Park Gate Baptist

Taking care of your spirit, mind and body is important for you to achieve the best life possible. When you take care of each aspect in your life, you can be sure to achieve the best God has in store for you. It may take some time before you’re actually be able to see your life change, but it’s very easy once you’ve got a basic understanding on what you need to do.

•Spirit

When it comes down to guiding your spirit, there’s no better way to guide you than to pray to God throughout the day. God is the only one who can help you during those times you really want to nourish your spirit. So, it’s important for you to spend a good amount of time praying to God throughout the day.

•Mind

The best way to nourish your mind is to read the Bible throughout the day. Your thoughts wherever you may go is what puts you in the right direction, so reading the Bible could lead you to doing what is just and right throughout your day. God’s word is filled with inspirational messages that you can bring with yourself wherever you go, so reading a few pages everyday can really help nourish your mind.

•Body

Your body is just as important. In fact, your body is what God considers as His Temple. So, you want to be sure that you’re going to take care of it. Stuard your body so you can do Gods work.

As a side note in order to continue to eat healthy you could something like Diet To Go. The food they deliver are extremely healthy. Plus you can also save money on their food using a Diet To Go coupon.

Your Spirit, Mind and Body are all God’s gift to you, so you want them to be filled with love and health throughout your life. Take care of each part using the different aspects above, and you are sure to see your life transform God’s way.

What is Christmas really about? Is it not about family and friends? Is it not about spending time with the people you care about and showing them that you love them? Few years now, it seems as if it’s becoming more and more about gifts. If you haven’t noticed, over the past couple of years, shopping centers have been putting out Christmas decorations earlier and earlier. It used to be that you didn’t see any Christmas themes until December but now days, it’s not uncommon to see them go up after Halloween. With office secret Santa parties where people talk about random things including the words, “I hate my job” and shoppers wishing they had some passive income to pay for their long list of gifts to buy, perhaps this holiday is headed in the wrong direction.

So who are the people pushing this idea that it’s more about buying gifts? The corporations of course. For them, it’s all about getting people in the buying mindset. This is why you will hear Christmas songs play throughout the mall. Companies have spent millions of dollars over decades to produce this almost hypnotic effect on people and boy does it work. The 4 weeks leading up to Christmas is the biggest shopping time of the year. In fact, this is where most retailers make most of their money.

There’s nothing wrong with buying gifts of course but just remember that spending time and appreciating those around you is way more important than who gets who want and how much they spent. And now for a Christmas song.

If you know a couple who recently got engaged, buying them a Christian inspired gift can be a great way to encourage them to grow in their faith and develop a marriage that puts God first. There are a lot of different engagement gift ideas that you can choose from, but if you are specifically looking at ones that are related to the couple’s faith, here are some ideas to help inspire a great gift.

There are lots of Christian books that are geared specifically to newlyweds. It is a huge change in a person’s life when they get married and sometimes it may not be exactly what the couple thought it was going to be. Giving a Christian book that helps the couple see marriage from a Biblical standpoint can be a great engagement gift. They can read the book before they even get married to help prepare them for the obstacles or problems that may arise after they get married.

If you want something a little more lighthearted than a book on marriage you could always buy them a nice plaque or sign with a Bible verse on it so they can hang in their home when they get married. There are all kinds of signs, framed pictures, and plaques that you can buy that have Bible verses on it related to the home or marriage. There are even places where you can customize the sign so that you can get the couple’s last name engraved on it as well.

Another nice gift idea is a framed marriage prayer that the couple can hang up in their room or anywhere else in their home. There are a few different marriage prayers you can choose from or if you are creative you can write your own prayer for the couple to make the gift even more special.

Hopefully these gift ideas for Christian couples helps you find that perfect engagement gift to show the couple just how much you care about them.

Our generation of iPod-toting, mp3-downloading, and YouTube-sharing tech-savvy millenials have unfettered access to so many different styles and genres of music. Because it is very easy nowadays to get ahold of the music you like, it seems like a substantial percentage of music fans are constantly on the lookout for the next big trend, hence the demand for more new music and artists.

Music-conscious individuals of all ages are also part of the church community, and because people are used to slickly-produced professional performances during the week, the demand for high-quality music within the church rivalling performances outside is very high. Attenders have come to expect the same standard and quality from the church during services, or they just tune out.

Your church’s music team has the very important responsibility of finding music that is appropriate for the theme of the services. Some congregations are fortunate to have the services of music professionals and performers who are able to share their expertise, but many others do not. Interestingly, however, it is not really the style of music that is usually appreciated more by churchgoers, but the excellence and polished quality of the performances.

A well-rehearsed and put-together musical rendition lets people know that the church takes time to prepare every aspect of its weekly offerings. A hastily-prepared and poorly-rendered performance, on the other hand, gives them the sense that dedication and preparation is not really important to the leaders. Churches that take time to really develop a concept, work around a central theme or message, and then put together an entire music service on this foundation tend to attract churchgoers with a high regard for music quality and professionalism, and this could very well pave the way for your music team to add more qualified members to the group.

Simple investments and routines such as music workshops, guest lecturers, instrument lessons like drums, piano, or guitar lessons online can help keep your musicians updated and at par with the contemporary trends and standards. Because music in the church has an importance and implication that goes well beyond just performing, excellence and constant learning are a definite must.

Music has a very important role in the Christian church. So important, in fact, that one of the books of the Bible, the Psalms, is a collection of different songs written by several psalmists. The three major streams of Christianity – Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox – all utilize music in their religious services as part of the worship or liturgy.

Church music sets the mood or tone of the service. A typical Sunday service would have worshipful music with messages or words that fit the theme or the sermon. The same goes for other events officiated by the church, such as weddings, christenings, funerals, or baptism. Whatever the occasion is, music is intrinsic to the background.

Music also prepares the hearts and minds of the worshippers and focuses their emotions and thinking on the spiritual truths to be discussed. Different churches and denominations, for this reason, employ a wide variety of musical styles in their services, depending on the type of audiences they have. Some traditional churches use classical music dating back centuries ago, while other more progressive congregations have opted to use modern-day rock and pop music with religious themes.

Whatever musical style or genre your place of worship decides to use, it is important to find a group of musicians that have a heart for the church, know the purpose of church music, and fit in with the general thrust of the ministry. Excellence and professionalism are a must in church musicians, but they must know that the true purpose of their performances is to create an atmosphere that prepares the people spiritually.

Like any other performers, the church’s music team should also find time to practice together and hone their craft. Learning does not stop for the musician whose goal is quality. Resources such as workshops, seminars, group classes or the best online guitar lessons can be utilized so the music team will continue to grow and improve their skills.

Many people believe that Christians should not be in business because business is somehow inherently evil.  I don’t think it says this in the Bible anywhere.  In fact, all Jesus said about it was to be honest and not take advantage of others. 

Jesus himself was a carpenter which is a business man.  In those days everyone was really their own boss as people were more like craftmen than today where everyone works on big projects so they work for a big compay.  I doubt there were any apartment complexes or shopping centers being built 2000 ears ago.

So why would we think that starting a Christian Online Business would be a bad thing to do?  It really is not.  In fact there are all kinds of businesses being run by Christians which are lucrative and still fall within the Christian tenets of honesty and caring for others.  Many of these businesses tithe 10% along with trying to minister to their customers.

I think part of the problem with business comes from a misreading of one passage in the Bible.  I am sure you have heard many times that the Bible says “money is the root of all evil.”  This is not really what this passage says.  It actually says, “The Love of money is the root of all evil.”  Money is not the problem.  Money is an inanimate object which can be used for good or evil but is not inherently bad.  The actions that people take to get money are what cause the problem.

If you are a Christian and you want to start a business then I see nothing wrong with that.  In fact, I think this can be a good use of your time.  Not only will you be able to provide for your family but you also can use it to spread the Good Word to your customers.

The men Jesus chose were: Simon, a Galilean fisherman, whom Jesus had nicknamed Peter, from the Greek petros meaning rock. In all lists of the apostles Peter is named first. He was the chief apostle, the man who, in spite of his weakness and failure at the beginning, was later (as Jesus foresaw) to become the foundation rock of the Christian Church.

James, the son of Zebedee, sometimes called James the Greater, to distinguish him from the other James mentioned below.

John, the brother of James, was according to tradition the author of the Gospel of St. John and the three Epistles of St. John (see the article john, saint). These two brothers, John and James (both fisherman) Jesus nicknamed Boanerges (“Sons of Thunder”), probably as a joke because of their fiery tempers.

Andrew, a fisherman of Bethsaida, in Galilee, brother of Peter. He was the one who first introduced Peter to Jesus and he has therefore been regarded as the first missionary. There is more about him in the article andrew, saint.

Philip was another fisherman who came, from Bethsaida.

Bartholomew, which means “son of Tolmai”. This seems to be another name for Nathanael, whom Philip introduced to Jesus.

Matthew, or Levi, a wealthy tax official who gave up a profitable job in the customs house to become a follower of Jesus. There is an article on him. (These Jewish tax collectors were known as “publicans”, from the Latin publicanus, a public official. They were regarded as the worst kind of traitors because they collected taxes for the Roman authorities.)

Thomas, also called Didymus, the Greek equivalent of Thomas, which means a “twin”. He has been called “Doubting Thomas” because he refused to believe in Jesus’ resurrection till he had seen the mark of the nail in His hand, and had thrust his hand into Jesus’ side. After that his faith was quite unshakable.

James, the son of Alphaeus, also known as James the Less, or the smaller, to distinguish him from James the brother of John. Nothing is known about James the son of Alphaeus, except that he was probably a short man.

Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus, of whom nothing is known. Some people think that he may be the man whom St. Luke refers to as Judas, or Jude, the brother of James, but there is a great deal of confusion about this apostle and his name appears differently in the three lists given by Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Simon the Canaanite (or rather Cananaean). The name does not mean a man of Canaan, but a member of the revolutionary nationalist party known in Greek as the Zealots, and in one place the name of this apostle is given as “Simon called Zelotes”.

Judas Iscariot, the traitor. Judas was probably a man of good family and was the only Judaean among this group of Galilean peasants.

These were the original 12 apostles, appointed and sent out to preach by Jesus; but the title of apostle was also given later to Paul and Barnabas when, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were sent on a special mission to the Gentiles; that is, those people who were not of the Jewish race.

So why do people have their baby christened? It would appear that some do it, so they get a chance to buy cute Christening Invitations, Ireland and other countries have gone mad producing.  Obviously I am joking, well mostly.

The idea behind a Christening is to formally introduce the child to Christ. In religions such as Catholicism, it is the done thing to have your baby baptized fairly soon after they are born. Usually most parents will arrange the ceremony before the baby is a year old.   There are obviously those who convert later in life and it is not unknown for adults to arrange their own Baptism.

Does the christening service have any legal implications?

It depends on the country you live in but not usually. In most countries the birth of the baby is registered and it is at this point that their name becomes legally recognized.  While some schools require proof of baptism before they will take an application for a place, many don’t.  There are some priests who prefer not to marry those Catholics who cannot produce baptism papers but then there are others who will proceed with the ceremony.  

When should you send out the christening invitations?

If you have ever been to a baptism it is a lovely event and one that you should consider sharing with your family and friends. Make sure you give them plenty of time to save the time and date by sending out christening invitations.  Ireland and other countries usually have plenty of stores that can provide these fairly cheaply. You certainly don’t have to spend as much money as you would if you were buying wedding invitations for example.

Christmas gifts for children are sometimes hard to select, especially if the children in question are not your own. Many parents are unhappy when their children receive noisy toys that do not add value to their lives, and they would much rather that the gift that you give their children would be a book with a wholesome message. But if you want to please the child, then sometimes you just have to include a toy in with any book, or the gift will not be well received. In such a situation, the best solution might be a book/toy combo, in order to please everyone.

Take the children’s book In Case There’s a Fox. 

A delightful read for both the parent and the child, this children’s classic will last for years. But in order to entice the child to accept the gift, it will not be a bad idea to include a realistic stuffed animal fox in with the book, as a kind of book/toy combo Christmas gift.

The stuffed animal may become a favorite, worn with care over the years, or just as readily, it can be discarded without much use. But the book In Case There’s a Fox will continue to give pleasure years into the future and may even become a favorite of the following generation.

The important thing to remember when choosing a Christmas gift for children is to keep in mind both the child and the parent.

The kids are going back to school, and as the days grow colder, and the nights get longer, many moms and dads are turning their thoughts towards Christmas.

In the hustle and bustle of putting up decorations, preparing food, buying the hot new toys for this Christmas, and wrapping gifts, it can be easy to forget the true meaning of this celebration.

And if the adults in the family are focussing on the materialistic instead of the spiritual, how can we expect children to learn about the values that underpin this time of year?

While we still have plenty of time to make our preparations, draw up a teaching schedule for the month of December.

Write down all the values, lessons and principles you would like your child to learn. Once you have it clear in your own mind, what you would like your child to learn about, you are ready to begin teaching. Use the story of Jesus’ birth to meet your goals. For example you can talk about how diligent Joseph was in his care of Mary, and how hard working the beast was that carried her to Bethlehem. For older children you can discuss the trust that Mary had to put in God that everything would be OK.

By taking time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas you can bring the story to life and help your child move away from the material trappings of this time of year, and focus on the important things.