The Bible Translation issue is more challenging than what it seems, we as Christians need to be careful on how we approach this topic, or else we can go down some dangerous paths, sometimes we see missing verses or seemingly changed words in the new translations eg. the New International Version, but we do not know the reason why these changes or omissions have been made. So the question about these are quite reasonable, but we must try to find the answers before we jump to conclusions. This is what I found out. A pastor was speaking on the radio, and answered a question from a caller who asked him why some Bible translations have missing verses? The pastor explained that there are three different “text” that governs Bible translations, I also found a forth. Deciding which translation is more accurate depends on who you ask, but the majority of… read more
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In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a 3D composition using Xara 3D and Photoshop. We will use Photoshop to create an exciting golden background, then integrate the 3D type from Xara 3D into the composition. you will also learn some simple technique to texture the type. Last time we learned How to Create A Realistic 3D Typography using Photoshop, today I will introduce you to Xara 3D, a relatively inexpensive 3D Program that has some very powerful features and is so simple to use, literally anyone can produce high quality 3D graphics in minutes. Xara 3D can create stunning, professional-quality 3D web graphics. Ideal for both still and animated 3D headings and titles, logos and buttons, perfect for web pages, mailshots and online presentations. If you want to use 3D in your projects Xara 3D is a very good start. Ok, lets get straight into the tutorial! [sociallocker]… read more
This month we are featuring the work of Bjorn Amundsen, a Christian Visual Effects (VFX) artist from Vimeo. Bjorn Amundsen’s VFX work is truly amazing, especially his narrative Typography Design. We are impressed with the quality of his productions, which communicates the message of The Gospel in a way that grabs your attention. Bjorn is a motion designer, photographer, video producer, director, and technologist with over 5 years of media experience. His feature film work can be seen on the title sequence for Furious Love, directed by Darren Wilson. He has done visual effects work on music videos for bands like Uh Huh Her and Motion City Soundtrack. He is in his second consecutive term as creative director of the triennial CHIC conference, developing the brand, marketing, and video content for a +5000 high school students. He has traveled the globe to create content for such clients as Youth Specialities,… read more
This red leaf was on the wall of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto. It was one of many leafs on a long stem running horizontally on the wall. I would say the stem run for more than 5 meters, and since I had my mini tripod with me, I decided go rest it against the wall and shoot a super macro shot. However, all the leafs were too big for a super macro, so I ended up going up the stairs alongside the stem all the way to the end to this little leaf; it was the last in the long string of leafs and it fit perfectly in my camera’s super macro zoom. That’s when I remembered the verse: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.†Psalm 118:22 That incident kept me thinking that day. This little leaf was so much… read more
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a Realistic 3D Typography Photoshop, you will learn how to create a really smooth looking 3D text in any version of Photoshop. This tutorial will create the illusion of 3D without the use of any 3D programs, we will only use the raw power of Photoshop. Not only will we create it. you will also learn some simple technique to decorate the type to make it pop! Although this technique is limited, it can be very useful for someone who cannot afford to buy a 3D program. [sociallocker] Final Image Skill Level Intermediate Resources Hansen Font From FontStock Floral Brush by jaaaiiro From Brusheezy! Step 1: Create a new document in Photoshop, 1600×1200 pixels, 300dpi (for printing), RGB color. We begin with a radial gradient, by double clicking the layer to activate the Layer Styles menu, then apply… read more
In 2006, I was walking to work around 7 AM and my heart was very heavy burdened to the degree where it felt as if I was dragging my feet. I asked God why He was allowing that heartache to continue, I needed to understand! What He said caught me by surprise, He said, “I’ve always loved you!†I started crying on the road, I didn’t know what to think, what to feel, what to say. Somehow He knew why I had that heartache: I was looking for love, but I didn’t receive it, while all along I had access to a fountain of eternal and perfect love pouring out from Him. The only person who truly showed love me while growing up is my mom. I cannot describe to you how much she loves me. The daily sacrifices she makes, her service for me (and her awesome cooking!) are… read more
Macaws are the largest and the brightest in the parrot family. They are easy to recognize, because they are big colorful birds. Macaws live in the tropical parts of South, Central America. The biggest macaw’s wingspan is around four feet, the smallest macaws wingspan is fifteen inches. Most species are associated with forest, especially rainforest, but others prefer woodland or savannah-like habitats. Macaw Wings by ravi.k Some of the macaw species are known for their impressive size. The largest parrot in length and wingspan is the Hyacinth Macaw. The heaviest macaw is the Buffon’s, although the heaviest parrot is the flightless Kakapo. Macaw Cleaning by royal19 Scarlet Macaw – Macaw Mountain Bird Park -by Adalberto H. Vega What’s So Special About The Macaws? Macaws eat poisonous berry seeds as a main part of their diet, they also eat a clay that absorbs the poison and provides much needed minerals… read more
Create A Cool Typography Effect in Photoshop CS3 or Photoshop CS4. The effect is a cool-looking and great for decorating your Typography. We will be using a combination of layer styles, color blending, lens flare and images. The end effect is quite stunning and hopefully you’ll pick up some tips you didn’t know before. [sociallocker] Final Image for the Typography Effect Skill Level: Intermediate Resources: Particles Pack by Media Melitia Smoke Pack by Media Melitia Hysteria Texture by Pareeerica Rezland Font from Dafont Step1: Create a new document in Photoshop, 1280×1024 pixels, 72dpi. We begin with a radial gradient, by double clicking the layer to activate the Layer Styles menu, then apply a gradient overlay. Here are the exact color codes: Foreground Color – #f2d445 Background Color – #98a843 Step2: Next we will create our particle background. Open the Media Meltia Particles008.png image and drag it into your document, then… read more
Before I became a Christian I used to hate the phrase “blind faith†as it represented ignorance to me. And I believed that’s what Christians wanted me to have in order to become a Christian like them. As a new believer I still hated that phrase because I believed that I became a Christian based on logical thinking because of the overwhelming evidence supporting Christianity’s claims. Ten years later I am starting to think that blind faith is true faith. Let me tell you how I came to start thinking that blind faith is important. About three weeks ago around 5 in the morning I heard a very sad news; this news was so tragic to me that it was by far the saddest and most painful experience I have ever been through. I was so sad and shocked I couldn’t even cry. For the next several hours I was… read more
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species that exist today, and the largest ruminant. Males can be 16 to 18 feet tall and weigh up to 3,800 pounds. The record-sized bull, shot in Kenya in 1934 was 19.2 ft tall and weighed approximately 4,400 lb. Females are generally slightly shorter, and weigh less than the males do . The giraffe is related to deer and cattle, Its range extends from Chad to South Africa. Giraffes can inhabit savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands. They prefer areas enriched with acacia growth. They drink large quantities of water and, as a result, they can spend long periods of time in dry, arid areas. When searching for more food they will venture into areas with denser foliage. Many people think that giraffes are mute. This is a myth. though normally silent, calves bleat and make a… read more
Have you ever read those statistics or articles about how for many people, the holiday seasons are the most depressing? Well, it is true. I am one of those people who feel lonely in the holidays. Christmas has always been the most depressing season for me, mainly because my birthday is around Christmas and I have never been fond of my birthday. But that does not mean I don’t like to be among people. Actually it is the opposite: people feel depressed in holidays because they feel that they don’t have any meaningful relationships. That’s why it is so important that we, Christians, be generous and hospitable in those times. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ~1 Peter 4:9 In the holidays my family and I are sometimes invited by relatives or friends to spend it with them, but somehow I’ve always felt the happiest when I went to… read more
In March of 2003 my sister invited me to her Arabic church because they were having a play called Heaven or Hell. I went to it, and in one of the final scenes, one of the actresses was so shouting of joy “Jesus! My Jesus! Hallelujah, it’s my Jesus!†over and over again as the character of Jesus appeared on the stage. I wondered then, how many more people in the world there are, that are in love with Jesus just as I am and even more? (Of course, I have not always been in love with Jesus; it seems that it is an on and off love affair at times!) Few months before I came to Canada, in late of 1999, I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord and that proved crucial to my well being here. You see, as a teenager who is an introvert by… read more
Churches are so fascinating to look at and can be a tremendous source of design inspiration. A critical part of Christianity has been the gathering of people worshiping together. By virtue of this activity, the “place†where they worship has become endowed with a symbolic form. To the early Christians the word “church†referred to the act of assembling together rather than to the building itself. Christians met where they could, usually they would meet in each others houses, Congregations soon outgrew the meeting halls of the House-Churches and so they began to create buildings specifically suited to house their worship. Below are some brilliant photographs of churches, taken by talented photographers. I hope you enjoy them. House of God by abcdz2000 St. Bridget’s Church by mudpig Saint Francis Church by janusz l Saint Mary’s Church – Studley Royal by nick.garrod Sunset Church by cmiper Church by Nasos3… read more
Bokeh Wallpapers – In photography, bokeh is the blur or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light. If you want to create your own, try this tutorial: Bokeh usually occurs at the parts of the scene that is outside the depth of field. Photographers sometimes deliberately use a shallow focus technique to create images with prominent out-of-focus regions. Today you can find bokeh being used in graphic design, below you will find a mixture of bokeh captured by the camera lens and some created in graphic design software. enjoy! Try these cool Bokeh Wallpapers and share them with a friend. [sociallocker] … read more
Inspirational Christian Wallpapers made with Photoshop and other graphics tools. The combination of the Word of God, poetry, commentaries, and inspired artistry, makes this gallery unique. It’s geared towards bringing people into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and keeping our minds on Him. Wallpaper/Desktop Images can be a great conversational piece with which you can use and influence someone into the Biblical teachings on which you rely on daily. Please use our share tools at the end of this page to tell your friends about this great resource. DOWNLOAD Wallpapers by INSPIKS are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States
Christian Cell Phone Wallpapers – Cell Phone wallpapers are pretty cool, if you do a search on Google, you will find that there are plenty out there for the masses. Inspiks however, decided to create a Christian Cell Phone Wallpaper group over at Flickr. We also have a Cell Phone Wallpaper Gallery here on our blog, which features nearly 100 wallpapers and growing. Below you will find some of the best wallpapers from our Flickr group members and some from our own graphic designers. Download and share them. If you want to create a great wallpaper and share it in our Flickr group, here is a great Photoshop template for starter, have fun and remember to share them! [singlepic=397,100,100] [download id=5] Light of The World by pk Christmas by josephreygan Day  by loswl Creation: DMK  by loswl Got Jesus by jorgeabalderas Bring Them Home Lord! by godserv Newness of Life by… read more
There are a lot of Christian Cell Phone wallpaper websites online, but none with the INSPIKS touch! We know how hard it can be to find quality Christian Wallpapers, especially with biblical content and graphics. You will be able to use your device to minister to others and yourself by displaying some of your favorite wallpapers from the gallery below. We listed the best and most Inspirational wallpapers for easy download. You don’t have to spend time searching. Happy downloading!. See: How to Install A Wallpaper On Your iPhone  Wallpapers by INSPIKS are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States
When I was approximately 5 years old, I was rescued in a way that has stuck with me until this day and have even influenced my faith in God. I lived about two and a half blocks from school and everyday my brother and I was escorted to and from school by our Mom’s friend. One day our escort did not show up and we got tired of waiting. We decided to take the matter in our own hands by leaving school, instead of waiting any longer. Since home was not far away, we felt safe except that our school resided on the opposite side of the road. We started off on our journey, making sure to stay on the sidewalk all the way and we didn’t stop to speak to anyone. As we reached the point where we needed to cross the street (a few feet away from the… read more
To me this car, the Mazda Protege, along with some other cars like the Ford Focus, BMW M3, Porsche 911 and Boxster, Lamborghini’s…look really nice in yellow! (The yellow is also helpful when it is snowing to make the car stand out!) I like yellow for sporty looking cars because it is a light color so it shows the reflection off the body, yet not too dark like black that conceal the body lines. Beside it makes the car looks like it is a race car! There is a little story about the yellow color that I would like to share with you. One day last year at work I put a desktop wallpaper of a yellow Porsche Boxster on one of the computers we use in the warehouse. When one of my coworkers, who was around my age , saw it he liked it, but didn’t like the yellow… read more
This is part three and final part of my previous article called “Who is God”….Most of the time I live as if I had figured God all out and that there is nothing new to learn about Him. And after reading the Bible few times I feel that reading it again is just redundant. Yet it is so untrue. Sometimes when I read the letters of the apostle Paul which stresses holy living (which is of course God’s will), and then I go back to the Old Testament and see how He worked through prostitutes and murderers, I am forced to ask Him, “Lord, who are You?†Not that I don’t know Him: it is just that He is so great and He doesn’t overlook anybody which makes it is so hard, if not impossible, to categorize Him. I think we all have heard the saying, “You can’t… read more
This is a continuation of my previous article called “Who is God”… Here is another example of how God surprises me: About few around years ago 2003 or 2004, I remembered a very intriguing book I had read in the Bible in 1999. You see, before I became a Christian in 1999 in Jordan at the age of 16 I read the Bible from cover to cover. Reading the Bible for the first time was, and still is until today, the most exciting experience I had ever gone through. But one book stood out from the rest like no other to me: the book of Hosea. The book of Hosea stood out to me because being a Middle Eastern young man made the idea of God asking a prophet to marry an adulterous woman a very strange idea to me. So I decided that I was going to read the… read more
A first glance this colorful paper strip looks just like a normal two sided band of paper, but at a closer look it becomes obvious that this strip of paper is by no means normal in the sense it has only one side—this is called a Mobius strip. A regular paper band has two sides: an outer side and an inner one which you can trace separately. A Mobius strip however has only one side: if you point your finger tip at any point of its surface and move it in any direction you will realize that your finger tip is covering all of its side. Unlike a two sided band you don’t need to take your finger tip off of one side to trace the other. The reason I made this colorful Mobius strip and photographed it, is that recently I’ve been thinking about who God is. Not that… read more
I didn’t take this photo for its photographic value…I don’t think it is a special photograph in the artistic meaning. I took it because of the spiritual value it holds to me. You see, I’ve always loved the moon. It was a photo of the moon that started my journey with photography. The moon has always reminded me of God’s promise to me that one day I will get married, according to His will; so whenever I see the moon I smile because it reminds me of my future wife. “For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods” Psalm 96:4 But somehow I had always treated the moon as a big light bulb in the sky…almost like a huge flashlight installed far away. May be because I always saw it in the night, since in the day I worked in… read more
Recently I’ve become increasingly convinced of these two things: The depravity of my sinful nature and my lack of understanding of true Christianity. This morning the latter was yet again proved to me. Recently I started writing the personal experiences that led to me believing in the Bible and in the Lord Jesus Christ. But the more I thought about what to write the more complex my thoughts became. I even changed the title of my writing twice! I wrote pages and pages that I doubt anyone will bother reading apart from me. This morning I went to Knox College at University of Toronto to photograph it. Knox College provides theological studies and its slogan is: Knox College – Preparing Faithful Servants of Jesus Christ. My main objective was to photograph the chapel which you see in this photo. It was completely empty so after I took a couple pictures… read more
