The Evolution of Word Wide Web - WWW

Introduction

World Wide Web (WWW) is the system of interlinked hypertext documents containing text, images, audio, videos, animation and more. User can view and navigate through these documents using hyperlinks or navigation elements which have references to another document or to the section of the same document. In a broader sense "The World Wide Web is the universe of network-accessible information, an embodiment of human knowledge."

As Words

History of World Wide Web

WWW was first proposed in 1990 by Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau while working at the CERN, the European Council for Nuclear Research. Both of them came out with their individual proposal for Hypertext systems and later on they united and offered joint proposal. The term "Word Wide Web" was first introduced in that joint proposal. The history of every invention has lot of pre-history. Similarly the World Wide Web has also lot of pre-historical gradual development of hypertext system and internet protocols which made the WWW possible. The gradual development started in the early 1945, with the development of Memex, a device based on microfilms for storing huge amount of documents and facilitating organizing those documents. Later in 1968 "Hypertext" was introduced, which made linking and organization of documents fairly easy. In 1972 DARPA (Defense Advance Research Project Agency), started project that connect all research centers to facilitate data exchange which later adopted for military information exchange. In 1979 SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) was invented to enable sharing of documents for large government project by separating content from the presentation and thereby enabling same document to be rendered in different ways. In 1989 Tim Berners-lee came out with Networked Hypertext system form CERN Laboratory. In 1990, joint proposal for hyper text system was presented and the term "World Wide Web" first introduced. In 1992 first portable browser was released by CERN, and that had picked up industry interest in internet development. Today web is so much popularized and has grown to be so invaded in to our lives; it becomes almost impossible to imagine the World without web.

Web Evolution - What and How?

Each technology has certain distinguished characteristics and features. Similarly web has certain features such as data, services, mess-up, APIs, social platform and more. These features are continuously and progressively evolving in distinct stages with qualitative improvements over the existing. Web evolution is categorized and hyped with some fancy marketing terms like "Web 1.0", "Web 2.0", "Social Web", "Web 3.0", "Pragmatic Semantic Web", "Pragmatic Web" and many more.

Yihong Ding, PHD candidate at Brigham Young University, in his article on "Evolution of Web" explained the development of Web by analogically comparing it with the human growth. Yihong Ding stated "The relationship between web pages and their webmasters is similar to the relationship between children and their parents. As well as parents raise their children, webmasters maintain and update their web pages. Human children have their normal stages of development, such as the newborn stage, pre-school stage, elementary-school stage, teenage stage, and so on. Analogically, web has its generations, such as Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and so on."

Along with technological advancement web design also changed over the period of time. Initial design was simple hypertext read only system which allowed users to read the information. User was just a viewer of what is presented on the web. Gradually images and tables added with evolution of HTML and web browsers, which allowed making better design. Development of photo-editing tools, web authoring tools and content management tools enabled designer to begin creating visually appealing website design layouts. In the next phase of development, web design changed with the change in usability and the focus is diverted on the users rather than the content of the website. User interaction and social touch is applied to the web design. Now user is not just a viewer. User can drive the web with feedback, information sharing, rating and personalization. Gradually we got the mature blend of function, form, content and interaction, called Read/Write Web. Continuing this evolution, meaning is added to the information presented on the web so that online virtual representatives of human can able to read and interprets the presented information. This kind of web where user agent imitating human behavior, can read and understand the information using artificial intelligence is called semantic web.

Web 1. 0 (Read Only Web)

World Wide Web is evolved in stages. First stage was the basic "Read Only" hypertext system also termed as Web 1.0 since the hype of Web 2.0. In fact in the original proposed web model, Tim Berners-Lee envisioned web as the Read/Write Model with HTTP PUT and HTTP DELETE method. These methods were almost never used just because of security reasons.

Some of the Characteristics of Web 1.0

1. In Web 1.0 web master is constantly engaged with responsibility of managing the content and keeps user updating. Majority of hyperlinks to the contents are manually assigned by the web master.

2. Web 1.0 does not support mass-publishing. The content on the website is published by the web master and thereby does not leverage the collective intelligence of users.

3. Web 1.0 uses basic hyper text mark up language for publishing content on the internet.

4. Web 1.0 pages do not support machine readable content. Only human who are web readers can understand the content.

5. Web 1.0 provides contact information (email, phone number, fax or address) for communication. Users have to use the off-line world for further communication with this contact information.

6. In Web 1.0, web pages are designed to react instinctively based on the programmed condition. Specific result or response is generated when the programmed condition is satisfied. Web 1.0 model does not understand remote request and can not prepare response for potential request in advance. To clearly understand above characteristics of web 1.0, Yihong Ding in his article on "Evolution of World Wide Web" has analogically correlated World of Web 1.0 with the world of a Newborn baby.

Newborn Baby : I have parents

Web-1.0 Page : Webmasters

Newborn Baby : Watch me, but I won't explain

Web-1.0 Page : Humans understand, machines don't

Newborn Baby : Talk to my parents if you want to discuss about me

Web-1.0 Page : Contact information (email, phone number, fax, address, ...)

Newborn Baby : My parents decide who my friends are. Actually, I don't care

Web-1.0 Page : Manually specified web links

Newborn Baby : Hug me, I smile; hit me, I cry (conditional reflex)

Web-1.0 Page : Reactive functions on web pages

Source: Analogy from the Article by Yihong Ding from http://www.deg.byu.edu/ding/WebEvolution/evolution-review.html#w1:1 "The web 1.0 pages are only babies.

Web 2. 0 (Read Write Web)

"Web 2.0 is the understanding that the network is the platform and on the network is platform roles for the business is different. And the cardinal role is user adds value. And figuring out how to built database and things to get better so that more people use that and it's the secret of web 2.0.

Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform."[4]

In Web 2.0 the idea of Consumer (Users) and Producer (Web Master) is dissolving. Web 2.o is more about communications and user interactions. Web 2.0 is all about participation. "Content is the King" often cited quote during early web 1.0 days, is now turned in to "User is the King" in Web 2.0. In web 2.0 users communicates through blogging, wikis and social networking websites. Everything on the web is tagged, to facilitate easy and quick navigation. Web 2.0 is also about combining it all in one single page by means of tagging and AJAX with better usability via lots of white space, and a cleaner layout. The API ability makes it possible for programmers to mash up data feeds and databases to cross reference information from multiple sources in one page. In contrast with web 1.0, web 2.0 has collective intelligence of millions of users.

Web 2.0 is all about improved version of World Wide Web with changing role and evolving business model where users learned to communicate with the other users instead of just communicating with the publisher of the content.

Some of the Characteristics of Web 2.0

1. Web 2.0 is the second version of Web providing RIA (Rich Internet Application) by bringing in the desktop experience such as "Drag and Drop" on the webpage in browser.

2. SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) is the key piece in Web 2.0. Buzzwords around SOA are Feeds, RSS, web services and mash up, which defines how Web 2.0 application exposes functionality so that other applications can leverage and integrate those functionalities providing much richer set of applications.

3. Web 2.0 is the Social web. Web 2.0 Application tends to interact much more with the end user. End users are not only the users of the application but also the participants whether by tagging the content, whether he is contributing to the wiki or doing podcast for blogging. Due to the Social nature of application end user is the interval part of the data for the application, proving feedbacks and allowing application to leverage that user going to use it.

4. In Web 2.0 philosophy and strategy is that "The Web is open". Content is available to be moved and changed by any user. Web site content is not controlled by the people who made the web site but by the user who are using the web site.

5. In Web 2.0 Data is the driving force. Users are spending much more time online and started generating content in their passive time. Web 2.0 requires some of the key technologies to be used in the development of web pages. One of the important technologies is the AJAX which supports development of rich user experience.

6. Web 2.0 websites typically include some of the following key technologies.

- RSS (Really Simple Syndication), which allows users to syndicate, aggregate and to set up the notification of the data using feeds.

- Mashups, which makes it possible to merge the content from different sources, allowing new form of reusing of the information via public interface or APIs.

- Wikis and Forums to support user generated content.

- Tagging, which allows users to specify and attach human readable keyword to web resource.

- AJAX - Asynchronous Java Script and XML, which is the web development technique, allowing exchange of interactive data behind the scene without reloading the web page.

To clearly understand above characteristics of web 2.0, Yihong Ding in his article on "Evolution of World Wide Web" has analogically correlated World of Web 2.0 with the world of a Pre-School Kid.

Pre-School Kid : I have parents

Web-2.0 Page : Webmasters (blog owners)

Pre-School Kid : Parents teach me knowledge (though often not well organized)

Web-2.0 Page : Tagging

Pre-School Kid : I understand but maybe imprecise and incorrect

Web-2.0 Page : Folksonomy

Pre-School Kid : I can deliver and distribute messages, especially for my parents

Web-2.0 Page : Blogging technology

Pre-School Kid : Who my friends are is primarily determined by my parents' social activities and their teaching

Web-2.0 Page : Social network

Pre-School Kid : Multiple of us can be coordinated to do something beyond individual's capabilities

Web-2.0 Page : Web widget, mashup

Pre-School Kid : I can do suggestion based on my communication with friends

Web-2.0 Page : Collective intelligence

Following table distinguish the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0

Web 1.0 is about : Reading

Web 2.0 is about : Reading /Writing

Web 1.0 is about : Publishing

Web 2.0 is about : Feedbacks, Reviews, Personalization

Web 1.0 is about : Linking Content using Hyperlinks

Web 2.0 is about : mashup

Web 1.0 is about : Companies

Web 2.0 is about : CommunityCommunity

Web 1.0 is about : Client-Server

Web 2.0 is about : Peer to Peer

Web 1.0 is about : HTML

Web 2.0 is about : XML

Web 1.0 is about : Home Pages

Web 2.0 is about : Blogs and Wikis

Web 1.0 is about : Portals

Web 2.0 is about : RSS

Web 1.0 is about : Taxonomy

Web 2.0 is about : Tags

Web 1.0 is about : Owning

Web 2.0 is about : Sharing

Web 1.0 is about : Web form

Web 2.0 is about : Web Application

Web 1.0 is about : Hardware Cost

Web 2.0 is about : Bandwidth Cost

Web 3. 0 (Semantic Web)

Web is no longer linking and tagging of information and resources. With the advent of semantic web concept, special information is attached to the resources or information so that machine can understand and read just like human.

Timer Berner Lee envisioned

"I have a dream for the Web [in which computers] become capable of analyzing all the data on the Web - the content, links, and transactions between people and computers. A 'Semantic Web', which should make this possible, has yet to emerge, but when it does, the day-to-day mechanisms of trade, bureaucracy and our daily lives will be handled by machines talking to machines. The 'intelligent agents' people have touted for ages will finally materialize."

Semantic Web has derived from his vision of web as the universal medium for exchange of data, information and knowledge. Web 3.0 or Semantic Web is an Executable Phase of Web Development where dynamic applications provides interactive services and facilitates machine to machine interaction. Tim Berner Lee has further stated

"People keep asking what Web 3.0 is. I think maybe when you've got an overlay of scalable vector graphics - everything rippling and folding and looking misty - on Web 2.0 and access to a semantic Web integrated across a huge space of data, you'll have access to an unbelievable data resource." Semantic web is the an extension of World Wide Web in which web content is expressed in machine readable language, not just in nature language, so that user agents can read, process and understand the content using artificial intelligence imitating human behavior. In other words Semantic Web is an extension of the web where content expressed can be processed independently by intelligent software agents.

There can be several agents one can program within the context of vocabulary of the vertical domain.

For example

"Travel Agent", who keep searching chipset air tickets based on your criteria and notify you when it gets the perfect one.

"Personal Shopper Agent", who keeps looking for the specific product on the eBay and get it for you once it finds the one that match with all of your criterions.

Similarly we can have "Real Estate Agent", "Personal Financial Advisor Agent" and many more.

All user is doing is just creating their personal agent which talks with the web services which are exposed publicly and there by taking care of lots of repetitive tasks.

Precisely Web 3.0 = Every human + Every device + Every Information

Characteristics of Semantic Web

1. Unlike database driven websites, In Semantic Web database is not centralized.

2. Semantic Web is the Open System where schema is not fixed as it may take any arbitrary source of data.

3. Semantic Web requires using Meta description languages such as Web Ontology Language and the Resource Description Framework (RDF). Annotation requires lot of time and effort.

Web n.0 - a Glimpse of the Future

Let me add one more element to the previous formula

Web 3.0 = Every human + Every device + Every Information = Everything in the context of current technology advancement.

Web 3.0 is still evolving and it is going to encompass everything. One can not envision anything beyond web 3.0 in the current technology advancement.

Breaking all current technological capabilities Raymond Kurzweil, the inventor of OCR (Optical Character Reader) envisioned Web 4.0 as the Web OS with intelligent user agents acting parallel to human brain. Following figure illustrate the evolution of Web along with technology advancement and the semantics of social connections. Source: Nova Spivack and Radar Networks

Conclusion

The evolution of web has gone through phases as mentioned in this article and that has introduced numerous technologies and concepts in various areas; software, communication, hardware, marketing, advertising, content sharing, publicity, finance and many more.

In a way the World Wide Web has changed the way people were used to look at things earlier. I believe this evolution is never ending and moving towards excellence.

References:

The Evolution of Word Wide Web - WWW

Love Beyond Words

How do you love beyond words? This is a hard concept for a lot of people to understand, but when you finally get it, it all makes sense and you see the complete picture. No regrets, and love unconditionally with no strings attached in life.

So many people today take the words "I love you" and use them over and over again to where they have no meaning. How many times have you caught yourself saying "I love you" when walking out the door or at the end of a phone conversation. It comes out so naturally, but how often when this happens do we really mean it, listen to it or really feel it with our souls, not many I bet.

As Words

Have you ever had anyone in your life ever show you love in anyway without the use of words? Maybe they did something that no one else did for you just at the right time and you knew they really did love you. Maybe they said something you had been longing to hear but never heard until then, and it wasn't "I love you."

A lot of us do not appreciate the concept of love until it is gone or lost. What most of us do not even see or comprehend a lot of times, or sometimes it is simple as just that we forget, is that we are loved from the Universal Spirit, or your own interpretation of God.

You are loved for who you are. You are loved for your soul. You are loved in every possible way. And you are here also to share your love with others. Not just a simple "I love you" but to go beyond this to where you or the other person becomes this heart swollen love filled embodiment ready to burst with love energy. That is what loving beyond words is!

So next time you see your spouse, child, or friend really mean it from the heart and deep down in your soul when you tell them you love them. When you see the person working a fundraiser for charity, stop and give them your spare change and see how it lights their face up, and know you have spread some love even more. Or when you see the homeless person on a cold night, take them one of your spare blankets and see what kind of changes it makes not only in your own heart and soul but theirs as well. Love beyond words with the whole world and we can change it one random act of kindness at a time.

Love Beyond Words

Does Your Word (Personal Integrity) Mean Anything?

Probably not! As disturbing as it is, are you proud of it? Give me one reason why I should take your word about anything! Is your personal integrity at risk? Are there any people around that actually keep their word about something?

When you hear the words, "I'll call you right back," what are the odds that they never will. Experience in today's world tells us that one's "word" is useless, or at the very least, unreliable. Glenn Van Ekeren in his The Speaker's Sourcebook calls this antic "Famous Fibs." It seems we live in a world of excuses. Or maybe just call it what it is---lies!

As Words

Is it a fear of commitment when you give your word that you will do this or that?

Being raised on a small farm by my grandparents in the 1950s, gave me a real view of what it means to place value on one's word (it says--I promise). And how critically important the words are that come out of your mouth. Back then coming out of World War II was a time for reliance on one another. Farmers knew that relying on the neighbor's help baling hay before the rain depended on the neighbor's word that he would help--and he did!

Today, verbal promises are nothing more than tongue wagging appeasements to fill up the time when one should be speaking the truth. Wouldn't it do your heart good to hear the real truth once in a while?

If you are on a mission of self-improvement, this is a great place to start. Take a moment and think of the benefits derived from making your "word" count for something (a promise kept).

· You are known to be reliable. It means others trust you and know that they can depend on you. Is that important to you?

· You become known among friends, family, and work associates as dependable. It puts you ahead of everyone else as a leader. And it is perceived as a profound respect for others, their time, their planning, their efforts, and their life.

· You become highly respected. You don't have to earn it. It comes to you spontaneously as a result of your dependability and reliability--when you say something, you mean it.

· You become trusted. If there ever was a quality of a person that fuels the ego, stimulates the self-esteem, and brings others closer, it is being trusted.

· You find peace of mind that others never discover. Why? Because your mind and spirit are working together in harmony to let you understand that the qualities you are showing others, helps them--and they begin to see the value of keeping their word.

· You evolve into a role model. Oh yes! You may not want to assume that role--it isn't all that bad! It's a standard that others aspire to, a compliment to your integrity, and an honor that is associated with doing the right thing.

· Your integrity is multiplied. When that happens it brings with it favors, opportunities, and career levels that you never thought possible.

Maybe you can't handle all these powerful dividends? Fine, just expect to be trampled by those who are rushing to the front ahead of you. No one has an axe to grind here--except you. The standards that mentors and others hold you to are far below the standards you hold yourself to.

Meryl Runion sums it all up in a remarkable book that you will find inspiring. Her, "How to Use Power Phrases to Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say, & Get What You Want," is a clear presentation of how progress in our lives is stalemated by our lack of good communication, and indifference to what we mean when we say it.

It's your move!

Does Your Word (Personal Integrity) Mean Anything?

Words of Comfort When Someone Dies - A Personal Reflection on the Power of the Written Word to Heal

Watching someone you love die hurts.

No matter how much you pray or beg for them to live, your calls are fruitless and go unanswered. Even if your loved one is in pain, and gains relief from suffering - it still hurts.

As Words

Like you, I have grieved the loss of dear ones. Looking back, time does ease the sense of loss and sorrow. However at the time, it seems as if the darkness would continue forever and no matter what folks said, nothing could erase the sense of loss and anger I felt.

I recall friends sending me sympathy cards and letters sharing their distress, sadness and pain. Strange as it may seem, it was these cards, the quiet words written on scraps of paper which made sense. It was if the sender could feel my pain and sorrow and spoke directly to my soul.

At that time, I was not familiar with the word 'Affirmations'. My experience of reading inspirational quotes, prayers or poems sat squarely in the corner of former Religious Studies and English Literature lessons at school.

It was only during my first experience of grief that I realised just how powerful the written word is.

Can you remember the joy and elation you felt when you received a certificate for passing your exams or slip of paper to confirm you had passed your driving test?

There is something magical about a piece of paper with a message written on.

For me, when grieving and when I felt low, lonely or alone, I would pick up one of the sympathy cards or condolence letters I received and would sit and read them. Sometimes, tears would fall as I recalled happier carefree days spent with my brother and cousin; but generally, I would find a sense of grace, calm and comfort in reading and reflecting upon the higher meaning of the words.

Even today, I am still touched by the sentiments expressed, especially as the sender was going through their own grief yet still took the time and energy to send me a card or write a few words of sympathy. At the Service, the written words -poems or religious texts again came into their own. Preparing for my brother's funeral, I was not particularly conscious of my spirituality or devout follower of any religion. Yet, was moved by the beauty and simplicity of the Lord's Prayer and hymns and psalms sang at the grave side.

The sound, the quality and reverence of the texts struck deep and I felt "yes, everything is going to be alright." This is just the beginning and today is a new day.

Nothing can ever replace our loved ones, but in the process of grief and coming to terms with your loss, words can be a great source of comfort and inspiration.

If someone you know is mourning, drop them a line, send them a card and rest assured your message will be heard and deeply appreciated.

Words of Comfort When Someone Dies - A Personal Reflection on the Power of the Written Word to Heal

Resume Writing - 5 Words You Should Never Use on Your Resume

Human Resources professionals are inundated with resumes on a daily basis. Now, more than ever before, job seekers must learn to make their resumes stand out. One of the simplest and more effective ways to do this is by using power words and phrases. These words add muscle to your resume statements and exhibit intelligence. Search online for resume power words and you will be overwhelmed by the amount of websites that claim to 'provide' the complete list of resume power words.

Some power word sites list several words as power words that are NOT power words at all. Your resume can land up in the reject pile if you use the wrong phraseology.

As Words

Five words you should never use on your resume are:

A lot - This is probably the most obvious in the list. The problem with saying 'a lot' is that the phrase is entirely too vague. 'A lot' probably means something different to you from what the phrase means to me. There is no value in the phrase 'a lot.' One girl saying, "I eat a lot of chocolate," could mean something entirely different from another girl making the same statement. How much is 'a lot?'

Instead of saying, "I did XYZ a lot of the time," you could say, "I did XYZ 16 hours per work week." The more specifications you add to your resume, the better your chances are of getting an interview.

Creative - Should someone who boasts of being creative actually have to come right out and say they are creative? Probably not. The best way to show creativity is by accentuating accomplishments or skills you have that emphasize your creativity.

Flexible - Flexible is so overused that the word has lost all power. Flexible does not impress anyone. Flex that muscle on top of your head and come up with another power word that gets the same idea across.

If you are applying for a job where physical flexibility is critical (i.e. ballerina or yoga master) feel free to leave this word on your resume.

Interesting - Interesting as a power word is not interesting enough to grab or keep the attention of a human resources executive. Using stronger power words will create the idea that you are interesting and companies will be interested in calling you for an interview. Anyone truly interesting will never come right out and say that they are!

It - Using 'it' in place of actually telling what 'it' means confuses most readers.

Want another reason to cut 'it' out?

You automatically appear more intelligent.

Using power words can boost the effectiveness of your resume.

Resume Writing - 5 Words You Should Never Use on Your Resume

Competitions - How to Write a Winning 25 Words Or Less Answer

Not sure how to answer 25 word or less questions? Often the judges are looking for the most creative answer, so here are a few ideas of how to get started:

1. Use humor

As Words

Often judges are inundated with depressing answers on why someone should win, for example "My cat died, and the new car will help cheer me up". To set yourself apart from the rest, try using a funny answer. For example,

I need a new car I'm an unemployed actor, It's hard getting to auditions on my rusty old tractor.

2. Poetry

It doesn't matter if you were no good at poetry in high school. Creating a simple poem is easy, especially with the websites available today to help find rhyming words. Here are some examples of how you could use poetry to answer the question, "Tell us in 25 words or less why you want to win the holiday"

Kids are driving me crazy, Work is making me bored, The perfect solution to my problems? A fantastic holiday abroad.

Or you could try an acrostic poem:

H ~ Having fun
O ~ Overseas break
L ~ Lazing by the pool
I ~ Island Paradise
D ~ Dream's come true
A ~ Amazing food
Y ~ Yummy cocktails

It is also important to remember who you are writing for. For example, if the prize is tickets to a comedy festival, chances are that a funny answer will have a greater chance of success than other entries.

And remember the judges are human, so what appeals to one may not appeal to another. The best strategy is to try a variety of different answers for different competitions and to keep practising by entering as many competitions as possible.

Competitions - How to Write a Winning 25 Words Or Less Answer

The Power's in the Word - Unity Sand Ceremony Vows Affirm Love

The perfect wedding is more than just a stunning gown and a stellar guest list. For brides and grooms who have a strong Christian faith, the Lord is the center of the ceremony. Couples who want to show their unity in the Lord and their bond with each other can do so through the 21st century wedding sensation known as unity sand ceremony vows. Mixing tradition with innovation, the unity sand ceremony allows couples to demonstrate both their love for each other and their love for God.

You may have attended weddings where the bride and groom light a Unity candle. The unity sand ceremony follows a similar principle, but instead of sparking a flame, the couple creates an artistic masterpiece by pouring different colored sand into a unity vase. The wedding keepsake that results in a treasure that can grace the dining table in the couple's first home.

As Words

But this special ceremony involves more than just fashioning lovely artwork. During the ceremony, the couple and, in some cases, the relatives of the bride and groom, exchange unique vows. These are vows that go beyond the traditional, allowing the couple to articulate their vision for a unified future. As a result, they hold a special meaning that can enhance a traditional wedding ceremony and offer a fabulous memory for the couple involved.

For the Christian couple, the vows of the unity sand ceremony can be based upon the time-honored words of Scripture. There is good reason for this. As the Bible says, there is tremendous power in the tongue. As Proverbs 18:21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." Our words have the strength to create or destroy...to enhance or to detract.

Speaking words of love, commitment, and hope breathe life into a relationship and form a strong foundation for a marriage. Studies have shown that couples who often compliment each other are far more likely to stay together than those who constantly complain. Words paint a portrait of a marriage; by exchanging life-affirming and relationship-affirming vows on the wedding day, couples create a habit that can last a lifetime.

Fortunately, many verses of Scripture can serve as the basis for unity sand ceremony vows. Consider Ephesians 4:2-3, which states, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Couples can easily adapt this verse to profess their personal desire to be patient with one another in love, and to maintain their unity in God through a peaceful marital union.

Another possibility - the Song of Solomon 2:16, which declares, "My beloved is mine, and I am his." Or Ephesians 5:31-33, which states, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." In fact, virtually any verse that promotes unity can be used as a basis for these special vows.

For today's couples, marriage is more than just the union of two people. It is also a celebration of the merging of two families, the blending of two clans. This is especially important when there are children from previous marriages involved. There is perhaps no better way to help smooth the transition for these children than to have them serve as active participants in a unity sand ceremony. They can recite their own unique vows as they pour bright-colored sand into the unity vase.

Blended families need special care; the exchange of unity sand ceremony vows enables them to proclaim the beauty of the new family that has been created. In some cases, couples might also want to include the mothers of the bride and groom or the maid of honor and the best man in the ceremony. What a wonderful way for families to pledge their support for a couple!

In the end, the unity sand ceremony is more than just a Technicolor treat. It is an event which honors faith, commitment, and love. The power of the ceremony lies not only in the visuals, but in the words, which speak to the heart of Christian marriage.

The Power's in the Word - Unity Sand Ceremony Vows Affirm Love