
A
Message from Rev. Nordyke
I imagine
that last week will be noted as one of the more memorable weeks of DCC’s
history. Just a day or so before the Bob Knoll All-Star Basketball Camp
was to begin, fierce storms rolled through the area leaving behind a swath of
destruction and chaos. Late last Wednesday evening I, along with several
others, received the call that the church had been hit. Upon arrival I
could see debris lying around the outside of the building and on the inside
water was dripping from the ceilings and standing on the carpet. It turns
out that about half of the sanctuary’s roofing materials were blown off onto
the fellowship hall roof, thus water was saturating about a quarter of the
sanctuary as well as the administrative offices below. The carpet,
ceiling tiles, three pews and much of the furnishings in the office were
drenched; thankfully however none of the electronic equipment was damaged.
However
more than seeing a building damaged by forces of nature, I saw a building, a
place where people were coming together, no matter what the time or what they
were doing, to begin the clean-up process. Shop-vacs were humming, desks
were being cleared and electronics were being carefully moved to drier
ground. Within a few hours restoration was starting to take shape.
Unfortunately though, some of the progress made would prove to be in vain as
heavy rain further saturated the building late Wednesday night and during the
wee hours of Thursday morning. Still I don’t think knowing that would
have curbed the clean-up efforts. Even more than seeing a damaged
building was seeing a church where teamwork is key,
where people do what needs to be done, and where rebuilding is central to
providing a place of community and worship. Last Wednesday I heard no
gripes or complaints and I found no personal agendas or ulterior motives.
Instead I saw ordinary church members, young and old alike, doing extraordinary
things as they took ownership of what God has entrusted to their care.
No one
ever said disasters were easy or the rebuilding that follows. However
with God’s help we, like the phoenix, will rise from the ashes and emerge
stronger and more adept to minister to the needs of the people that God puts in
our paths. Over the next several weeks our church will be inundated with
contractors, laborers, specialists and volunteers to help us rebuild. May
they see, just as I saw and continue to see, a unified body of Christ with an
enormous spirit of volunteerism and a deep appreciation and gratitude for the
help of others.
Peace and
Blessings,
In Christ
It Just
Gets Better
Can you believe it...this was the sixth year for the Bob Knoll All-Star Basketball Camp!?
Just think,
-- --
Some kids have been there every time we have had it.
-- Some returned three times.
-- Some came because a parent
of another camper told them about it.
-- Many saw the banner and
wanted to be a part of it.
-- Parents came and stayed,
and were personally involved.
-- Grandparents also drove
from other towns to see their grandchild play.
-- DCC members had many
chances to perform DCC hospitality for visitors.
-- Around 60 youth received “life
lessons” and expert basketball training.
-- Everyone there received a
gift of courage and tenacity from Bob Knoll.
-- In spite of 100+ heat, we all felt it was the best time
yet.
Those who made this possible:
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Coach Sharon Knoll – Registration Kinzie Knoll - Assistant Coach Mike Bell- Assistant Coach Rickey Boyer - Assistant Coach Jojwan McCloud- Assistant Coach Justin Wang - Assistant Coach Labo Emine - Assistant Coach Nick Dave Gillen – Webmaster Jan Carter - Printing and assembling Jan and Mark Mueller - Set Up, and refreshments Julie Boyer and Fred Hughey – Registration Gary Boyd - Water bottles Dudley and Bob Nesmith - Posters to StarBucks David Nordyke - Greetings, prayer Thanks and kudos to all who helped make this possible! |
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Worship & BBPS Changes
The following temporary changes
will take place at DCC due to the recent storm damage to the sanctuary:
--
DCC will meet in Fellowship Hall at 10:30 a.m. for Sunday worship.
--
First Chinese Christian Church will meet in Fellowship Hall after DCC’s
worship is over at which time they will have their regular Sunday lunch together,
followed by their worship
service at 1:30 p.m.
--
BBPS’s Summer Camp classrooms will be in Fellowship Hall. The Camp takes place Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the weeks of June 23 – July 30. Hours are 9:30 am – 2 pm. Contact Linda Gulick with any questions at
214-770-0854.
Young at Heart TONIGHT!
Don’t forget that the monthly
Young at Heart dinner takes place tonight, June 18, at 6:30 pm at Macaroni
Grill restaurant. The restaurant is
located at the northwest corner of Park and
Men’s Bible Study
Calling
all men! Come join us at IHOP (
4th
of July
Even though it has been
determined that DCC will not be participating in the City of
--
“Nothing says summer like concerts in the park!” Kick off the July 4th Holiday
weekend with the annual Patriotic Concert presented by the Plano Community Band
at
--
Get ready to celebrate July 4th at the Plano Independence Day Parade
presented by the Plano Early Lions Club.
Arrive early with the family, lawn chairs and blankets and a thirst for
fun. The parade begins at
--
Join Hector Guzman, your Plano Symphony Orchestra, and the Patriotic POPS
Chorus for a tribute to our beautiful country.
Come early or stay after the performance and picnic on the grounds with
your entire family. Enjoy your Plano
Symphony Orchestra as they honor
Even
though there won’t be VBS …
You are
invited to come rock at "Crocodile Dock!" Due to many factors, we have decided to join
forces with FCC Plano this year, and they have graciously agreed to accommodate
DCC and FCCC kids (preschool through grade 5). Their Crocodile Dock VBS will take place August 3-7, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Laura Young
will be co-leading the opening and closing groups, so there will be at least
one familiar face. Other DCC members
have offered their time as well. Kids
should wear clothes that are suitable for craft projects and active games. Drop-off is between 6:15 and 6:30 pm at the
FCC chapel (east end of the building, which is located at
Please
register your children and grandchildren through the FCC website as soon as
possible.
To
register:
Go to
fccplano.org and click "VBS 2009" at the top right of the page.
At the
next page, under the Crocodile Dock logo, please click "participant
registration" to fill out the forms required. You can contact Shannon Grubbs with questions
at 972-423-3260.
Come
"rock the dock" with us! Thank you!
From
the TechnoManor
My wife
quipped, “I will not load software on my computer without first checking with
Dave!”
The reason
for the remark: I told her I have to buy
Windows Vista to install on a client’s computer. Because…
My
client’s computer became infected using a very sneaky form of “social
engineering.” Despite trying tools that
claimed (on the Web) to cure this infection, they didn’t. Unfortunately he discovered he didn’t have
the original operating system CD. Ooops.
That’s why
I’m off to Fry’s to buy a copy of Windows Vista. On Friday, I’ll be erasing the hard drive,
installing Windows Vista, reinstalling all the programs, and all the data.
What is social engineering? It’s a phrase used to describe the activity,
typically by phone or the Internet, to fool you into doing something you
wouldn’t normally do: like give out your
Social Security Number, credit card number(s), or other vital information. Or to download software that proves damaging
to you or your computer.
The key
words are “fooled” and “normally do.”
The techniques used in social engineering look or sound so authentic and
legitimate, that you believe no harm will come to you.
So, what
was this sneaky form of social engineering that my client encountered? That’s what I want to tell you about
today. I really don’t want you to be
“bitten” by this, too.
If you’re
visiting a Web site and you suddenly see the following page:
Write down
(on paper) the Web address you visited.
Then click the red X in the
upper right of your Web browser and close the browser.
DO NOT CLICK ANY BUTTONS OR LINKS
ON THAT WEB PAGE!
This
warning Web page is a trick. If you
click the Get security software
button, an infection masquerading as “Personal Antivirus” will be legitimately
downloaded and installed on your computer.
You have opened your door and allowed an intruder to enter.
Clicking Continue Unprotected is supposed to do
nothing. However, I don’t want to test that
theory.
Ok, you
may be wondering a couple of things.
- How
where did that warning Web page come from and why are you seeing it?
- Why
did I have you write down the Web address you visited?
Answer
1. The Web site you visited has
been compromised. A Web site runs on a
computer, much like your own. Security
software (your “aunties” from my 10/2/2008 article) and up-to-date software are
just as important on computers serving Web pages. Major Web sites (like Google, eBay, Apple,
Microsoft, and so on) are diligent about keeping their Web sites secure. But many other Web sites are not. They can become infected, just like your
computer can.
You are
seeing their infected Web site.
Answer
2. You want to remember where you
encountered the warning Web page, and not go back! Or perhaps try to contact their webmaster to
tell them they have a problem.
So, what
happens if you have been fooled and clicked Get security software? Well,
you will start seeing troubling pop-ups from the lower right looking like the following:
If you
click on this warning balloon, or others like it, you
may see what looks like a legitimate antivirus program window. Here’s where the deception continues. The
bogus Personal Antivirus looks remarkably like the legitimate AVG Anti-Virus
window. I happen to use AVG and am
pleased with it. Take a look at the
following illustrations:
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Bogus – Personal Antivirus |
Legitimate – AVG Anti-Virus
(Free) |
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I saw the
screen on the left on my client’s computer and stared at if for a few minutes. It looked so convincing. Then I realized, “wait a minute, who is this Personal Antivirus? Most
security software vendors proudly display their brand and company names. I don’t see that anywhere.”
There was
a link to view a license on the bogus Personal Antivirus. I skimmed it and saw no mention of a
company. The agreement looked legitimate
but said absolutely nothing.
Then I
realized this was bogus software. On
further inspection of the computer I discovered the following:
·
The
·
The
Windows Firewall was turned off. Uh oh,
the barn door has been left open.
·
System
Restore was turned on. However, all of
the restore points had been removed. So,
there was no way to restore Windows to a date before the infection.
·
Add
or Remove Programs did not list a Personal Antivirus (or PAV). So, this program was not using sanctioned
installation methods. That means you
couldn’t uninstall it by legitimate means.
·
Norton
Antivirus was blissfully running and reported everything was ok! This isn’t surprising. Most sophisticated infections know how to
side-step the major security software programs.
And since Personal Antivirus was legitimately downloaded and looked
benign, Norton didn’t object.
If you’ve
seen these things, sadly, your computer has been infected.
My
understanding from the Web is that Personal Antivirus (or PAV) only tries to
extort money from you to “buy” this software by getting a credit card. However, it can bring along other malware, or
open the door to allow other malware to enter.
By the time you realize what happened, it’s too late.
I tried
some of the suggested software that is supposed to remove this problem. I even tried my old favorite, Spybot. None of them totally eradicated the
infection. I suppose if I had a few days
to devote to the problem, I might have been successful.
However,
the only sure thing is to erase the hard drive and reload everything. It is time-consuming, but can be completed in
my lifetime.
What I’ve
shown above is simply today’s rogue software.
There are others, and more will follow.
Each one looks so believable. In
many cases, your security software may not be aware that it’s being tricked. So, what can you do?
Here’s
what I do:
·
Be
skeptical. I have a modest set of
regular Web sites I visit. I’m fairly
confident they’re ok. However, if I
suddenly see something odd (like a warning message), I bail out. For new Web sites, I’m very tentative about
clicking links and I always decline ActiveX or other add-ons.
·
Know
my computer. I’m familiar with the names
and providers of the software on my computer.
I know the names of the Web browser, antivirus software, firewall, and
so on that I’m using. No, you don’t need
to know the mechanics or settings of all.
But many times it’s the simple things (like misspellings or a missing
brand name) that catches my eye and makes me go, “something is wrong here.”
·
Keep
it simple. More is Less. If some Web site claims I’m unprotected, why
is that happening? Succumbing to fear
and downloading more security software isn’t the answer. Checking my existing security software is the
solution.
And
finally, only my wife can turn to me and ask, “Should I download this
software?” I don’t want to be deluged
with phone calls. Assume my answer will
be, “why do you need it?!?”
Thanks
To: I used material from the Web site malwarecrawler.com. It provided some of the images and was quite
useful in giving background to the PAV problem.
I plan to visit it in the future to help debunk social engineering
issues.
Because of
last week’s storm damage at church, I’ve delayed ending my “From the
TechnoManor” articles by one week. My
final article in The Link will be on
June 25th. Last call for
questions! Send ‘em to:
Dave
Gillen
Music
Notes
By Laura Young
Music Notes
Thank you to Ty Young, who provided the special
music last Sunday!
This
Sunday, we are looking forward to returning guest pianist, Alex Brombal. On the
28th, we will have music from Mark Mueller and Rev. David Nordyke.
There are
still spots available to fill for the month of July and the beginning of
August, so please tell Laura Young if you are interested in sharing your
talents with our church family.
The
In order to follow Jesus and worship God, we will serve our neighbors. We will minister to our fellow Christians. We will live and tell the good news of Jesus
Christ in all we do.
Disciples Christian Church Staff
Rev. David Nordyke, Senior Pastor
Laura Young, Music Director
Linda Gulick, Preschool Director
Julie Chen, Pianist
Jan Carter, Administrative Assistant
Dave Gillen, Webmaster frenchygrey@gmail.com
Email: theoffice@dccplano.com
Phone: 972-398-2240