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The moment Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert died in 1861, she set a new trend. Her lengthy mourning paved the way for oppressive rituals that funeral directors were to carry on until she died forty years later. The whole court was required to dress in mourning clothes and the Queen herself remained in full mourning attire consistently until three years later. Grieving was no longer enough. Inner feelings were to be on full display through the full-on grieving that had now become fashionable.

Following their Queen’s example, those who could afford to do so indulged in expensive funerals, built complex monuments at the grave and adhered to the new etiquette of grieving. Along with specific clothing came an entire set of rules restricting the way people could act. Popular household manuals gave comprehensive instructions about the correct etiquette to adopt for each period of mourning. Queen Victoria’s poorer subjects had to make do with mixing their clothing in a large vat of black dye.

Compared to the adults, children were exempt from the traditions and were usually not required to wear mourning clothes, although sometimes girls wore white dresses. Many of their mothers, on the other hand, were nearly always in black, thanks to the many deaths that Victorian families suffered. The mourning time for males was shorter. Unrestricted by the curtailed social requirements, it was allowable for them to return to work and continue their daily lives. They simply wore black suits, or even just dark suits accompanied by black gloves, cravats and hatbands.

For females, however, mourning was a serious business. Although they could still attend church services, during full mourning they were not to be viewed in places linked with entertainment or amusement. The lengthiest period of mourning, which usually lasted at least two years, was after the death of a spouse. The required periods then dropped down a level, considering what the relationship with the deceased was. For first cousins, for instance, the period of grieving was only for a month.

Full mourning lasted for at least one year and a day. During this period women were required to dress in all black or in dull dresses with no sheen, trimmed with crepe. Bombazine was an often used material, being cheaper compared to non-reflective silk. Petticoats were made with black ribbon attached to their hems, to protect them if glimpsed. Then there were lace handkerchiefs with black borders, specially designed caps, bonnets and veils, even large “weeper” cuffs on dresses designed for mourners to wipe their nose during times of particular grief.

Second mourning went for nine months. Although women’s clothes would still need to be drab – generally grey – the crepe could be removed and the mourning veil was allowed to be lifted. A little jewellery was allowed, but the limit of this was hard black jet. It was popular for locks of the deceased’s hair to be built into brooches, lockets or watch fobs.

At the time of the half mourning stage, which went from three to six months, there was a gradual introduction of colour, with clothes moving on to brighter greys, mauve and a small amount of white. Jewellery wasn’t any longer restricted to jet and any kind was allowed to be worn.

Whichever level of mourning they were in, individuals had in order to buy the particular necessary clothes, or the materials to create them with, together with all other trimmings, the jewellery and headwear etc. Not surprisingly, a whole industry was created to cater for this fashionable new trend. Jay’s of Regent Street started up in 1841 as a type of one-stop shop, providing everything the mourning family could possibly need. Death was a big seller, as keeping mourning attire and crepe in the house after the mourning had stopped was considered to be bad luck.

When Queen Victoria passed away in 1901, the grieving fashion she had introduced began to disappear and the funeral director’s rituals surrounding grief changed drastically once more.

Individuals all over the planet are deeply interested in the predictions regarding 2012 end with the planet theory. Many various theories are circulating all close to the planet. Some folks believe that humans will invoke specific events which will lead to the end with the planet while some believe that God is going to bring this planet to an end by commanding nature to become at its most violent so that you can destroy life on earth. Some popular predictions of 2012 end with the year are doing the rounds.

The most popular prediction is the one made by the calendar with the Mayans. The race with the Mayans was known to become extremely intelligent in the ancient times. They boasted of superb knowledge of astronomy in addition to mathematics. According to their calendar, it is believed that the planet will enter a new age on 21 December, 2012. Some members with the esteemed scientific community have come up with their very own theories for the predictions for 2012 end with the planet. A popular theory that seems to hold some weight is that sun storms will likely be the source of destruction of planet earth.

There’s enough evidence already that these storms have knocked out power grids and destroyed satellites so, several folks believe that this is what will happen resulting in 2012 end with the planet. The various religions being practiced close to the planet have their very own theories when it comes to predictions. The Chinese Book of Modifications holds that 2012 will likely be an critical year as a lot of alterations will occur during that time. Diverse sections of Hinduism also hint at this year being extremely critical to mankind. The holy Bible also mentions 21st of December, 2012 as the Day of Judgment or the Armageddon.

Just like people are different, so are sermons. Some sermons just connect more deeply and seem to produce more results. Yes, the condition of the soul of the person doing the preaching is a huge factor as is his or her natural ability to address a public audience. But with these important things aside, I desire to briefly address practically why some sermons seem to hit the mark better than others. All of we who have preached before understand that a particular sermon may just be more powerful in its results than another sermon although the same preacher delivered both. Why is this? Out of many things that could be said in answer to this, let me suggest only three.

1. A sermon that speaks is a practical sermon.
To be practiced a sermon needs to be practical. In tending to people spiritually we must not forget that they live out their spiritual lives in this world below. Sermons that impact people will address how they are to live out their spiritual beliefs in real life. Make sure the sermon answers the question, “How does this help me live a better life?” Give them the information necessary to know how to practice the truth you are presenting in their daily lives. If what you preached can’t be used in daily life, one could question the usefulness of what is being preached. Of course, biblical truth is good and necessary, so work hard to show people how to put it to use. Bible sermons that are relevant are so needed.

2. A sermon that speaks is an understandable sermon.
With a sea of commentaries and theological study surrounding our study time, we preachers can easily get lost at sea and deliver sermons that never reach shore where the villagers live. Theological concepts and terminology can be verbally impressive but leave people wondering how to gain such lofty heights with their feet planted in this Earth. Keep your language and concepts as simple and understandable as possible. If children in the audience are soaking it in, then you are doing well. If people scratch their heads and talk about how smart you are as you speak over their heads, you should repent forthright and ask God to forgive you for making the way of salvation so complicated people cannot figure out how to get in.

3. A sermon that speaks is a life-giving sermon.
This is vitally important. Jesus came to give people life and when we share his word we should be giving life. He said when he spoke, he spoke life, so should we. To many people have had the sad experience of walking deadfully to a church in hope of help, only to be battered with anger and condemnation. Leave the judgment and condemnation to someone else. Decide you are going to preach the truth but in love. Be a life giving preacher who freely gives hope to all who come. This is the heart of Jesus. This is the heart of a sermon that will be heard and hungered for.

Add to this list other aspects if you wish, but realize that if you want people to practice what you preach, it needs to be practical. If you want them to apply then they must first understand it. If you want them to desire it, then offer them life through it.

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

What are the characteristics of sermons that audiences hear and heed. Whatever they are, they will be good to add to your pastor resources. Let’s look at some of them.I suggest that there are four things to consider that sets a sermon that works apart from others.

1. First it is memorable. Let’s face it, if after the final “Amen!” is spoken, if everyone forgets what was said, then what was said was not that impressive. An audience has a hard time applying a message from one Sunday to the next, if they cannot remember what it was. So such a sermon has elements that make it memorable. Appropriate stories, powerful illustrations that actually are illustrative, and words employed that strike the memory of the audience are all important. Correct application of the sermon also marks the memory. That “this really hits home feeling will plant it into the memory field of the hearer.

2. Secondly, it connects on three levels. The sermon should be reasonable and make sense. It should connect intellectually. A sermon on faith can stretch a man’s natural mind, yet make sense that God would work in such a way since God is a spiritual being whose ways and thoughts are beyond ours. In other words, it makes sense that we cannot always understand God. But to bathe a sermon in ignorance of context, history, good exegesis, and bad exposition can be a hindrance to the hearer. It is amazing how Jesus taught in a way that common people could easily understand his illustrations, yet were tremendously stretched by his application.

The sermon should connect emotionally. Aim at the heart and those “gut” feelings will begin to be stirred within your hearers. Aiming only at the mind without regard to the heart is equally foolish. The heart level is where life change occurs. Preaching should be done within the crucible where real life occurs. Pain is real. Lust is real. Temptation is real. Desperation is real. A message may work in a mental lab and fall flat on its face on the street corner of the real world. This is where a sermon becomes relevant.

The last aspect of connecting has to do with the will. God made us with a will and we use it constantly. Your audience is continually deciding to tune in further or change the channel on you. Aim at the will. Target why what you are sharing is important. An old adage says, “A man persuaded against his will is of the same opinion still.” You may get the mind, and the heart, but the will is the decision maker. A good message answers the question, “Why does this matter?” This is the jugular of the will. Jesus did this, “Repent or you will perish!”

3. The third mark of a sermon that works is that it is true. For the preacher to build any sermon on a foundation that will not rest upon the eternal truth of Scripture is to plan to fail. Not only will the sermon fail but the people who apply it will as well. Truth is established. It has been set in place by God Himself through His Word. Build primarily on what He has said, not what someone else has said. Known and applied truth still sets men free.

4. The last mark of such a sermon is that it is incarnational. Now, that’s a big theological word that simply means, in is delivered through a human being. The man or woman somewhat becomes the message. It is not delivered apart from the personality through which it is being presented. The truth of the Gospel is that God became a man to rescue us from the ravages of sin. Through the art of preaching, truth is brought to men as the Spirit of God bears witness. Passion and concern mark the man who has been marked by the message.

In summary, make a mental check-list as you work on your weekly sermon and impose the following four questions:

 -In what ways, am I making this sermon easy to remember?

-In what ways, am I aiming at the heart of the audience?
-In what ways, am I supporting what I am saying with Scripture?

-In what ways, am I actively applying the sermon to my own life?

Certainly there are other elements to consider, but these four are important and I believe a part of sermons that work. I wish you much success in writing and delivering sermons that ultimately are lived out in the lives of your audience.

Written by: Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. of Sermon Seedbed which offers free pastor resources for pastors and Bible teachers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Every future has its roots. This is why people say that what is happening right now has already been seen from past foresights and predictions. As the ancient wisdom has taught us about superstitions and beliefs, predictions and foresights are also from them. However, we all should understand that whatever prediction some people have to say may or may not come true. Therefore, it is not right to rely on these beliefs. Let us live each day the normal way without too much worries and anxieties because of what the prediction said.

There have been predictions as to the end of day and life. It was predicted to happen in the year 2012. So what made them choose this year? As with the Mayans, an ancient civilization, basing on the complete eclipse of the sun, lots of dates and different data, it boils down to the date December 21, 2012. It may require lots of understanding of their culture to understand why this date was chosen. Other ancient civilizations say that the date of end is actually November 13, 2012.

A lot of prediction has come up from different groups, religions and citizens. Some depended on what the Holy Bible says that there will be pain, suffering, war and famine to happen in the near future. They say that all signs are slowly showing up. Another prediction is that global wars will arise and will soon bring suffering to many people. Well, these are all alarming and frightening, but the best hope there is, is to pray to the one who created us all.

Many people are quite familiar with the communion chalice, but most have no idea why it is important in the Christian faith as well as it’s meaning.

The chalice is also more commonly known as the communion cup.  It is considered to be one of the most popular among the sacred vessels. Essentially, a chalice is used in most Christian ceremonies and masses as a cup that holds the wine.

Some of the churches that use this vessel include Catholics, Eastern Orthodox churches, Anglicans, Lutherans and other Christian sects.

Most of the time, a chalice is made from either gold or silver and decorated in various stones. Back in the day, the gold goblet was something that symbolized family.

Moreover, the chalices back then looked like a goblet with two handles at either side. Throughout the centuries, however, the look of the chalice has changed although its main significance remained the same.

The chalice as a vessel was treated with great reverence and often kept in a sacred place. Most of the time, when people hear of the word chalice or communion cup they automatically think ‘holy grail’ or the cup that Christ used in the Last Supper.

This came about when pilgrims back in the 6th and 7th century believed that there was a sect that still held the original cup that Christ used. However, this turned out to be unfounded.

Nevertheless, it showed just how important the cup was and how far those who believe in the Christian faith would go for it.

The communion chalice is one of the most important vessel used in many Christian ceremonies. You can find plenty of types of chalices and their uses depending on the church denomination or religion that’s using them.

The design is different for each church that used them as well. For instance, in western Christianity the cups had a small node where the stem met the cup. This allowed the cup to be easily picked up.

In Catholicism, before the Vatican II, the cups were created with a tulip shape and were generally quite slim since only the priests were the only ones that used them.

Today, however, all people who are to take communion can drink from the chalice or any form of cup to also partake of the blood of Christ.

On the other hand, in Eastern Christianity, which includes the Orthodox churches; the chalices were often decorated with icons and even the cross. All of the people that took the communion were also able to drink from the chalice itself.

As you can see, the chalice has had many facets and even today, variations of its looks are still present.

These cups are still seen as an important part of the sacrament and the faith. They are essentially used to symbolically hold the blood of Christ.

The sanctity is still being revered and in fact, in the Catholic Church, whenever the communion chalice is used, it is actually blessed first and anointed.

While some think that Christian Bookstore only sell christian fiction books and christian music, they also offer various communion supplies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pastor Resources for Preachers and Bible Teachers

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Keep it moving and engaging

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

3. Be enthusiastic about what you are sharing.

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

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

Tattoo Designs for Guys

Even though many people think that tattoos are distasteful you have got to admit that guys with tattoos look really sexy and macho. Women are able to dress up and wear makeup which automatically enhances their beauty and guys on the other hand have tattoos which says it all.

There are literally millions of tattoo designs for guys on the market as men are able to ink bold and loud designs onto their skin. A guy’s skin is truly a tattoo artist’s canvas as guys can have their entire bodies tattooed which includes the face.

Take a biker for example who owns a Harley Davidson already has that macho turn on look. He can now enhance that look by having his body tattooed which will make him drop down dead gorgeous. Again tattoos are exceptionally personal and either make or break one’s personality. On the other hand if a nerdy type guy tattoos his body with bold designs he would definitely not look the part.

The most popular tattoo designs for guys are tribal tattoos as well as sleeve tattoos. Many guys have one half of their body inked while other has their whole body inked. A tattoo should have a special meaning to the person as well as enhance who they are.

Maori, Hawaiian, Polynesian and Native American designs are fast becoming a popular choice among guys. Tattoo designs for guys include dragons, bird wing tattoos such as eagles and hawks, combinations such as flowers incorporated with stars and abstract designs. There is no limit when it comes to tattoo designs. You can find a few designs as well at chopper tattoo and other sites.

Tattoo Artists are plentiful and like anything in life there are the best of the best and then there are those that are just simple artists. When having tattoos done make sure you get the most renowned and sought after tattoo artist as that tattoo is on your body for the rest of your life.