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Articles for the ‘Spirituality & Religion’ Category

Your family member is now at rest and now is the time to create an everlasting tribute to them. But how do you decide which type of stone, what color lettering to use and which inscription? Memorials and headstones are available in many different materials, colors and sizes – for example marble, stone and granite memorials are all readily available. Choosing between them can be confusing and tiring.

You should start with the color. What was your loved ones favorite color? Granite headstones come in pretty much every color, so you are not restricted to choosing from just black, gray and white.

The majority of cemeteries allow various colors of headstones and memorials, unfortunately churchyards tend to be stricter. Your cemetery or churchyard should be able to provide you with a copy of the rules and regulations.

Once you have chosen your color, think about what you want the headstone or memorial to say. You should definitely include the name, date of birth and date of death of the deceased, but the rest of the epitaph is free for you to add your messages of love or favorite sayings.

You can also personalize it with a design too. Many different designs can be sandblasted or laser etched on to it. These can range from simple flowers to pictures of your loved one, or engravings of their favorite pastime or pet.

Most headstones and memorials come in set sizes, from really small to very big. Bigger is not necessarily mean better, and a smaller, better quality one can be equally as nice. Churchyards will only permit headstones or memorials up to a maximum height, whereas most cemeteries normally allow them to be any size.

You can get ideas by looking on the Internet; you will find lots of websites that have online catalogs of them. You can also take a walk around a churchyard or cemetery in your local area to see which styles look most appropriate.

Make a shortlist of details that you want, or even draw a rough sketch of how you would like it to look. Once you have done this, it is time to contact a few stores which make and memorials and headstones to ascertain if they are able to create the style and design that you have in mind.

As with everything in life, prices will vary and are negotiable, so be sure to enquire about discounts and be prepared to visit at least a few stores. Once you have placed your order, you can expect the memorial or headstone to be completed in less than a month.

Think of any memorial service and you see flowers. It really is barely astonishing that both funeral directors and florists declare that funeral wreaths and sprays come 3 rd in their leading 5 selling goods. Flowers have already been utilized at funerals for years and years. In ancient times, not simply were they decorative, they were practical, given that their perfume assisted to cover up unpleasant odours.

These days, flowers are seen as a classic expression of grieving and, as with the rest of the funeral, they feature a great amount of social grace. Floral sprays – and also what are frequently known as as sympathy plants – usually are sent direct to the memorial service residence when the death is announced. On the day of the funeral, these are put in the hearse, arranged on and across the coffin, accompanying the loved one on their ultimate journey.

Typically, the most popular funeral flowers consist of lilies, carnations, chrysanthemums, gladioli and also roses. Muted colors tones will always be common, in particular for a feminine touch, whilst red-colored suggests unequaled love and white signifies tranquility. The particular season may also impact on accessibility to certain flowers.

Nevertheless, florists are the experts and will often provide advice. They can create unique tributes, which range from easy ‘cottage garden’ baskets and arrangements to sophisticated, contemporary arrangements. Wreaths are a common option, since they are made by means of a circle, that is the symbol of eternal existence. Flower sprays tend to be equally well-liked. These lie flat, exhibiting the blossoms much more openly for viewing from just one single side.

The important thing to selecting proper flowers should be to pick an offering you think family members is likely to appreciate. Some families request that donations be made to a particular good cause instead of flowers. This is a more pragmatic approach, as floral tributes are usually discarded by funeral directors following two or three days and in the case of cremations they are usually disposed instantly following the service.

However, few funerals are totally without flowers. Unlike the commonly sombre tone and dress of the mourners, they bring in a warm component of beauty and colour. Flower tributes display regard to the deceased, whilst offering great comfort to the family members, as they visibly convey emotions that many find hard to put into words.

Even though traditional, floral tributes don’t need to always be limited by the time of funeral or cremation. A lot of funeral directors will tell you that bereaved families value receiving blossoms within the weeks and even a few months following the memorial service. They provide a comforting reminder that people have not forgotten their loved one, especially if combined with a little individual note.

If you are not a Christian or just vaguely familiar with the religion, then you might have wondered what communion wafers are and what it’s for.

To let you know, these wafers are used during the Holy Communion to represent the body of Christ. Even though the symbolism is a bit complicated, the ingredients for the piece are actually quite simple.

It has hardly any taste at all, but it is this lack of taste that makes it such a great ritual piece. Since it hardly has any taste, you are allowed to focus on the meaning when you consume the wafer.

There are plenty of manufacturers for the communion wafer. Each of them have special ways of creating the wafer, however, most of them use the same basic ingredients.

These two common ingredients include water and pure wheat flour. Of course, as mentioned, other communion breads are created with more complex ingredients than the two, but this depends on the manufacturer.

Some of the other ingredients used in these recipes could include yeast or salt so that it can have a small hint of flavor.

However, there is one very special ingredient that is sometimes added when making these holy wafers and that is holy water.  

There are instances when makers would sprinkle a small amount of holy water on the dough. It is incorporated into the dough and then made into the holy wafers that we know and use today.

Most Christians are familiar with communion wafers, however, not everyone knows where or who makes them.

However, this isn’t very surprising since back in the day, the work of creating these wafers fell only to a select few.

History dictates that churches used to pick out only one baker that was tasked to create the wafer. Apart from that, there was a special oven designated for this purpose only so that the ritual of making the wafers was kept sacred.

As time passed, traditions changed and so did the secrecy to creating the wafers.

Today, there are several large manufacturers that create these wafers. They are no longer exclusively created by nuns or special bakers from the church.

Although there are plenty of manufacturers in this industry, there are still companies that hold a monopoly when it comes to being a supplier for these church wafers.

In fact, there is one company that is said to be the primary supplier for over three quarters of the churches in the US.

The history and significance of these holy wafers cannot be underestimated. Even though most non Christians might not be familiar with them, there is no doubt that it is an essential part of the faith as well as the ceremony of these churches.

If you are a Christian, taking part of the Holy Communion and taking in communion wafers should signify something far beyond the bland taste of this sacramental bread, it should symbolize and signify your faith in the Lord and his undying love for you as his child.

Now that you are aware of the importance of communion wafer, you may also consider the benefit and importance of having your personal communion cup or perhaps you may want to own a portable communion set.

THE FOUR KINDS OF DEATH

The following is a sermon on death that gives a biblical perspective on death.

1. THERE IS PHYSICAL DEATH
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

John 11:12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well. 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

In the epistle of James, if you look carefully, you will find there the biblical definition of death:

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. THERE IS SPIRITUAL DEATH
This is the condition of the living person who does not have eternal life.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

3. THERE IS THE SECOND DEATH
Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

4. There is a fourth death that is mentioned in Scripture as well. Visit Sermon Seedbed to learn about this fourth kind of death and see in this sermon death in its completeness.

This article written by Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. who is a pastor, author and overseer of Sermon Seedbed a free resource site for Pastors and Bible teachers. There you will find lots of sermon ideas and sermon outlines.

Preachers  grow to appreciate the comfort and friendship of a good sermon outline. As a pastor myself, I have discovered through the years that having a good outline is a tremendous benefit to aid in presenting your topic in an organized and educational manner. Allow me to encourage you to make writing out sermon outlines something that you work on regularly. If you do, then over a period of time you will amass a wonderful storehouse of ideas and inspiration that will always be there for you when you are searching for that “just right” message to preach. Following are four brief ideas to help you.

1. Read your Bible slowly.
Here is my preface– first and foremost read your Bible to feed your soul. But then have times when you take a section of Scripture and break it a part in a way that you could teach or preach it. Often, I simply read the verse slowly noticing each separate thought. I then begin to notice how those thoughts are connected and ask why are they connected in the way they are. It is the connectivity of the thoughts that will allow your outline to begin to form. Sequence is your friend in outlining a bible text. It also helps the audience when your thoughts flow in the order that the passage flows.

2. Observe people.
Preaching must be biblically centered, but it is delivered to people. Yes the heart of human beings is the target of the wise preacher. Some sermon topics will flow from the Bible text, others the topic will flow toward the text. Let me explain. As you observe people you will begin to amass a ton of things that need to preached about. Ask questions as you see people involved in everyday life. “What is causing him to be so angry?” may be a question that leads you to the Bible to see what it has to say about anger.

The very place and situation that birthed the question can also serve as your introduction. For example, “The other day I was at the Pharmacy and I heard a man losing his temper at the checkout. He was very irate and giving the young girl at the register as piece of his mind. I could not help but wonder what was going on his life that caused him to vent on a teenager who was just trying to earn extra money to help her family. What does the Bible say concerning why people become so angry?” As you can see, the people around you are telling you what their struggles are and the answers they are looking for, just learn to observe. Ideas for sermon outlines are all around you.

3. Think in simple terms.
One of the dangers for the preacher is that he often studies a passge very extensively and learns so much that he feels pressed to share it all. The result can be a very long sermon that is overly complicated, to analytical, and boring. A simple outline will help you greatly in delivering a more targeted sermon that will be more effective in actually helping people. Points that have sub-points with sub-points can confuse people about what the point is.

There are certainly many other suggestions that could be added to this list but I want to keep it short so I that I will practice what I just preached. I appreciate it if you check out the free sermons and sermon outlines I have posted on Sermon Seedbed which is a dot com site.

Eddie Lawrence is a pastor and oversees Sermon Seedbed, a site for pastors and Bible teachers.

Compatible Horoscopes is Important when you start dating someone seriously. Looking out
for the Star Sign Compatibility will ensure he or she is the right person for you. People
featuring distinct Horoscopes signs will occasionally be amazed to find that they are more
or less suitable for their partner because of their individual Horoscopes signs.

Even though Aries is normally seen as quite an outgoing horoscope sign, it could sometimes bring about jealousy to their partner. In actual Fact, those who are an Aries may seem to be quite flirty when in reality they are just being friendly.

When you’re looking at Taurus for zodiac sign compatibility, you will discover that sometimes, they could become possessive, which will in extreme cases ruin relationships, however , if properly handled can help you show your partner just how much you love them.

Libras are fortunate in regards to the dating world. Their horoscope sign is extremely romantic which happens to be of great help in a relationships. A significant factor of being a Libra is the capability to search for someone who loves you just as much as you love them. Usually having a Libra star sign can be quite a problem as you end up being very too intimate or romantic, but getting a person who shares the same sentiments as you sometimes can be quite difficult.

Scorpio star sign is an fascinating personality because it is quite sexually aggressive and like to have the upper hand in the relationship.
Possessing Scorpio zodiac sign might be good in the early stages of a relationship as you’ll be exciting to your partner and both of you will constantly want to be close to one another but soon after you might find your partner getting a little annoyed with your controlling approaches.

If your star sign compatibility match is not described here, then look for your Compatible Horoscopes here. Simply by clicking on the links you’ll find more great information on Horoscopes Signs and this will definitely enhance your dating life. Get Your Free Love Horoscope and zodiac signs compatibility done too.

Pastor Resources for Preachers and Bible Teachers

Time is a precious commodity for everyone. As a minister who has been preaching the Bible for over 25 years, study time is extremely important. It is no different for the business man or woman who teaches a bible class at their local church. It is easy to spend hours studying a bible passage, reading commentaries, and going deeper in Bible dictionaries and word study books.

The internet offers tremendous opportunities, insights, and time saving helps. These pastor resources are great! I have had my eyes opened wide to this in the past year after I decided to begin offering my bible studies and sermon outlines to people over the web. I build a site called Sermon Seedbed for pastors and Bible teachers to visit and enjoy. I have been amazed at the response and the encouragement I have recieved from users of the site from over 120 different nations. What a way to expand what you do!

Another benefit I have gained is added knowledge of other great sites on the web for students of the Bible. Sites like Bible Gateway, The Blue Letter Bible, and Sermon Central are amazing and very helpful. Sure there are sites that are too far left and too far right for a lot of us, but don’t allow a bone here or there to keep you from eating fish. There are tons of sites for people who desire to grown in their knowledge of the Bible and hopefully as a result, in their lives.

This article addresses people who have a formal preaching position or those who lead small group bible studies. Let me share with you three tips on making your study time more productive for you and those whom you teach.

1. Don’t bury your audience with endless details.

You purpose should be to open up the Word so it becomes relevant to their everyday life. When someone is struggling with their marriage, fighting an addiction, or coping with anxiety, knowing what those winged beings in Ezekiel’s vision may not be as helpful as knowing how David dealt with being deeply discouraged.

2. Keep it moving and engaging

Similar to the above tip, we preachers and teachers after spending hours studying a verse are tempted to share everything we have mined out of a verse. As a result, we can become bogged down and people begin feeling that it will take forever to cross the finish line. Overcome the temptation to stay at a place too long and keep a steady pace moving toward the end. By keeping it engaging, I suggest that you make a concerted effort in your presentation to connect with the people. Afterall, that is the purpose of it all, to transform lives through sharing God’s Word. Engage them with a story or illustration or question.

3. Be enthusiastic about what you are sharing.

Wow, if you don’t seem to care, then why should they? Notice I said, “If you don’t seem to care…” The actual words you share with people are important but there is so much non-verbal communication that takes place when preaching or teaching. Your listeners are looking at the whole package. Being excited about what you are doing will be contagious. I am not saying overhyped or ramped to explode. Just be yourself with a smile on your face, a spring in your step, and a song in your heart and it will shine through.

You can check out my pastor resources and sermons site at www.sermonseedbed.com.

Of late, we have been hearing about our beloved world coming to an end. Have you ever given a thought to it? They say that 12 21 2012 marls the last day of our earth, as per the Mayan calendar. The 2012 phenomenon, as believed to be, will comprise of a series of cataclysmic or transformative events that will occur on 21 12 2012; with this, will end a five 125-year long cycle and begin a New Era.

It is believed that post 21 12 2012, earth and her inhabitants will go through a positive transformation which might be either physical of spiritual. As per general beliefs, the world will undergo a major catastrophe as the earth will be in total alignment with the moon, the sun and the Milky Way’s black hole. 

Modern thinkers opine that then end of the current cycle will usher in global consciousness shift whereby the world will progress and foster a spiritual revolution. There are so many significances of this date and that’s what makes 21 12 2012 so talked about.

According to some, 2012 will end 26,000 year Precession of the Equinoxes cycle, whereas, some believe that it signifies the end of a 104,000 year cycle. With the end of a cycle, comes a new age. But you must not be scared; instead you must understand the prophecy which says that we all have to be more and more aware and we need to wake up and answer to the beckon call of the new era. Standing on the cross-road, we must enjoy the historical landmark that we witness and respond to it positively.

Mankind will be transformed into a complete harmony of nature and all her children. 21 12 2012 is going to bring one of the best and most significant moments we have ever seen!

Think of any memorial service and you see flowers. It really is barely astonishing that both funeral directors and florists declare that funeral wreaths and sprays come 3 rd in their leading 5 selling goods. Flowers have already been utilized at funerals for years and years. In ancient times, not simply were they decorative, they were practical, given that their perfume assisted to cover up unpleasant odours.

These days, flowers are seen as a classic expression of grieving and, as with the rest of the funeral, they feature a great amount of social grace. Floral sprays – and also what are frequently known as as sympathy plants – usually are sent direct to the memorial service residence when the death is announced. On the day of the funeral, these are put in the hearse, arranged on and across the coffin, accompanying the loved one on their ultimate journey.

Typically, the most popular funeral flowers consist of lilies, carnations, chrysanthemums, gladioli and also roses. Muted colors tones will always be common, in particular for a feminine touch, whilst red-colored suggests unequaled love and white signifies tranquility. The particular season may also impact on accessibility to certain flowers.

Nevertheless, florists are the experts and will often provide advice. They can create unique tributes, which range from easy ‘cottage garden’ baskets and arrangements to sophisticated, contemporary arrangements. Wreaths are a common option, since they are made by means of a circle, that is the symbol of eternal existence. Flower sprays tend to be equally well-liked. These lie flat, exhibiting the blossoms much more openly for viewing from just one single side.

The important thing to selecting proper flowers should be to pick an offering you think family members is likely to appreciate. Some families request that donations be made to a particular good cause instead of flowers. This is a more pragmatic approach, as floral tributes are usually discarded by funeral directors following two or three days and in the case of cremations they are usually disposed instantly following the service.

However, few funerals are totally without flowers. Unlike the commonly sombre tone and dress of the mourners, they bring in a warm component of beauty and colour. Flower tributes display regard to the deceased, whilst offering great comfort to the family members, as they visibly convey emotions that many find hard to put into words.

Even though traditional, floral tributes don’t need to always be limited by the time of funeral or cremation. A lot of funeral directors will tell you that bereaved families value receiving blossoms within the weeks and even a few months following the memorial service. They provide a comforting reminder that people have not forgotten their loved one, especially if combined with a little individual note.

This article will address the seven basic building blocks that are found in sermons. Entire books have been written on just one of these elements so please understand the few sentences I offer are just enough to head you in the right direction. Now let’s take just a peek at each of them.

1. Title
The title is much more important that you think. You want a title that will encapsulate the message in just a few words. Let me give you an example — Living On the Wrong Side of Your Hurt! This title tells a story, carries deep emotion, and offers hope, all in eight words. A title should create interest, curiosity, or longing in within a person’s heart when heard or read.

2. Introduction
A good introduction will move the audience from where they are to join you in what you want to share with them. Think of it as a bridge built to bring people out of their daily world to where you are with a desire to hear what you have to say. Be careful that it is not too long. It is just the beginning of the sermon, not the sermon itself.

3. Text
A sermon must rest on eternal truth. The Bible is the book preachers must use as the authority in their life and in their ministry. Think of it as the foundation. Everything you share should rest securely upon it without contradiction. What you say must rest upon what God has said. In this manner, you are connecting the spirits of the people with the Spirit of God.

4. Transitions
Sermon Outlines that the people are able to understand and follow will have good transitions included within it. Little is said about this, but transitions are very important. From each element to the next there should be transitions that tie them all together in a beautiful flow that enters the human heart.

5. Main Points
Without being a wisecrack, the main points are the main points. They are the main statements that you want to make. Try to keep these from three to five in number. If you go beyond that you will be pressed for time or take too much time. Word these points in such a way that they can be easily understood and remembered.

Within these main points there will be other content such as explanation, illustration and application. Some preachers enjoy alliterating their points so they can be easily remembered. Others will make each point make a statement or a question. There are many ways this can be done, so give your people a variety and it will keep you fresh.

These are five of the seven elements are the basic building blocks of a sermon. Familarize yourself with them and learn as much as you can. It will only help you to become a better preacher. The preacher who excels in the basics will soon soar in the advanced. To see the last two elements, visit this free sermons page on Sermon Seedbed.

This article written by Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. who is an author, pastor, and also oversees Sermon Seedbed which is a free resource site for pastors and Bible teachers offering free sermons and sermon outlines.