Life and death is a tricky matter. One never knows what unfortunate event may occur in the future or in the present. Wealth, property, fame are nothing but transient, the only thing which you will leave behind in the world are the memories you shared with your close ones. In today’s high-tech age, cyberspace has evolved to a much bigger role. One such rising trend is an online memorial site.

What is it?

Primarily, an online memorial site can be as simple as an HTML webpage, built in the memory of a loved one. Such a webpage often includes a picture and few lines written in remembrance. But slowly, as its popularity is increasing, so is the complexity involved. Simple HTML pages are now transforming into complete websites, with different sections such as spaces for leaving stories, uploading pictures, videos, and audio by the visitors. Different online memorial sites may even include a timeline charting the person’s life, forums where people can share their grief, a family tree, and so on.

How an Online Memorial Functions

It is quite simple to understand. Not everyone has the means to go to the crematorium or the churchyard. For example, you may have relatives living in a different part of the world or country or even state for that matter. For scenarios such as this, memorial web sites are more than convenient. You can dedicate a webpage for your loved one, and others are free to visit it, write down their true feelings, and even donate some amount of money if the website permits it and if they care to. The donations are collected and while a small part of them is used to manage and run the website, most of the service providers donate the remaining amount to charity. For a geographically scattered family, an online memorial web site is a sterling and salient option.

Freedom of Expression

Why is it that an online memorial web page is so effective, when there can be other, more effective tributes such as an obituary? First off, after the obituary is printed in the newspaper, it is gone forever unless the family saves it which they probably do. Moreover, a memorial online has a personal touch to it, because usually what people write here comes straight from the heart – how that person was, their strengths, weaknesses, and any other quality hidden from the general public. After all, who knows you better than your friends and family?

A webpage will live on forever for generations to come. If you have dedicated a memorial web page to a family member, then no matter how old you become, you can simply open the page with the click of a button, scroll of the mouse, read what people thought about that person, and relive those memories. Most likely you even find out aspects of that person’s life you never knew about. This will make this effort all the more worthwhile and be an ideal way to carry on this person’s spirit digitally. 

If you are reading this, right now, then it stands to reason that someone has spent a good deal of time teaching you one of the most important and basic life skills, the ability to read. Helping children learn to read is important as it’s a requirement for almost any job they might encounter later in life with the exception of brute manual labor, and even then it still helps.

If you have children of your own then you’ve probably also spent some time helping kids learn to read. From bedtime stories to the ever popular read along software that has been coming out in droves recently, there are plenty of ways for you to help children learn to read. In the end, what it comes down to is time spent doing so. By reading a story to them every night, children begin to see the importance of books. As they get older and have a better understanding, allowing them to read to you will build both skill and confidence in the child. This will allow them to do better in school and partake in the incredible world of reading and books.

Another invaluable asset that can assist in this endeavor are special books to help children learn to read. With engaging stories and various levels of complexity, these books not only capture the little readers imagination, but also allow them to start with basic reading skills and build on them from there. What’s even better is many of these books are filled with iconic characters that are recognized from their favorite movies, games or cartoons, making reading even more of an adventure for them.

When looking for good story books for your child to start reading it can be helpful to consider their age and interest first. Many publishing companies have broken their little reader books into different sections. After getting the basic letters and sounds down, it helps to start with first grade reading curriculum books. These books are simple in their writing and are usually about a sentence a page. As they get a little older and master this level, it might be time to start moving up to the 2nd grade reading curriculum. This includes slightly more complex stories and simple paragraphs that your child can learn from and grow.

Once you get your children started on this wonderful path of enjoying reading, it’s just a matter of sitting back and watching as they begin to devour chapter books and novels one by one. Not only will this ability make life easier for them in the future, but it also becomes very enriching for them. It’s hard to feel bad about spoiling a child when what they’re asking for are books. So take a few minutes out of every day and sit and read with your kids. Who knows, it might rekindle your own long lost passion for books in the process. 

As you approach the end of your high school career you may, as so many of your other peers, be thinking about what lies ahead after high school. Perhaps you’ve experienced the questioning from parents, teachers, friends and extended family. The perennial “what are you going to do with your life anyway?” – Yeah, it gets a little annoying. You may be considering furthering your education with secondary schooling, but with your lifestyle and upbringing are unsure of whether the typical state school mold is right for you. If you are looking for a college experience that will touch all aspects of your being, from education to social needs to spiritual growth, exploring the selection of U.S. Christian colleges may be the experience you have been searching for.

With All Your Heart, Soul, and Mind

If, when you think about going to college, you feel turned off by the ubiquitous party lifestyle, and feeling drowned in debauchery, looking at a U.S. Christian college is the route to break away from the norm. Your focus is on developing your mind and heart, and deepening your relationship with Christ as well as furthering your education. Christian college and universities encourage you to do just that. With a variety of denominations to choose from, you can find the instant family bond of believers to surround you as you are away from home. As you earn your degree for your future career you can also expand your growth as a person and focus on social responsibility.

What About…?

 Going to a Christian college or university doesn’t mean that you are unable to pursue the interests that you would find at any other secondary school. The top Christian music colleges offer degrees in both music performance and music education, and give numerous opportunities for concerts, recitals, and performances throughout your career. Christian art colleges and universities focus not only on striving for the highest level of difficulty achievable in art and design, but also encourage finding and celebrating the Master Creator and His handiwork within the sphere of art. It allows for such a complete education when you can be free to glorify God in every aspect of your life, and let your world be seen through the eyes of Christ, not just the colleges’. Christian worldviews are refreshing and relevant, and are taken to a whole new level in the collegiate realm. The foundation you receive at these institutions will be a solid one to last for the rest of your life and career to come.

You've found yourself in what the media sometimes calls a godless land: California. If you've lived in the great golden state of California for any decent length of time, though, then you know that just isn't true. There are plenty of options for the enterprisingly church-goer looking for a house of worship to call their own. All it takes a little looking around.

If you're in the Bay Area, you won't have to look long. If you're in the mood for some Reformed preaching, San Jose has got you covered. You can also find plenty of Baptist churches; San Jose has that old time religion, and you're welcome to join in on the worship whenever and wherever you like. Whether you're looking for a Catholic cathedral or an independent Baptist church, San Jose has got it all. California is diverse like that!

Of course, if you're an independent Baptist, Fremont, CA is just as welcoming a place as any other Bay area city. In Fremont, CA, church is where everyone seems to be going on Sundays, so numerous and faithful is the city's flock. You'll even see so redundant an establishment as a “Bible Church.” Fremont is nevertheless full of churches that are, themselves, not entirely full, and no matter what your religious preference, you'll surely find a house of worship that approaches God in a manner befitting your preferences.

So you see, you don't need to feel alone in California, even in the Bay area. There are plenty of churches and houses of worship that are more than happy to take you in. Even better, many churches are also community centers. They arrange events for church members and friends and family of church members to attend and enjoy. At these events, you can learn more about Christianity, your faith, and your community. There are opportunities for both education and entertainment, all of it very Christian in its character.

All you have to do is crack open the local Yellow Pages and you'll see plenty of churches with their phone numbers, addresses, and particular denominations listed. It won't be hard for you to contact the pastor, priest, or elder there, and have a good talk with them about whether or not the church is right for you. They'll be more than happy to open their doors to you for you to look about, sit in for a few days, and see if you're a good fit for them – and if they're a good fit for you. Given how open and friendly the Christian community is in the Bay area, you won't be looking long.

Unfortunately, in the contemporary era, it seems that more people have lost sight of their religion, lost contact with God, and are simply uneducated and uninformed about religions, particularly their own.

From a young age, many people choose to imbue or instill in their children strong religious values, educating them about their religious background, and history, and emphasizing the importance of understanding God and our commitment to him.

While there is a plethora of Christian schools for children, it seems that often times, upon our children’s graduation from high school, there are so many distractions and influences that may cause them to stray from religion, and to simply get caught up in the hustle and bustle that is college and the professional world.

What you may not have known, however, is that you can find the best of both worlds, coalescing a strong secular and academic reputation with continuing religious studies. Christian universities in PA embody this amalgamation of studies, and offer a number of programs that you would be surprised to learn about, such as Christian music universities.

Your children don’t have to lose sight of their religious values and education, and can even further their religious studies upon their high school graduation commencements.

Although uncommon, and rarely taken advantage of, there are a selection of Christian gap year programs for high school graduates. These programs provide ideal situations for religious and spiritual growth, and are once in a lifetime opportunities that will contribute to any young adult’s religious, personal, and independent growth.

Following a gap year, the options are nearly endless, and some students choose to hone their artistic abilities by attending top Christian music colleges. Christian colleges and universities are amongst the top ranked in the country year after year, and are the perfect medium between religious and secular education, offering exemplary conditions for students to build lasting relationships, expand their religious interests, and attain a grade A secular education that will prepare them for the daunting professional world and reality.

Christian universities are a great pedagogy for anyone interested in growing and learning, whether or not you’ve had a strong religious upbringing or a more secular childhood education.

Discover the best gap year programs online, and seize a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn, grow, travel, and find yourself.

Gap year programs for high school graduates are affordable, exciting, and informative, and will sufficiently prepare anyone who attends for college, furthering religious studies or entering the working world.