The Church Of Today, Offended By Christ?

The Church Of Today, Offended By Christ? Is the church of today offended by Christ? The very thought of this seems absurd, but is it? Not really. When one understands the spiritual truth contained in the bible, they see that the majority of churches today are offended by what they proclaim to uphold, the cross of Christ.

The bible is a very complicated book, especially for those who have not received the spirit of God straight through faith in Christ. When the bible speaks of offence, it is speaking of those who command that we must follow the commandments of God in the flesh by our own works of righteousness either to become, or remain thorough of God. Those who command that one must live a clear way in the flesh to please God live in great error. They are causing offence according to the scriptures. The natural eye, however, cannot see this concept. The bible tells us that one must be born of the spirit of God before they can see the truth contained in the scripture. The spirit of God is our eyes to see the truth, and our ears to hear what the bible is indubitably telling us spiritually. Unfortunately, the majority today does not have the spirit of God in their lives. This leads them to elucidate the scripture from what they know naturally. However, there is only one right way to elucidate scripture. The bible is a spiritual book and must be interpreted spiritually. However, one cannot understand spiritual matters without the advice of the Holy Spirit. The majority of churches today who vocalize that they know Christ are denying him with works. They command their congregations to follow clear rules to live by in the flesh. By doing so, they deny the faith. They are not seeking to enter the kingdom of Heaven straight through faith. They seek to enter by their own works of righteousness. However, the bible simply teaches us that we are saved by grace straight through faith, and not of works. So why do they command their congregations to vocalize good works in the flesh? This occurs because they elucidate the word of God naturally. They do not understand the spiritual truth contained in the scripture. Without the spirit, they cannot possibly see spiritual truth. This leads them to follow the commandments of God in the flesh by their own works of righteousness. The bible tells us those who are in the flesh cannot please God. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. We must understand the spiritual meaning of the commandments of God. However, many today do not have the spirit, and therefore cannot understand spiritual truth. The bible tells us many speak evil of the things they understand not, but what they know simply as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. By interpreting the scripture simply and following the literal commandment, the church of today is causing offence. They are prominent many away from the faith to trust in works for salvation. We either trust in faith or works. By teaching others to follow the word of God simply by their own works of righteousness in the flesh, the church of today is causing offence. When one trusts in Christ alone for salvation, and not works, it offends many who vocalize to be in the church of today. The church of today insists that salvation must be accompanied by works of righteousness in the flesh. They are offended by those who trust only in the cross of Christ for salvation. Many face great persecution because they refuse to bow to the commandments of men, rather than the commandments of God. Some are even excluded from the church organizations of today. Why does this occur? Paul tells us in the bible, if he continued to preach circumcision the offence of the cross would cease. The same holds true today. If one continues to try and live holy within themselves by fleshly works of righteousness, they most likely will be thorough into the church assosication of today. However, those who trust in Christ alone straight through faith are regularly rejected. The only way to be saved is to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. No fleshly works of righteousness are required to be, or remain, thorough of God. However, this may offend the church organizations of today. This occurs because man looks on the outward appearance. They look to see if one appears to be living holy in the flesh by their own works of righteousness. However, God looks on the heart. God is only involved either or not we receive the Holy Spirit into our heart straight through faith in Christ. Let us not be man-pleasers. Let us seek the honor that comes from God alone. Let us trust in Christ alone for salvation straight through faith. The Church Of Today, Offended By Christ? Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins

Church Or Christ? It's a Matter of the Heart

Church Or Christ? It's a Matter of the Heart Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21 that not every one that says to Him, "Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven." He clearly states there are those who prophesy, cast out devils and do many splendid works in His name, but they don't actually know Him. "I never knew you: depart from me..." He will say to them when "that day" comes.

It's so foremost that we, as the Body of Christ, understand that having a connection with the local church does not constitute having a connection with Christ. Doing work - serving in the nursery, ushering, attending commonly on Sunday, teaching a mid-week Bible study and volunteering in the community, though they are "wonderful works" - does not mean you know Him. Having a personal connection with the Lord is a matter of the heart. Do you love Him? Do you long for His presence? Do you have an intimate, personal connection with Him? This is the kind of bond that Christ desires - a deep, personal, voluntary, heart-to-heart connection with you. It's this kind of personal connection that Paul refers to in Philippians 3:8 when He says "I count all things as loss compared to the rights of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." He counts his many gain as deeply knowing Christ intimately. The Amplified version of the Bible illustrates it as "that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His someone more strongly and more clearly" (Phil 3:10). Jesus desires a personal connection with you. He wants to know your thoughts and your desires, your troubles and your joys. He wants you to know His! He wants to be your friend, your "Wonderful Counselor"! Jesus wants to truly know you and for you to truly know Him - the same way you would a spouse, a sibling or a best friend. Once you get to know Him, an intense love for Him will fill your heart! And that is the extreme goal...for you to love Him. His first and most foremost commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matt 22:37) With all things within you, He wants you to love Him! It's not at all about your attendance on Sunday or how often you serve your local church, it's about giving your heart to him, loving Him, and getting to know Him personally. Once you do, you will want to please Him and congregate with others who have those same desires (only then you will want to attend church and Bible studies and serve in the kingdom - not out of obligation, or fear of repercussion, or guilt, but solely because of your love for Him!). So, the demand remains, does your heart belong to Christ or are you merely deeply related to your local church? Like Paul, let's desire to know Him above all else. Let's work toward first and foremost becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and then out of that love for Him, let us serve His kingdom and build His Church. Church Or Christ? It's a Matter of the Heart

Church Marketing - Facebook and Your Church - Is That a Good Thing?

Church Marketing - Facebook and Your Church - Is That a Good Thing? If you are like most citizen that are on this Earth and have a little number of computer ability, you probably have a Facebook profile.

Facebook (Fb) provides a great way to keep up with current friends, reconnect with old ones and generate new friends all at the touch of a mouse. The setup is minimal and you are precisely out there in the social media mix within minutes. Churches have a few more hoops to jump through to generate a profile, but nothing that is onerous. Your Church's Fb Page There is a saying on the internet; you don't go where the traffic is. You get out in front of it. As a effect of Facebook's popularity, having your church on Fb is a great way of getting you out in front of the traffic. Your Fb page is different than your church website, although it is not a bad alternative. It is a great way to have your church actively partake in social networking. What are the Benefits to your Church? Fb is going to make your marketing efforts more effective. As such, either folks are a full/part time staffers, a volunteer or run a ministry, they will have greater involvement than they currently do. But you know what? They are going to have a lot of fun with it as well! Because so many citizen have their own Facebook pages, their non-Christian friends are going to see that they are attached to your church. The effect being they are going to get an insight and maybe an excitement about your church! In this day of email overload, emails have a tendency to be overlooked. Phone calls are not even an option. Fb makes it easy for prime citizen to make up to the little updates about your event or what is going on in your church. Truly a single source of information. That sounds great, but I want my church to be good at this! Fb is just like any application. The more you use it the easier it becomes. But if you want to get the most out of your Fb experience, here are some things to consider: Think of Facebook like Twitter or voting in Chicago. Do it early and often! (Just kidding on the voting issue.) Interest and therefore page views of returning visitors will growth proportionately to the number of updates you provide. After all, if the site is only updated once a week (or worse yet...once a month), then you haven't precisely given anything a calculate to return. (Keep that in mind with the updating of your Sunday Services as well...people like fresh!) By having church members post on your page, it provides fresh content (the thing that keeps citizen arrival back and hopefully interested enough to come on Sunday) and also make it more personal. As I am want to say, it starts (and in this case) maintains the relationship. And that is what folks want these days. That is why Web 2.0 is so huge! Your willingness to become personal makes both you and your church more human especially to those who are reluctant to become a church goer. Basically, it changes how folks view church in normal and your church in particular. Does that mean you have to update regularly with events or photos? The posting of pictures and videos provides a great insight into your church and precisely adds a titanic benefit for members and visitors by letting folks know what is going on. But are they mandatory? I don't think so. You can do something as easy as putting a motivational/inspiration quote, a picture or a video on your wall (don't worry about that single term, it will make sense soon enough). It can precisely be anything that is reflective of either what is going on at your church (either past events or upcoming) Even if the minister or man who heads a church ministry talks about something they are doing at the church, it creates excitement. Michael Beckwith with his Agape Church does an awesome job of this. Check out his Fb page to see what I mean. What about maintenance? Do you have to be a geek? All applications have become highly user kindly over the last few years. You precisely don't have anything to worry about, because if you can move a mouse, you can update Fb. And the best part is that it can be done by anything in your congregation! Whether you are posting an event, what is happening at your church, what has happened, or wanting to keep up with friends, Facebook's Wall give you the ability to do it all in one place. It gives any visitor the ability to see what has gone on and what is the most current content. Posting updates regularly is integral to getting the word out. That may be true, but I want to post pictures and videos! Is that going to be hard? If you know where to find the file on your computer or thumb drive, you can post either of these with ease. Will they get our church greater exposure? Absolutely! How much is going to depend on what you put into it. But it is total upside. Twitter is great for pushing citizen to your site. So if you have a Twitter catalogue and want to post a picture or video, Fb is a great place to do so. Then tweet away and have citizen come to your Fb page to check it out. And there are other cool features with the apps that can set your church apart and give it the attentiveness it deserves. The only downside to your church having a Facebook page is the act of not holding it up. If you do, then you are going to benefit in ways you never could imagine. Church Marketing - Facebook and Your Church - Is That a Good Thing?

Assumptions About Church building Lead to costly Mistakes

Assumptions About Church building Lead to costly Mistakes One of the biggest mistakes that churches make when they are finding to improve their existing structure is assuming that they can just build on and add anything they want and still be in yielding with construction codes and zoning ordinances.

Just because your church construction was in yielding with all the city or county rules that applied to it when it was first built does not mean that it will continue to be so when you build onto it. Even minor updates to your church found like replacing rug and paint could trigger mandatory construction code upgrades throughout the construction when you try to get a permit for cosmetic changes to your building. If you're construction a new church construction on the same asset as your existing building, you need to make sure the proximities are right or again you could trigger required code upgrades to your existing building. And if you convert the use for part of your building, such as adding a café or a daycare, you may be subject to wholly new construction codes and may no longer be carefully just a church for the purposes of zoning, which could mean the need for a variance and could require substantially more costs than you were expecting to get that performance up and running. Many church construction committees just assume they can do anything they want if they already have a church construction existing on a property, but the city or county government will want to be complex every step of the way to make sure you're complying with zoning, protection and land use regulations. That's why it is so prominent to found a expert plan before you get into the found process of your new church construction or remodeling project. You need to know what the legal ramifications are when you choose to build a new construction or convert your existing structure in a particular way. So many churches skip this step because they go to a bunch of different vendors - surveyors, scenery architects, designers, etc. - and none of them legitimately look at the big photo of what impact this improvement will have and the legal and collective protection hurdles they'll need to jump through. Savvy churches use church found and construction consultants that are able to coordinate all of the team players. Even churches that have full-fledged construction committees might be missing out on some of these details because the committee members are so concerned with the big photo of how beautiful and beneficial their new construction is going to be that they don't think about the mundane permitting and zoning aspects - but doing these things incorrectly can cost you big money if you have to redraw plans, pay to get a variance or land use convert or have to make gigantic infrastructure upgrades to comply with the existing land use and concurrency regulations. Taking the time to plan your scheme right on the front end will give you peace of mind that you can meet your budget as the scheme continues. Assumptions About Church building Lead to costly Mistakes

Church Photography 101: How to Plan and construct a Church Photo Directory

Church Photography 101: How to Plan and construct a Church Photo Directory Church pictorial directories are one of the most important elements in a church congregation. It allows the large society to interact and know each other well by merely seeing up one another's names. The whole congregation values church photo directories as priceless possessions because of their marvelous benefits. The innovations in the field of photography paved the way for more photographers to come up and furnish these directories.

Various churches and congregations worldwide avail of photo directories to serve pastors and their families. These straightforward products aid the whole society in studying more about their members. Any church pictorial directory makes it easier for people to name customary faces and remain in touch. With allowable planning and organization, church directories can possess a expert and personal look. There are churches worldwide that prefer large or digital clubs to furnish their church directories. However, it is best that people think distinct clubs to collate prices and quality. The following is a step by step guide on how to have a local church directory. It is important that you talk with your pastor or clergyman first on the need for a church directory. However, if you are the head of the church, you can simply discuss the plan for creating one by considering suggestions from your staff. Create a team or a core group to help plan and produce the process for creating church photo directories. Prescription someone who will be in payment of scheduling photo shoots with the members. This same someone will also be the single point of sense between the congregation and the church photo directory publishing company. Analyze the options. Make sure that you collate clubs and their prices and quality of work. Make sure to discover the software that they'll be using for the whole process, it pays to know the details and the inherent outcome prior to making the decision. Once you have analyzed all available options, it is time to sense the chosen enterprise to book a schedule. The enterprise should be able to furnish your church a photo studio and a photographer for the shoot. Some churches hire the studio and photographer separately. Schedule the photo shoot days ahead for each house in your congregation. It is important to send them e-mail reminders on their scheduled shoot so that everybody can be updated. After the shoot, wait for the photo directories to arrive and then distribute them to every member. The pictorial church directory will then furnish every house in the society a means to get to know everybody in the congregation. Church Photography 101: How to Plan and construct a Church Photo Directory

Church Architectural Plans: What to Expect in Good Drawings

Church Architectural Plans: What to Expect in Good Drawings Architectural Plans - What's In, What's Out

Rather than discuss the latest fads in church design, I want to illustrate what a church should expect to be included in the drawings ready by an architect. The construction plans should contain adequate institute facts that well-qualified sub-contractors, experienced in their field, should be able to bid and institute the premise without having to rely too heavily on the constructor and architect during construction. The plans do not so much present construction techniques, but rather specify materials to be used, standard standards, and the scope of the work. Not every nut and bolt in the project needs to be drawn or specified, but wall sections should be included, as should unusual or critical institute elements. Trim work details may not be included, nor will many of the halt items that the owner may be selecting during construction. Such items are sometimes given a dollar allowance for bidding purposes. The plans may contain the specifications, or a detach spec hand-operated may be ready for larger projects. It is particularly important for the architect to know if the project will be managed by a preselected constructor or competitively bid by several normal contractors. This will impact the level of detail required of the plans and specifications and will work on the cost of the architectural services. The architect should also know how much the owner will rely on him to cope the bid process and analyze the bids. In any case, keep in mind that a more faultless and definite set of plans will more likely ensue in an on-time, on-budget project with fewer problems. "Can We Buy Your Plans?" Architects are occasionally asked if they will "sell" a set of plans that were once created for someone else church. These inquiries often come from someone who has seen a church that they believe would perfectly meet the needs of their congregation. They assume that the architect may be happy to naturally copy the plans and sell them for a small fee. Few (if any) architects will be curious in such a proposition. Architects do not sell a product; they supply a service based on the unique needs of their client. The architect must institute each church in accordance with the prevailing local codes, and soil and climate conditions of the project. Ready utility services will work on the mechanical design. Furthermore, material availability and local construction techniques also vary from place to place. An architect provides services to the church that go beyond the printed plans. Hiring an architect creates a long-term connection where the church will advantage from the institute professional's experience, creativity, and counsel. Furthermore, churches normally want to insure that the unique institute that they worked hard to institute with the help of their architect will not be duplicated in every detail by someone else church that is trying to save money by copying their gorgeous new creation. Courts have long held that architects hold all legal possession and possession of their designs. The architect's clients cannot give or sell plans to others without the architect's permission. Church Architectural Plans: What to Expect in Good Drawings

Church Marketing - Top 10 Items to contain in Your Church Welcome Packet!

Church Marketing - Top 10 Items to contain in Your Church Welcome Packet! So, you put a marketing plan together, even got a funds that didn't have "shoestring" connected with it, ran your campaign and guess what? It all came together. Population have started to flow into your church. And if you have read my past articles, you are saying that you are done and have done the warm hand off to others as these folks are on their way to becoming regular visitors and possibly even members. You job is done.....almost!

Let's face it, marketing's job is never done, but there is one thing that you should give some understanding to before the marketing team's job is thought about done. And that is a good welcome packet. Why have welcome packets? A welcome packet can be a marketing tool to contribute new visitors facts about your church, its' doctrine or belief's and some of the ministries or activities that go on there. It gives the guest something to chronicle when they have left the church and have some time to reflect. There are several objectives of insuring your guests are given a welcome packet when they visit: * Makes them feel welcome! You want to express your gratitude for allowing you to share and to also indicate that they are welcome to return * Understand your structure. One of the reasons visitors come is to learn something about your church. How it is organized. What sets you apart from the other churches in the area. Welcome packets can achieve that. * come to be familiar with your worship style (is it more singing then they would like?) and church beliefs. * chronicle activities calendar. Visitors want to know the upcoming agenda of events and ministry meeting times. What should go into the packet? While there is no absolute must have list, here are some ideas that will help to make a great impression and give guests a reason for returning: 1. Video or Dvd of your organization - It could be a video tour of the whole grounds or maybe just a 30 second clip that tells about each ministry in the church. possibly it is the vision for where you want to get to. 2. Refrigerator magnets Are you finding for an cheap marketing tool that has long term staying power? This may be best than you think! agreeing to a study at Purdue University, the median American visits their refrigerator 22 times a day. What else could you get that is going to get that much exposure? And strange as it sounds, even if Population don't like them, they tend to put them on their refrigerators. 3. Letter of Greeting from the Minister Perhaps a personalized message with an invitation to return the following week. Studies have found that a personal interaction with the priest can have a dramatically definite succeed on whether man returns or makes a church home. (So, don't forget about the priest production a personal phone call to succeed up the next week either!) 4. facts on the membership process of your church. Some visitors are ready to come to be members from day one. They may have just moved and want to keep their denominational affiliation intact. Others just feel good and know when they have found their new church home. It takes the awkwardness out of them having to ask. 5. Invitation for on-line survey. A quick contemplate of a visitor's church contact is good. But they may feel uneasy filling out one in church especially if they are the only guest that day. Online surveys contribute an easy way for you to resolve how things unquestionably are since they are truly anonymous. 6. Audio recording - Could be a modern Sunday Message or possibly something more of an invitation. Keep in mind that at the least we are a Cd world. Cassettes are dead. Podcasts or downloads are a great way to get them to your website. 7. Informational brochure - normal info about the church and its' ministries (if you can't do a video or want to cover your bases). It could also contain a brief history of the church, or the denomination if that is deemed important. 8. Calendar of events - Announcement flyers of social events such as fall festivals, Christmas programs, etc. 9. Coupons! A coupon to turn in at the church book store or on the website for a free token of appreciation or a discount. I love the coupon that entitles the user for a free cup of coffee with the minister! 10 Tote bags or bookmarks - Both of these have come to be very cheap and help to keep your church in the guests mind. Be sure to contain your website address on these! While these are not all-inclusive, they do make a convenient impression on any church guest. A good welcome packet can make the distinction if a visitor comes back for a second look. It can contribute the answers to some of the questions that arise after they have left the church. Of course, nothing beats a personal note or phone call from the minister How do they get distributed? Don't leave it up to chance whether a visitor gets a welcome packet or not. While my contact has gone from having to look for them myself or being told to pick one up on the way out, anything short of personally handing one to me loses some of the welcome packet's purpose... To make me feel welcome. Make sure your church doesn't make that mistake! Church Marketing - Top 10 Items to contain in Your Church Welcome Packet!

What is the Most productive Way to invite citizen to Church?

What is the Most productive Way to invite citizen to Church? Many pastors struggle with where to spend their minuscule advertising budgets. They wonder and experiment with distinct ways to ask habitancy to church.

When I began to think about writing an narrative on interesting habitancy to church, I stumbled across an perfect narrative by Kevin Hendricks on the Internet entitled "You're Invited: Bringing habitancy to Church." Hendricks interviewed Pastor Lee Powell of Cedar Creek Church in Perrysburg, Ohio. Powell started Cedar Creek in 1994 with 25 habitancy meeting in a Chinese restaurant. The church has grown to more than 6,000 with two campuses. Before entering the ministry, Powell worked for Sears as a national advertising executive. "When I worked at Sears, we used to buy tire ads every week," Powell said. "Most of the time habitancy pay no concentration to them. But when they need a tire--that's when they looked for the ad." In spite of Powell's marketing sophistication in buying ads, he says 80 percent of first-time church visitors come because someone personally invited them. Hendricks reports that other pastor of a large multi-site church (Shawn Wood of shore Church in South Carolina) said that his church has practically given up on mass mailings. It now relies primarily on habitancy interesting other people. These pastors and others have discovered what secular marketing guru Seth Godin has been saying for years. Mass marketing is dead. If you insert your message into the clutter of mass marketing channels, you will waste a lot of money, time and effort. Godin recommends investing in a purple cow, which he describes as something distinct that is going to get habitancy talking. If you concentrate word of mouth with word of mouse (Internet and e-mail), then you have the makings of a viral marketing campaign for your church. A purple cow is something that will get your church noticed. It is wholly different. You can't help but observation it. Because you have a good church doesn't mean your congregation will ask people. Make it easy for your members to ask their friends and acquaintances. Hendricks suggests printing invitation enterprise cards. Be sure and contain the basic church details such as meeting times, phone number and website address. Ok, you've decided to print an invitation enterprise card. Now, where do you get the purple cow? Will it fit on a enterprise card? On the other side of your church invitation enterprise card, bless habitancy with a complimentary subscription to the Kids Click Menu at http://www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Kids Talk About God features unique, Bible-based article in which Christian children express their faith in speaking, writing and drawing. Even though some parents may be spiritually lethargic, most of them want Christian values for their children. Through database website technology, the space above and below the Kids Click Menu can ask habitancy to your church. To see an example in action, visit the web page created for New Hope Christian Fellowship at http://www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/Nhcf. Children and families will enjoy seeing and hearing real kids riposte questions about God and the Bible in 60 streaming Kid Tv Interviews. There's an online art gallery of Bible pictures drawn by kids along with a printable storybook Bible where children can justify Bible stories and make their own books (Kids Color Me Bible). Kids and parents will have to strap on their seatbelts for high adventure when they watch the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. This series, originally distributed by a branch of Thomas Nelson Publishers, features an 11-year-old girl reporting on the activities of real missionaries in a global mission trip. To date, it remains the only series where children touch missionary work through the eyes of a peer. In fact, the whole Kids Click Menu is geared that way. Children learn from their peers. The idea here is to bless habitancy where they care the most - their children - and ask them to church at the same time. Once a website visitor enters the Kids Talk About God website through a special Url such as the one created for New Hope Christian Fellowship, the visitor receives an invitation to church with every click. Besides invitation enterprise cards, church members can use the "Send This Website to Friends" button at the top of every web page. This button allows church members to send the church-sponsored Kids Click Menu to all the friends in their e-mail address book with a personal message. When their friends click on the website link, they will receive the Kids Click Menu with an invitation to church that appears in the space above and below it. Is your leadership ready to equip members with an effective way to ask habitancy to your church? Are you ready to trade your brown cows for a purple one? What is the Most productive Way to invite citizen to Church?

Playing Drums in Church

Playing Drums in Church This is a branch I'm writing on out of necessity because I'm faced with the volume issue every week! Of course, it goes without saying that I've been told to "turn down" all of my life. We're talking over 40 years of playing drums and hearing just that when I lived in apartments, playing in small venues, churches, and small rooms in general. And it still burns me.

Why? Not because I'm unreasonable, or a show off, or something like that. It's because I do make every potential attempt to play quietly. But, as many of you know, it can and does influence your quality to keep a good groove. Also, most folks don't understand the instrument and what it takes to get a good sound from them. My church is a nearly 200 year-old building with high ceilings. Designed to carry the pastor's voice, so you can fantasize the power the drums can have should I become unglued. And, I'm positioned in the open, in front of the piano. At this point it's the only place for me without a major "rebuild" of the area we use. And by that I mean removing the platform that the choir's seats are on and building a corner cubby for the drums,etc. Many big churches have the budget for adequate sound absorption and drum booths, etc. But when you're a small church, with no money for such things, and this is the first praise band in the church's history, well, we deal with this as if it's the first time. Which it is. That being said, this is what I've done so far to help in volume control. First, I use Promark "cool rods". These are great for a whole of reasons also volume. They greatly reduce the shock going up your arms from playing with a stick. This is foremost to me because I've been playing rock for over 40 years and I've now got some arm damage. It's my own fault, I used rimshots quite a bit in the old days to play over the volume of loud guitarists. I started out with the "hot rods" but found I didn't need such a large version. It's a dinky hard to get adequate "ping" from my ride, but I like what I can do on the snare and hihat. Next, I have the approved pillow in my bass drum, augmented with a seat upholstery resting in front of the drum. Lastly, I only use my small cymbals with this setup. A 12″ and 16″ to be exact, for crashes. The hi-hat is generally played concluded so I have a grip on that. I've done my explore and the next piece coming will be a plexi-glass shield to place in front of the set. Then maybe I can slip into a groove without the choir director shouting "eggshells, eggshells". Playing Drums in Church

Picking the Church for Your Wedding

Picking the Church for Your Wedding It might sound strange, but for some couples, choosing the right church for their marriage ceremony can be a challenge. They might come from distinct religious backgrounds and need to come to a compromise. It could be that neither is a quarterly church-goer, but they would like to tie the knot in a house of worship. Or it could be that both the bride and groom grew up in their particular church, and neither can dream getting married in any place else. These are some tips on how to come together as a consolidate to pick the church for your wedding.

In some ways the easiest scenario is when neither the bride or groom has ties to any exact church, but wish to get married in one. It is less a matter of compromise, and more of practicality. A good place to begin is by attending services at the churches in your area which are your denomination. If neither the bride or groom have a particular religious affiliation, they can look into community or non-denominational churches. Once you have found a church which feels comfortable, keep in mind that you may need to join to be able to get married there. If you are a Catholic, begin this process early, as even after joining the parish, you will still have a needful number of marriage preparing courses and counseling ahead of you. Keep in mind that some churches are able to be more flexible about the ceremony time, so if you have your heart set on a four o'clock wedding on a Saturday afternoon, make sure that the church does not have a quarterly assistance every week at 5pm. More attractive is when the bride and groom belong to distinct denominations. Although the differences are at times minor, if you always imagined yourself being married in the Methodist church wearing a long white gown with a flowing veil and pearl necklace, it might be hard to say your "I dos" at the Presbyterian church over the street. In some instances, a great explication to this qoute can be to hold the ceremony at a more neutral church, such as your college chapel. Most campus ministers will be willing to work with the bride and groom to develop a ceremony which respects both of their religious backgrounds. If the two of you were college sweethearts, it is also well meaningful to hold your ceremony on campus. When a college chapel is not an option, the consolidate can take turns attending each other's churches to find the one where both can feel most comfortable. If no compromise is reached this way, you can always revert to tradition, which says that the wedding is held in the bride's church (sorry, grooms). The biggest struggles can come when the bride and groom both have attended their respective churches for a long time, especially if the ties go back generations. The bride might have always imagined getting married in the same church where her mom and dad did, perhaps even wearing the same pearl necklace. Problems can occur when the groom's family has also attended his church for generations, and maybe his mom and dad were married there. Even if the churches are the same denomination, the bride and groom will plainly have special feelings about their own church, pastor, congregation, and family ties. A heart-to-heart talk is by all means; of course in order in the middle of the bride and groom. They may also wish to talk the matter over with their ministers. One good selection could be to hold the wedding in the bride's church with the groom's clergyman co-officiating. They might even reconsider holding a special blessing at the groom's church at a later date for immediate family. In the end, preparing for marriage may entail compromises just like any good marriage does. When the bride and groom are torn in the middle of two churches, it can be a very emotional selection to make, but sooner or later they will have to come to an business agreement that both can live with. With the first major hurdle managed, the bride and groom will be ready to continue attractive forward construction a life together. Picking the Church for Your Wedding

9-11 - The Church That Stood and Stands

9-11 - The Church That Stood and Stands In the modern aftermath of September 11, 2001, my husband and I were in New York City for a meeting and wanted to pay our respects at "Ground Zero," where the World Trade Center's Twin Towers had stood.

We stood in a long snake-line of people also there to pay respect to the memories of innocent people that had so recently perished inside and near the towers. We remembered, also, their dead fellow citizens of a field in Shanksville, Pa, the Pentagon. In that New York City line were people in firm attire, sports outfits, and casual clothes. Every person was very quiet. Patience and respect stood in that slow line, eerily on display where ordinarily there would have been rush and irreverence in the bustle of a normal routine. We did not need reminding of the abnormality of the times. The black iron fence surrounding the church next to the towers bore discover through photos of victims, located by loved ones. The photos clung with other notices with written prayers and verses of hopeful love. Maybe the one being searched for had survived and was lost, injured, or confused. The church stood resolute, having amazingly been spared through the tragedy of that of that modern September 11 morning. Today, that church still stands. It remains a place of Christian worship and a merciful reminder of spiritual and corporeal protection. In spite of shattered glass, twisted metal, and other structural matter that flew out from the attacked towers, and the subsequent ash of the towers' collapse that day, the church stands. The church stands, a place spared, and helps honor the dead and gives a quantum of ease to survivors and to all Americans. The day of our visit to honor the innocent dead that day, the church was a haven for prayers and free food and drink for exhausted Ground Zero workers. Today, the seventh memorial year of that 9/11, Ground Zero, the site of that infamous strike that roared up the Hudson River and through the skies from Boston, shows signs of change. One future year, visitors may be able to pay their respects in a completed memorial setting that honors the innocent victims, along with heroic workers, visitors, firefighters, police, chaplains, and others who gave their lives there to help others before flames, collapsing structures, or dust overcame them. The site is a shared grave of massive proportions restlessly abiding in the psyche of every someone who grieves over that day. When the memorial opens, I hope visitors will consideration the church that stands nearby, embraced by that iron fence that bore loving notices for a long, long time. If ever that church suffers a direct attack, it is a great ease to know that the Church it represents, the body of believers led by Jesus Christ, will stand eternally. May all who honor the innocent lives that did not survive the four 9/11 attacks remember to pray for their families, friends, and co-workers who survived. May Christians be part of those who face the realities of what that day announced, that a fierce and considered principles of evil, through Jihadist terrorism, exists and is intent on winning. May we be humbly intent on the well-being of others as much as our own, like our founders who sacrificed for the tasteless good. May we be vigilant with a fierce hatred of oppression and threats to the freedoms of America and every other democratic nation. As a Christian, I desire to honor the lives of those who died on 9/11/01. Undeserved death and heroic acts, most unknown, joined in a living memorial. Their deaths are not in vain. The acts of terror under the ideology of those who took over four American airliners will not win over our spirit. Those who love, treasure, and seek to protect free time will vanquish their ideology and their efforts. Every day, along with 9/11, is a day to remain aware, thankful, and supportive of those who seek to guard our country. Every day, may God keep the New York City church in Manhattan that stood by the Towers and that, by His grace, stands today. God bless all who honor the memories of victims, rescuers, and comforters on this date, 9/11. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:14-17). 9-11 - The Church That Stood and Stands

Church Candles Play an leading Role for Christians

Church Candles Play an leading Role for Christians Have you ever noticed the leading role that candles play in church? There are many extra services that use candles and they play an leading part for the occasion. Candles at home can of course be nice, but in church they have a deeper meaning and leading symbolism. Also, most church candles comprise at least a inevitable percentage of beeswax.

As churches have used extra candles throughout history, there are inevitable specifications as to what kind of candles are supposed to be used. Depending on the religion or denomination, inevitable candles used must comprise a minimum percentage of beeswax. For example, at one time the Catholic church required that all of the candles in their church were made from one hundred percent beeswax. A combine of reasons for this is the symbolism behind the beeswax as well as the fact that beeswax candles produce no smoke which could ruin paintings and artwork that were present in the church. Paraffin candles, one of the other options at the time, emitted a black smoke that was known to damage items.Today, Roman Catholic churches still need that the candles present in church comprise at least 51% of beeswax. Beeswax candles are very symbolic. The pure beeswax represents the pure body of Jesus, while the wick is symbolic of his soul. The flame that burns from the two combined elements is a representation of Christ's divinity which dominates and absorbs both. Christmas season is a time where churches seem to combine candles even more. Many churches hold Christmas Eve or Christmas morning candle light services. While this service, every someone present in the congregation commonly gets their own small candle that is lit. When the lights are turned off in the building and you can see only the candles burning from the congregation it is quite a gorgeous sight. The advent wreath also contains candles and is used four weeks before Christmas. This is made up of a wreath, four taper candles (usually three purple and one pink), and a large white pillar candle in the center. One of the taper candles is lit each Sunday prior to Christmas. The fifth candle is lit on Christmas day. As each candle is lit, scriptures are commonly read and then every person gathered takes some time for prayer. Each candle has a separate meaning including: The Candle of Prophecy, The Candle of the Way, The Candle of Joy, The Candle of Peace, and the Christ Candle / Christmas Candle. If you are wondering where this coveted beeswax comes from, it is positively a bi-product of laborer bees. Only laborer bees have a "wax gland" that secretes wax from the bee in the form of flakes, which is then rubbed off of the bee by its legs and deposited on the honeycomb. Scientists evaluation that bees need to consume about six to eight pounds of honey in order produce only one pound of beeswax. This is why beeswax can be very expensive. One of the most well known manufacturers of separate church candles and beeswax candles is Emkay Candle Company. This enterprise is located in the United States and has made a good name for itself among churches. Their products comprise anything from private congregation candles with drip protectors to altar candles made of beeswax. There are also other church candle associates that can be considered as well if you are looking for a manufacturer. Next time you are at a church service and there are candles being used, remember the importance and symbolism of them and think of all of the hard work that was put into production them by the laborer bees. Church Candles Play an leading Role for Christians

Why We Need a branch of Church and State

In past days they had a agency of power, which was the Church and the Rulers. In the United States we have the three branches of government to balance the power. We have a disjunction of Church and State and religious freedom to worship the god or gods of your selecting or none at all.

This prevents government from being beholden to one line of religious mental over an additional one and thus no one religion can cut the power of men in government to laid out the population and not a inescapable religion. If this were not the case and the religion gained more power over the population then the church or religion could label any singular attempt of government as good and/or evil. In doing so then the church would rule the land and give the human rights to their god rather than giving it back to the people. What happens when government becomes a religion? Well a strong sense of nationalism is a good thing, but when it goes over board such as in Nazi Germany you can see the inherent repercussions. Thus there are times when government or a church or a religion could be carefully good or evil. Fore good maybe evil and evil maybe good in an additional one period whether you fast forward or rewind the life experiences that human history breaks into past, gift and time to come periods. consider this thought.

What Makes a Good Church Pastor?

I know most people, would look at a good church pastor as person who is kind, courteous, kind and understanding. I couldn't agree more, but I would also like to add something else. A good church pastor is person who understands Christianity and tries to live a life like Jesus of Nazareth.

It doesn't absolutely matter, whether or not Jesus was a real person or God, the Bible portrays him as a loving and kind person. This is the example that most church leaders should follow. If this is what Christianity represents, then any good church pastor, should be a representative of these beliefs. According to the standards of the Bible, that narrate Jesus. Doesn't this make sense, if Jesus was a loving and kind leader, shouldn't a church pastor be loving and kind also? If Jesus never went nearby request habitancy for money, shouldn't the job of a good church leader, be one that doesn't ask others for money, but maybe one who might think about taking a second job or maybe even a third job, to help the church out, and maybe pay his own way. A good pastor, should also make time for whatever in his congregation. These habitancy are often looked up to, as the ones with all the answers, and instead of telling their followers, that they absolutely don't have all of the answers, they have to portray themselves as all-knowing, unmistakably, superhuman beings. That's not what makes a good church pastor. If you don't know the answer, interpret your situation to your followers. You're not Jesus and you're not God and you don't have all the answers. Let them know. To sum all up, a good church pastor, shouldn't keep request everybody for money and should start to lead financially to his own organization. They should also, show compassion to others and help the less fortunate. In other words quit asking, and start doing. It seems like the more productive pastors, put less demands on their followers and do more themselves for others.

The Church As Body of Christ - A Spiritual Reality

Here is another truth, information or revelation of the Bible that does not readily appear real, true or feasible to the physical or natural men, it is that the Church, body of believers and followers of Christ and His life, teachings or ways, constitute His mystical or spiritual body, just as our various fleshy component parts constitute (make up) body (house) for our spirits and souls. The Bible, God's word or revelation of His will and truths, variously alludes to or speaks about it (see 1Cor.12:12-28; 10:17; Rom.12:4-8; Eph.1:22-23; 4:12; 4:16; 3:6; etc.).

The Church (Body of Christ's Believers) being Christ's body or body for Him may not be physically or humanly comprehended or appreciated, hence it is a spiritual reality. It is a thing that is only spiritually comprehended or appreciated and that by only the "spiritual men", those that are spiritually-minded (l Cor.2:14). The truth however, is that The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church as Christ's body is the physical means of His expressing His will, feelings, mind, power, etc. to and. in the world (Matt.28:19-20; In.20:21; Luke 10:16). And no single individual believer, group or congregation of believers of Christ can constitute or should assume to be the body of Christ alone or unilaterally. It is a multilateral, joint or collective thing or responsibility. This is why the Lord prayed for and encouraged His believers or disciples on oneness (see Jn.17:11, 21). It is in this status of oneness of the Church (which also is a spiritual thing) that she constitutes a body for the Lord. And it is in such a condition or circumstance that Re will fully express or manifest Himself, His life and power and wisdom to the world and the kingdom of darkness (Matt. 16:18; Eph.3:10-12).

Tallit

It is unfortunate that the Church has not come to believe, appreciate and see herself as The Body of Christ which she is, and act that way. Meanwhile, some individuals, groups or congregations may be seeing themselves and act as bodies of Christ unilaterally, without reference to or recognition of any or some others. The truth remains that only one part or some parts of a body cannot make a whole body. It takes all the components.

Like we have said, the Church being the body of Christ is a spiritual thing. And the fact of oneness we said that makes or constitutes it has nothing to do with merger of Churches into one. It has to do with understanding and appreciation of the issue and acting and relating that way. It is something that should be borne in the mind of every believer or congregation and allowed to influence them. There should be that conscious spiritual understanding and appreciation by individual believers and congregations that they are not alone or the only body of Christ but just parts or components that need others to make up the whole (I Cor.12:14-25).

We must not wait until we are in the same place or under the same name or believe the same things, have the same doctrines and outlooks before we can recognize the existence of some other places as part of the whole - Body Of Christ.

This point, or teaching as a whole does not suggest or approve any form of compromise with proven erroneous, false, substandard and apostate places, people, beliefs and practices which we must distance ourselves from (2 Cor.6:14-17; Eph.5:11-12). We are only teaching the truth or whole counsel of God we have received the command to teach (Matt.28:20; Acts 20:27). Suffice it to say that this lack of appreciation or recognition of the Church by believers and Churches as one indivisible Body of Christ and living and acting with/as same has given the world and the kingdom of darkness upper hand against her (the Church) and continues to limit her influence and victory in the world. The kingdom of darkness continues to unite into one body and wax strong in evil. Let those of us who hear the truth begin with and from themselves to make a difference.

The Church As Body of Christ - A Spiritual Reality

Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int"l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria.

He is the editor of FOUNDATION SATELLITE magazine also published by the ministry. He pastors a Church in Bauchi and is married with two children.

You can reach him at: firebrandhq@yahoo.com or: 234 80 8181 829.

Website: http://www.palmgates.com or http://www.firebrandhq.com

Mardi Gras and the Catholic Church

Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras are most likely is never thought of as being rooted in any church let alone the Catholic Church. It has become a very secular celebration that is sometimes on the edge of good judgment. Most of all it's become one large party. But, how did we get to this point. The original roots of Mardi Gras started as the last day before Ash Wednesday. It was the last day to be rowdy before the solemn season of Lent begins. Keeping with tradition, at the stroke of Midnight, the party ends and Lent begins.

In the early days of New Orleans Mardi Gras was also celebrated with masked balls and parties up though the 1700s. The Spanish Government came in during their control of the city and banned these celebration types. However, once the United States acquired the territory, the parties started right back up, with the 1827 being the first year the Mardi Gras celebration was back in full swing.

Tallit

The colors of Mardi gras are usually though of to be green, purple and gold. But most do not know that those colors are also rooted in the Catholic Church. The colors were applied in 1840. The colors they choose were picked because green was faith, purple was for justice and gold conveyed power.
The name fat Tuesday was chosen by the French and as part of the tradition of slaughtering a calf on the last day of Carnival. The day is also known as Shrove Tuesday, derived from to hear confessions. An additional name for Fat Tuesday and still celebrated especially among the Germans and Pennsylvania Dutch is Fetter Dienstag and it's the making of pancakes and donuts to use up the dairy products before the fasting of lent begins.

So although Mardi Gras was often thought to be a pagan type holiday it really is deeply rooted in Catholicism.

Mardi Gras and the Catholic Church

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