The Meaning of Easter – Miracles Still Happen

Posted on March 28, 2013 by savi0043

Chocolate Bunnies, Dyed Eggs and a furry rabbit?  Is that REALLY what Easter is about?  I don’t think so!  Easter is about Jesus and His resurrection from the dead so that WE may live.

The Meaning of Easter – Miracles Still Happen By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Tinker]Kimberly Tinker

What is Easter?

It’s that time of year again when little children start painting boiled eggs and gluing cotton balls on little bunny rabbits all in celebration of … Easter?

I’m not really sure how a bunny and a bunch of colored eggs fit into the whole resurrection thing but that is what we do. We run around buying candy and plastic grass to fill bright plastic woven baskets that we, as parents, stay up late on Easter-eve to hide somewhere in the house. Little children wake up Easter morning excited to find their baskets and wonder what kind of candy they got this year or what neat new toy is in there.

When I was younger my basket was always in the bathtub and always had lots of jelly-beans, peeps, and chocolate bunnies that you just had to bite the ears off of first. And of course there was always some type of toy usually designed for playing outside with after a long cold winter stuck inside. Baskets weren’t overly expensive but they rarely had any thing to do with our Lord Jesus Christ and his Resurrection. The closest we came to Jesus on Easter was to get dressed up in our “Easter Best” and to attend Mass and receive communion. Then it was off to Grandma’s house for a big Easter Dinner and one of the few times we prayed before our meal.

Now that I am older and have embraced the Lord with all of my heart and soul, I wanted to know what the true meaning of Easter is. I mean I have a basic idea of the whole “Crucified, Died and Rose again” thing but I felt that it was much deeper than that. So after much research and, of course, many prayers I think I finally have a better understanding of the meaning of Easter.

 

Obviously, Easter is the Christian holiday celebration commemorating the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday or Resurrection Day is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches.

But, to put the matter directly, Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus and his appearances to his disciples shortly thereafter. There are those who disagree that this was an historical event, but the evidence is pretty convincing. The gospels tell us that the inner circle of disciples denied, betrayed, and deserted Jesus in his hour of greatest need. They tell us that his death was basically witnessed by a few female disciples, and that it was these women who first went to the tomb and encountered the risen Jesus.

Several things must be said about this: 1) According to all accounts, Jesus died by crucifixion–the most shameful and public way to die back then. In an honor-and-shame culture, Jesus’ death by crucifixion should have put an end to his following and stopped any trumpeting about Jesus being the messiah or savior (see Luke 24.19-21: “We had hoped [past tense] he would be the one to redeem Israel”). It is very difficult for historians to explain the transformation of the inner circle of Jesus from cowards to some of the most courageous people of their time if Jesus did not arise and appear to them. 2) No evangelistic religion in its right mind, operating in a highly male dominated world, would make up the idea that the chief witnesses to the heart of their creed (death, burial, empty tomb, risen Lord) were women. The witness of women was considered suspect throughout the Greco-Roman world, including Judea. 3) In the context of early Judaism, resurrection meant something that happened to a body. It was not seen as a purely spiritual or visionary matter, which is one reason why the Gospel accounts stress that the risen Jesus could be touched and could eat. These accounts, which were written with such detail, were obviously not intended to be symbolic. They are a record of a world-changing physical miracle: the return to life of a previously-dead man.

When Christ was resurrected His body became immortal, never to die again. He still lives and is with our Eternal Father in Heaven.

Easter, in the Christian world, represents the resurrection of Christ, which we celebrate every year in the Spring. Because of the Atonement death is not the end. We may not be resurrected after three days, like Jesus was, but someday we will all be resurrected and have a perfect body.

Easter is an especially important holiday to celebrate because remembering Christ’s atonement and resurrection brings hope and faith. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He suffered and died for each of us. I know He was resurrected and lives. Easter is a beautiful holiday when we can remember Jesus Christ and worship Him as the Son of God and as our Savior and Redeemer.

Jesus’ resurrection was a true miracle that changed the world and set it on a course that we still see being played out today. In my view, the death and resurrection of Jesus is the fulcrum of human history and the key to its interpretation.

The Easter miracle transformed women and men from doubters to believers 2,000 years ago, and has continued to do so ever since.

To me Easter is all about the fact that God’s “yes” to life is louder than death’s “no,” and the ultimate proof of this is that God raised his Son from the dead. Easter is not just about an isolated miracle 2,000 years ago that chiefly affected one person. Easter is all about the fact that miracles do still happen. Christ’s story is the Christian’s destiny. In 1 Cor. 15, Paul calls Jesus’ resurrection the first fruits of the resurrection, and he speaks of a day when, upon Jesus’ return, the dead in Christ will be raised.

In an age of realism and practicality, the resurrection of Jesus challenges modern assumptions that miracles are impossible. I increasingly look forward to my own physical existence coming up for renewal when Jesus returns. Because the Son rose, this daughter will also one day rise.

Author: Kimberly A. Tinker Currently own/Edit 2 newsletters with plans on adding 3 more in the very near future. Also own/manage 2 websites with plans to add 2 more in the near future. Also starting 2 or more blogs. Link coming soon! Please drop me an email anytime.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Meaning-of-Easter—Miracles-Still-Happen&id=2181567] The Meaning of Easter – Miracles Still Happen

 

 

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Try Something New This Year – Volunteering for an Alternative Spring Break

Posted on March 24, 2013 by savi0043

An alternative spring break is different from a traditional one because it involves a philanthropic purpose that brings a group of students together to learn and help. Here we look at what this type of spring break with a humanitarian side to it is all about.

Try Something New This Year – Volunteering for an Alternative Spring Break By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Aaliyah_Arthur]Aaliyah Arthur

If you are preparing for your spring break, why not do something different this year that will be of benefit to those less fortunate than you? How about taking an alternative spring break (ASB) instead of a traditional one? It can be a very rewarding means of spending time off that you have from school. Think of it as a hands-on-learning experience of a different sort.

You can take an alternative spring break anywhere that a humanitarian organization is working to assist others in need. You might be working with conservation efforts, building homes, rebuilding trails in national parks or helping to feed the hungry. There are opportunities near and far. All you have to do is be ready to seek them out. Start your search online or through the campus you attend.

The alternative break can be described as a trip that is undertaken by a group of college or university students who decide to volunteer their services for a week’s time. In most cases, the group is made up of approximately 10 to 12 individuals, all with the same goal- serving others. The concept of an ASB got its start in the early 1980’s, as a means of doing something beneficial for those less fortunate, while on a school vacation.

The focus of the trip is on a specific social issue. Examples of some of the most common ones include education reform, the environment, poverty and refugee resettlement. These are just some examples though. The sky’s the limit when it comes to the theme of an alternative spring break.

The way it works is that the students taking part learn about the social issues that are the focus of the trip. Once they have become acquainted with the issue at hand, they perform projects throughout their time off that are put on by local not-for-profit organizations. These breaks take place without any alcohol being consumed, or any drugs being used. The emphasis of them, besides helping those affected most by the issue, is for individual and group reflection.

Taking an alternative spring break, as opposed to a traditional one, exercises your philanthropic arm and shows your love and desire to nurture other people. These breaks provide a challenge to the participants because they encourage them to put their thinking caps on and think as critically as they possibly can. They also prompt them to react to issues and problems surrounding them in the project because these are problems faced by the community of people that they are working to help.

By being immersed in a culture and environment that is diverse, students are better able to experience, understand and discuss social issues that present themselves. This also puts them in a better position to come up with possible solutions for the betterment of the group.

Make your spring break worth while. Get more information about [http://yrno.com/alternative-spring-break-new-orleans/]New Orleans alternative spring break at: [http://yrno.com]http://yrno.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Try-Something-New-This-Year—Volunteering-for-an-Alternative-Spring-Break&id=7567352] Try Something New This Year – Volunteering for an Alternative Spring Break

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What It Takes to Become A-1 Logo Artists

Posted on March 20, 2013 by savi0043

While there are numerous factors that contribute to business success, marketing remains to be one of the most important variables. This is because attracting more prospects and staying in touch with existing customers can somewhat help to eventually increase sales.

What It Takes to Become A-1 Logo Artists? By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Darwin_Palmer]Darwin Palmer

While there are numerous factors that contribute to business success, marketing remains to be one of the most important variables. This is because attracting more prospects and staying in touch with existing customers can somewhat help to eventually increase sales.

Currently, the best strategic marketing tool a company may have to be recognized by the general public is a logo, due to the obvious benefits listed below:

� It builds brand recognition;

� Communicates ideas of the business to its target audience;

� Captivates the attention of the consumers; and

� Instills trust.

Due to the perks mentioned, visual representation is becoming increasingly important as each business and organization in every industry has realized its significance in sales and marketing of their products and services. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 279,200 professionals were employed in the field of graphic design in 2010 and the figure is expected to grow by 13 percent every year until 2020. Professionals working in the area of graphic design are animators, logo artists, game developers, and other professionals specializing in arts and design.

In addition, the demand for skilled emblem designers continues to intensify as companies across the world aim to become popular to their target market and be ahead of the tough competition. Typically, visual designers have the following tasks:

� Determine and analyze the idea, goal, and business of the client

� Create visual concept that conveys company’s message or that represents it

� Help client in selecting appropriate combination of colors, images, text styles, and layouts

� Present designs to clients for approval

� Incorporate changes recommended by the client into the final design

Now, logo artists are now facing relentless challenges as they are required to create something distinctive yet captivating design to outshine other visual graphics. Making an outstanding visual representation is not just about creativity and talent, but also includes abilities and traits, such as:

Abilities

� Effective communication skills

� Good problem-solving skills

� Familiarity with different types of software and computer application programs

� Capability to visually and verbally express ideas

� Ability to innovate or create fresh and new design ideas

Personal Traits

� Highly motivated. As development in technology greatly changes design methods and software, artists and designers must be motivated and eager to adapt with the progress to stay up-to-date on technology and design techniques.

� Exceptionally imaginative. To stand out from the crowd, you should come up with something original and fashionable output.

� Passionate about his or her career. Profession in the field of arts and design can be at times exasperating. So, to get focused and never get tired of it, designers must have dedication and passion.

� Open for criticism and appreciation. Accepting criticism and appreciation in an objective manner always gives room for great improvement.

� Enjoy challenges. It is important for emblem designers to take challenges as an opportunity to discover new things to move ahead.

� Punctual but not pressured. Multiple deadlines may constrain a designer to stay focused with each project which can cause “creative constipation.”

� Innovative. Learning different types of leading-edge tools such as design software and latest computer graphics are necessary to stay abreast with the trend.

� Think outside of the box.   rel=nofollow [http://www.sleeklogos.com/logo-design-packages/]Logo artists are always expected to bring breakthroughs in their designs, so, they have to push their limits. More so, they must not be afraid to try out-of-the-ordinary designs for innovations and originality purposes. [http://www.sleeklogos.com/]Darwin Palmer believes that a creative mind can make something out of nothing. He has over 20 years of professional experience in the logo and web design industry.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-It-Takes-to-Become-A-1-Logo-Artists?&id=7553666] What It Takes to Become A-1 Logo Artists?

 

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How to Make German Potato Salad With Grilled Sausage

Posted on March 19, 2013 by savi0043

For meat and potato lovers, a German potato salad mixed together with slices of grilled sausage makes a great combination. This meal will take a little while to prepare, and you’ll need to time everything perfectly in order to serve it while it’s

How to Make German Potato Salad With Grilled Sausage By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dan_Lefevre]Dan Lefevre

Unlike traditional potato salad with mayonnaise that is served cold at family picnics or any sort of buffet style gathering, German potato salad is a hot dish. The dressing is prepared first and then the potatoes, while freshly cooked and sliced hot, are dropped into the dressing. The warm salad is then served within five to ten minutes of letting the potatoes absorb the dressing’s flavoring. Grilled sausage is the typical compliment that is served alongside warm German potato salad (or sliced and mixed in with the salad, as this recipe suggests).

With this meal, timing is important as you’ll want to serve the dish warm. Make sure you have everything you need before starting. You’ll need to be well organized so that everyone can sit down and eat the moment the salad is finished and ready to eat.

Whenever using garlic for any recipe, it’s always best to crush the garlic and let it sit for at least ten minutes prior to mixing it with your other ingredients. For reasons beyond the scope of this article, the health benefits associated with garlic require it to be crushed and let sit all by its lonesome for at least five to ten minutes before consuming.

The next step is to make the dressing. Add the vinegar, sugar, salt, cayenne pepper, mustard, and vegetable oil to a large bowl. Mix thoroughly. Don’t add the chives or onions yet (you’ll add them at the end when you mix the meat and potatoes into the dressing).

Pan fry the slices of bacon next. After cooking long enough to suit your taste, set them aside on paper towels to get rid of some of the bacon grease.

Wash and clean the potatoes to remove any dirt and sand. Place the potatoes into a large pot and fill the pot with enough water to cover the potatoes by at least an inch. Boil the potatoes until they are soft and easy to slice (10 to 15 minutes).

For the bratwurst, you can pan fry it or slice it and broil the slices. Personally, I prefer pan frying. After you’ve cooked the bratwurst, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices and set aside.

When the potatoes are ready, you’ll need to drain the water from the pot and remove the potatoes. While they’re still hot, slice them into 1/4 inch thick slices (be careful not to burn your hands!) and then drop each slice into the dressing. Gently stir the potato slices and the dressing together. The hot potato slices will soak up the dressing.

The next step is to add the sliced bratwurst to the bowl. Mix again, but remember to mix gently because the potatoes are soft! Cut the bacon into small pieces and add the bacon. Finally, add the chives, chopped onion, and crushed garlic. Mix again, gently, and then serve!

This dish is best served hot. The listed ingredients will serve 4 people.

Dressing

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons of finely chopped chives 1/2 cup of vegetable oil 1/2 cup of chopped onion

Salad

2 pounds potatoes 4 bratwurst (6 ounces or less each) 4 slices of peppered bacon 2 cloves of crushed garlic

For great tasting salad dressing that can be ordered and delivered to your home, please visit: [http://www.RedShell.com]RedShell.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Make-German-Potato-Salad-With-Grilled-Sausage&id=7522938] How to Make German Potato Salad With Grilled Sausage

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10 Anti-Aging Foods

Posted on March 13, 2013 by savi0043

As we grow older, the body functions less smoothly and we become susceptible to age-related problems. There are certain foods that can help slow-down the process of aging and at the same time improve our overall health and vitality.

10 Anti-Aging Foods By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Maya_Pillai]Maya Pillai

As we grow older, the body functions less smoothly and we become susceptible to age-related problems. There are certain foods that can help slow-down the process of aging and at the same time improve our overall health and vitality. While exercise and a healthy diet can keep you fit, some foods are especially good at preventing or reducing the effects of age-related diseases and other health problems.

Berries- Cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries are some of the varieties of berries that are super rich in antioxidants. The darker the berries, the better they are at anti-aging benefits because they have the highest concentration of antioxidants.Berries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, which is good for your skin.

Beans – They are called as super food. They’re an excellent source of low-fat protein, fiber rich in antioxidants. Beans are packed with all sorts of vitamins and minerals, including iron, vitamin B and potassium. Soy and kidney beans are known to fight cancer.

Vegetables – Vegetables are one of the best sources of antioxidants. They can slow the effects of aging. Consumption of spinach and kale protects the skin against the negative effects of UV exposure. Vegetables are also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, K and E.

Nuts – Nuts are rich in protein and are a good source of unsaturated fats. They’re also a good source of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin E (helps prevent cell damage) and calcium to maintain strong bones.

Fish- It is a great source of protein and is low in saturated fat. Eating fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines will provides the body with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 Fatty acids, reduces inflammation and lower blood pressure.

Dark Chocolate – Did you know that dark chocolate has been shown to help protect the skin against the harmful effects of UV exposure? They are rich in antioxidant flavanols that help reduce inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to UV light. Eating dark chocolate can increase circulation in the skin and improve its ability to retain moisture, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help you look younger.

Red grapes and Red Wine – A glass of red wine is good for your heart. One of the anti-aging components found in red wine is an antioxidant called resveratrol.

Whole grains – They are rich in fiber and regulate the bad cholesterol and fats. A diet rich in whole grains has anti-aging benefits because they’re rich in vitamins and minerals.

Garlic- The anti-aging benefits include lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. It also helps to reducing inflammation, protecting and maintaining cell health. It is one of the natural ways to boost the immune system.

Avocado- This is one of the fruits that is a source of Vitamin E and potassium. They are also rich in folates and oleic acid(monounsaturated fatty acids) that lowers lower bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol and protect against blood clots.

Do you know about other common foods with anti-aging benefits? Please share with us.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Anti-Aging-Foods&id=7541149] 10 Anti-Aging Foods

 

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