(Church buildings) Egyptian Art and its Spiritual and Religious Influences
No commentsBy Rodney Dagan
The art of Egypt is heavily influenced by spiritual and religious ideas and culture that extends back thousands of years. Dynastic Egypt was one of the first civilizations in the world as defined by the modern concept of civilization. Ancient Egypt was a land of intense and all-pervasive magic.
Egyptians were obsessed with the Afterlife more than they were with this life, even though this obsession belied a deep sensuality. The spiritual and religious ideas of the Egyptians all center around the idea that this life is to be lived in such a way that one makes oneself worthy to be taken by the gods into the next world, the world or land of “millions of years” where there is no aging and people live with the gods for such a long, long time that for all intents and purposes they become immortal.
Many researchers into the spiritual and religious ideas that influence Egyptian art have thus pointed out that ancient Egyptian religion bore a strong similarity to Christianity at least in this way. Of course, the Christian Gospels relate that Jesus and his family somehow had some ties to Egypt, although by that point in history Egypt had long since become an enemy land considered hostile, dangerous, and anti-Jewish. And one of the most important pioneers of the Jewish nations, Moses, came out of Egypt as well. Some researchers believe that Moses was historically the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten.
Even in that renegade Pharaohs name is the world “akh”, which to Egyptian spiritual and religious thinking is one of the five constituent parts of the personality that make up the totality of a being. The Akh in Egyptian religious thinking is the re-united Ba and Ka (two other constituents of a person’s being) that have been brought back together again in the afterlife in the new land of “millions of years”. The five constituent parts of the personality had a strong influence on Egyptian art.
The Akh has been depicted as a hand with the thumb and the forefinger brought close to each other or brought together to depict the complete circle of earthly birth, earthly death, and rebirth in the new land of the Afterlife. Hieroglyphically, the Akh was depicted as an Ibis bird looking to the right, the East, the direction of rebirth, where the Sun arose anew each day. Indeed, the ibis in ancient Egypt was called “the crested akh-bird”.
Originally, Egyptian spiritual and religious ideas held that only the royalty (including the priesthood) could get to the Afterlife; everyone else on earth was just here to serve them and then would perish into blackness when their lifetime was through.
Thus the Pharaohs and other priestly and royal personages would have tomb painters create magnificent murals depicting their life accomplishments and their devotion to the gods (who in ancient Egypt were not truly “gods” as we think of such beings today, but were rather superior beings called NTR, or “neter”, which translates into “guardians” but who also created mankind; “neter” is probably the root of our modern English word “nature”).
Royal tomb painters were thus extremely important people, although they were not always taken into the Afterlife and were sometimes killed to prevent them from working for another. Later on, however, Egypt grew a middle class which also sought the Afterlife, and religious beliefs were modified to accommodate them.
Animals are extremely important to Egyptian art. The well-known scarab beetle, which rolls up balls of its own dung and lays eggs within them, is the symbol of rebirth and the sixth sense.
And a divine creature that is half crocodile and half hippopotamus is depicted as waiting to devour a soul whose heart, when weighed by the goddess Ma’at, is heavier than a feather; these people do not pass over into the Afterlife. Artistically rendered feathers and symbols of flight such as birds like the ibis are also extremely important to Egyptian spiritual and religious ideas.
Rodney Dagan invites you to explore the culture and arts of ancient Egypt, you can also view arts and crafts from native and aboriginal peoples from around the world at Native Art World.
(Catholic church) Aplica una Historia de La Biblia a tu propia Vida
No commentsBy mia pacheco
Muchas veces no sabemos como interpretar lo que esta escrito en la biblia y adems nos parece aburrido, pero lo que hay que hacer es pensar de una forma diferente y tratar de aprender de cada una de las historias que vemos en la Biblia.
Es as como a veces la Biblia puede servir de base para aquellos que buscan algunas lecciones tiles. Aqu, he listado algunas de las lecciones que he recibido de la historia del Arca de Noe en un tono humorstico y amistoso.
1) Hagas lo que hagas, presta atencin no perderte el barco.
2) Recuerda que no estas solo por que todos estn en tu mismo barco.
3) Debes mirar hacia el futuro y planearlo. Recuerda que cuando Noe empez a construir el arca, no haba empezado a llover.
4) Mantente saludable porque hasta que hallas llegado a la edad de oro de 60 aos, algunos te pedirn que hagas algo realmente grande e importante.
5) Ignora a aquellos que te critiquen y en vez mantn tus ojos en el trabajo que debes hacer.
6) Construye tu futuro en una tierra alta.
7) Si quieres estar seguro, siempre viaja en pareja.
A pesar de que pienses que la velocidad es una gran ventaja, no es necesario que sea as, ya que en el arca de Noe los leopardos estaban en el mismo barco que los caracoles.
9) Si te sientes estresado, flota un poco.
10) Fjate que mientras el arca era construida por un amateur, el Titanic fue construido por profesionales. Cual se hundi?
11) Anda a la deriva, pero mantente a flote.
12) Consguete una pareja que te haga feliz. (No vaya a ser que te quedes sin una)
13) No desesperes, llegar a tierra es importante, pero ms importante es la trayectoria.
14) Siempre escucha aquellos que nadie tiene en cuenta, puede que vean las cosas de otra perspectiva que en el futuro podr ayudarte.
15) Ayuda a tu prjimo como te gustara que te ayudara a ti.
16) Cuida a los animales y a la naturaleza, son parte esencial de nuestro mundo.
17) Si te sientes solo, abandonado y perdido, recuerda que maana habr un arco iris que te har sonrer.
18) Ten Fe y Esperanza, se optimista.
19) Recuerda que despus de la tormenta, siempre llega la calma.
20) Hay que caerse para volverse a parar.
21) Experiencia es, cuando uno no recibe lo que busca.
22) T vives, y aprendes de la vida
23) T res y aprendes de la vida
24) T lloras y Aprendes de la vida
25) No tomes a nada ni a nadie por sentado, puede que hoy sea l, y maana t.
En pocas palabras, te recomiendo que vivas una buena y feliz vida haciendo lo que te guste, mientras no hieras a los dems y siempre mirando a tus intereses en el futuro. Y otra cosa muy importante, no todo lo que brilla es oro!
Diego Gonzales analiza historias de la biblia y las aplica a la vida real, adems considera que jugar en Tower Torneos o a los Dados no es prohibido por la Biblia.
(Church of christ) The Worlds Most Famous Fish Out Of Water
No commentsBy Aydan Corkern
When you think of fish, you always associate them with the water that they live in. There are freshwater and saltwater fish all over the world. There is only one fish that is known all over the world that does not live in water and that is the little fish symbol that is used to represent the Christians that believe that Jesus Christ was and still is the son of the almighty God. It is an interesting story about how this fish symbol came to be recognized all around the globe.
During the time of Jesus Christ, over two thousand years ago, Jesus was said to have performed at least two miracles concerning fish. One miracle was when he was said to have fed thousands on five loaves of bread and two fish. It might seem like an incredible story, but for those who lived during that time it was not really a surprise to see Jesus perform such a miracle as they had seen him perform many before and after.
The second miracle involving a fish was when Jesus and his disciples had to pay some taxes and Jesus supposedly sent Peter to the water where he cast his hook into the sea, caught a fish, and in the mouth of the fish was a con that was used to pay their tribute in the town of Capernaum. It would be nice if we all could come up with our taxes this way.
After the death of Christ, it was very difficult in many instances to be known as a Christian and this is where the symbol of the fish came into play. Christians wanted to be able to identify each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, but at certain times and in certain places it could mean death to be identified as one. This is when a secret symbol was used to know someone was a fellow Christian without ever saying a word.
When one Christian would meet someone, he would draw a half arc in the sand with his foot and if the person he was speaking to made a connecting half arc, it would make the symbol of a fish. This is how they could know that it was safe to speak of Christian things without risking being identified.
Today Christians in most countries can openly display their fish symbol in many ways. You might see fish jewelry, vehicle bumper stickers, or many other items. Christians have other symbols they use such as the cross, but the fish is still recognized and revered as an outward showing that they believe in Christ.
Aydan Corkern is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like
Water Damage Restoration and New York Water Damage Restoration.
African Art and its Spiritual and Religious Influence
By Rodney Dagan
Africa, as the second largest continent, is a home to more than 50 countries and thousands of different ethnic and religious groups, which formed and shaped the countless artistic traditions. The kind of arts produced from region to region depends on the different religions.
Native African religions greatly influenced the art objects rather than the architectures. They do not require the use of religious buildings for prayer but they professed their faith more through religious objects such as statues, mask, or other objects especially during rituals and ceremonies. Rituals were meant to exercise control over the insecurity of life by binding together positive forces from ancestors, gods, or other spirits and by restricting negative forces.
Most of them, native Africans, used art objects like wooden or clay figurines to contact ancestor spirits who, as they believed, act as intermediaries between human community and God, the Creator. The governing bodies in their group used these art objects, as well, to maintain social order and good relationship with their ancestors’ spirits. Among the Kota of Gabon, carved wooden figurines serves as guardians who protect and oversee the remains of dead ancestors and those significant individuals who made intercession for them to the All-Mighty Creator.
Sculptured traditional African arts from the Western part became internationally known. These wood carvings, clay sculpture, bronze casting, jewelry, and weaving were also used in religious practices.
Sculpture was not only applied by Africans on wood or other materials. It was also applied on their skin. This art was called scarification and was used for divination practices. This was made by cutting the skin and put irritants on it to produce scar or markings. This form of art still continues not on skin anymore but on their carved statues and images wherein they put markings on the statues’ body parts to show scarification.
Another significant traditional art was the furniture like the stool and headrest. Stools were the especially designed carved wooden seat with spiritual functions. The Lubas of central Africa made caryatid stools wherein a figure, male or female, is carved out of the wooden stools to represent the owner’s important ancestor.
The headrest, on the other hand, was the carved wooden pillow of the Africans. Among the Shona (people with special spiritual powers) of the southern Africa, their carved headrests were designed to communicate with the ancestors through their dreams.
Some Africans, especially the Mijikenda of Kenya honor their dead by carving wooden posts called vigangu. Groups in Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Madagascar followed this practice by creating similar post-shaped funerary sculptures.
In the eastern and western part of Africa, architecture arts were built with religious implications such as the Mosque, the Islam’s house of prayer. The king of Ethiopia, when they adopted Christianity as their religion, carved 11 churches out of solid volcanic rocks.
Some were carved below ground level with deep trenches around, some were attached to surroundings. These churches were connected by a network of tunnels and narrow passageways.
Africa has rich varieties of arts. It includes not only the architectural structures, the carved figurines and the sculptured objects but also the art in the field of painting, rhythm, dancing, and literary. The spiritual implications of every artistic piece make the African arts unique around the world.
Rodney Dagan invites you to explore the culture and arts of Africa, you can also find more about arts, crafts and culture from native and aboriginal peoples from around the world at Native Art World
(Church buildings) Nonprofit Strategic Planning
No commentsBy Melanie Guin MNM
Most of us know that planning is a way of looking forward and deciding what we will do in the future. We plan our personal lives in detail from our youth- what we will be when we grow up, what to study in college, who and when to marry, how many children we desire, and how wed like to spend the golden years. Thats why its so bewildering that many organizations are not aware of the importance of planning their future. Beyond initial incorporation and attainment of 501(c)(3) status, generally grassroots nonprofit possess a live for the moment outlook. Unfortunately, this is a primary reason why many nonprofits do not experience success after start-up. As a nonprofit leader, if youre a fan of getting things done youre going to have to plan. However, priorities do not exist in a vacuum- together with your Board youll have to evaluate the context, cost, time requirements, and resources available each step of the way. To be successful in mission fulfillment, your organization will have to engage in strategic planning.
Strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it. It is a process that produces fundamental decisions that shape and guide the management of an organization. This process focuses on both the internal and external environments in which the organization functions. The process requires information gathering, identification of the mandates governing the organization, clarification of the mission that drives the organization, consultation with key stakeholders of the organization, identification of the issues facing the organization in the future, the development of strategic alternatives to address those issues, a plan for implementation, and evaluation of the implementation. Development of a clear vision of the future will then serve to motivate employees and to keep the organization moving toward achieving the goals identified in the strategic planning process. Additionally, strategic planning can function as a team building strategy facilitating communication and participation within the organization.
Ideally, the process of strategic planning leads to the development of strategic management. In strategic management, mechanisms are in place which facilitate the ongoing monitoring of the environment to identify potential issues that the organization may face in the future. The implementation, evaluation, and reassessment of the strategic plan are part of daily management activities increasing the flexibility of the organization to respond to changes in its environment.
For both strategic planning and management to be effective, a strong commitment from the organization’s leadership is necessary. Each organization needs a process sponsor to endorse and legitimize the strategic planning process, and a process champion who takes on the responsibility of making the process work. With the support of management, strategic planning and management provide an organization flexibility to respond to a changing environment and to proactively plan its future. Strategic management, in essence, allows the road to success to be paved with good intentions. It beats the well known alternative.
For more information on Nonprofit Strategic Planning, or for assistance in developing your strategic plan, please contact CharityNet USA at 877-857-9002 or WWW.CHARITYNETUSA.COM.
ChurchNet USAs mission is to serve as a one-stop resource center for churches and religious organizations nationwide. As the nations number one provider of nonprofit services, ChurchNet USA offers assistance in all aspects of establishing, operating, and sustaining a church or faith-based ministry. In addition to the diverse products ChurchNet USA makes available, the organization also provides charities and churches with free tools and links to free resources for religious organizations to help engage the community and share the faith.
For more information on ChurchNet USA please visit www.churchnetusa.com or call 877-857-9002.
(Baptist church) Gel Candles: Use Them To Spice Up the Ambience
No commentsBy s pappalau s pappalau
Gel Candles: Use Them To Spice Up the Ambience
If you are a creative person always looking for something interesting and new even when you are at home, candle making is surly the best choice for you. However, it is an old hobby, and the introduction of the gel candles has certainly added a new dimension to it.
The kits that are now available in the market have made the deal easier. Because, they include wicks, labels, pre-made gels, dye, scents, embeds, jars and even instructions. Just follow the instructions and make candles of your choice. Now why would you make a gel candle? You would do so simply because of the fact that a gel candle should spice up your home and add to your dcor.
Three different densities of gel candles high, medium and low grade, are available in the market. The medium grade offers more flexibility by allowing more fragrances and firmness. Another important thing to consider while opting for a gel candle is that the gel candles burn longer than ordinary candles and that too in higher temperature. Therefore, it is a good choice though you must take all the precautions while preparing it.
The first thing you need to do is to take a non-stick pot, as a multi cooker. This is where you will melt the gel in. Keep a thermometer in hand to check the temperature. You need a hard plastic or metal spoon to stir the gel. Wooden spoons are not good for this purpose as it often creates bubbles in the gel. Always keep an eye on your safety measures keep a fire extinguisher and wear heat resistant apron and safety goggles and gloves.
What have made the gel candles more attractive are its colors. There are different modes of colors ranging from dye blocks to oil based liquid. However, always be careful while dying your candle. Only a dab will change the shade of your candle. So, always use a small amount of color.
Along with colors, these candles also provide delicate fragrances. After all, if you get a scent of strawberry, or a root beer, banana, bubble gum, carnation, lilacs, red-hot cinnamon, it will give you an added pleasure. Other fragrances like Honeydew Melon, Pecan Pie, Salty Sea Air, and Fresh Brewed Coffee are also available. During purchasing the fragrances, however, you should look for non-polar and more than 170 flash point scents, as they are safe. Always go for fragrance specially made for gel candles.
Use zinc core wicks to ensure a steady and beautiful flame. You can use embeds or shapes to embroider the candle. These embeds are usually made of hard wax or glass. Many shapes of embeds are also available fruit slices, dolphins, hearts, candy corn are few famous among them.
There are gel candles for every mood and they can be kept at every corner of your house. You can make a pumpkin shaped candle to amuse your children or make a heart-shaped one to impress your fianc. You can make candles to represent the exotic beaches or under water beauties or make candles in the shape of a goblin. Various foods can be recreated while you are making these gel candles.
You can always make a strawberry or a fruit shaped candles and add appropriate scents to match with it. Whatever be the mood the gel candles can provide both the light and the color and the fragrances to ward off the foul, the monotonous and the ordinary. www.candles4gifts.com is a great site to visit if you are looking at gel candles and you can place your orders online .
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stephen pappalau is author of this article on wedding gel candles .
Find more information about seascape gel candles here.