The Christmas card he commissioned was fashioned in the form of a triptych, which is a three-paneled design that allows for the two outer panels to be folded in towards the middle one. Each of the two side panels depicted a good deed. The first showed an image of people clothing the poor, and the other side panel showed an image of people feeding the hungry. The center piece had an image of a well-to-do family making a toast and surrounded by an enormous feast.

Not long back I had a retired Pastor reprove me very sharply, for making some interesting points while preaching on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. He was very old school, and he referred to 1 Tim 1.4 "nor to be taken up with with myths and never ending genealogies.. "

Christmas shopping online is not for you? If you are one of those that share this thought, you probably like to enjoy the atmosphere of physical shopping. Doing your Christmas shopping online despite all its convenience, lack the festive mood. The convenience of online shopping has reduced the shopping experience to a browse and click mode, no mood and very little atmosphere.

Have you ever thought about giving a personalized Gift Basket?

Is it just me or do you also get excited when you give a gift to your friends and family and you know they love it!

There are many traditions and symbols that we associate with Christmas including the Christmas tree, leaving cookies out for Santa Claus, and sending Christmas cards and Christmas presents. If you're like most, you observe all of the traditions which are sacred to your family without a thought about where they originated or why they became so popular in the first place.

Yes it’s that time of year again. So what's your plan this year? Where you just going to leave it to the last minute again and compete with the rest of the country for the last few items on the shelves come Christmas Eve? I know that with this little guide you can help save yourself from a lot of stress this Christmas so take a few minutes to read on.

1) Its always best to make a start with a list of people you want to buy presents for. Do not feel pressured into buying big gifts for everyone. As the old saying goes 'it’s the thought that counts' so you can just buy small gifts for some people. Lots of family members come to an agreement prior to Christmas not to exchange gifts. If money is maybe a bit tight for you this year then maybe you should consider this option.

2) Work out your budget. How much do you want to spend in total this Christmas on gifts. Don't forget things like wrapping paper and cards. Take that figure and divide it into amounts you'd like to spend on each person on your list.

3) Be strict with your budget! I've made this a separate point as it’s so easy to get carried away when you’re in the shops and spend much more than you intended on your Christmas presents. I know as I've been there myself.

How many times have you read Matthew 21:22 (Ask, believing you have received) and said, "Uh-huh! I've asked, but it is not coming. So this verse just isn't true!" In reality, this verse is a kind of enigma - one with shrouded messages. The hint is in the word 'ask' which brings about the problem:"Ask" should actually be construed as "Declare."

Isn't God good? There are times when we can get upset with those around us and only turn to One who is True and loving. I have had the pleasure of serving as a Youth Pastor and as a Senior Pastor. I have noticed slights and social Faux Pas on the part of others. What I have gleaned is there is a sense from some Senior Pastors that their calling is somehow better than those of a Youth or Associate Pastor.

My name is John W. Stevens. I am a bivocational Baptist Pastor who has read too many online postings that say, "We need a Senior Pastor. If you're interested send a resume and an audio/video tape." This can be frustrating to the candidate due to the expense. Many Pastors prefer to send a hardcopy of their resume. Printing a resume can cost between $2-$5 each. A video or audio tape will cost $3-10 each. With postage added, it can run $10 or more per submission.

Did you know that the psychic world has advanced since the year 1960? In the ancient days, a clairvoyant psychic was able to perform a psychic reading within the comfort of their own home or on a street corner. It's a fact that psychics used to sell their services at fairs and carnivals. They used to ask people if they would like to buy a psychic reading. You could get a clairvoyant psychic reading or a tarot card reading. Men and women would often refer to them as psychic mediums. A psychic reading would often cost $10.00 and it was possible to ask a psychic about love, money and career. The psychic reader would usually answer anything that you needed an answer to.