Financial Peace University/0 Comments/in /by

 

Tap Into the Power of Prayer “POP”!!!/0 Comments/in /by
Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart (Luke 18:1 AMP).
Prayer, by far is one of the most powerful tools God has given every believer; however, with all the power that is found in prayer, it is still one of the most neglected areas in the believer’s life.  Why is that?  It is because the believer has not learned the significance of P.O.P!  The Power of Prayer!!!  Prayer is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.  Prayer is able to go further than we can imagine, high as the heavens, and deeper than the depths of the sea.  Prayer penetrates the impenetrable, shakes up prisons, and sets captives free!  Prayer possesses the ability to encourage the discouraged, lift the fallen, and strengthen the weak. Wow!  It is through prayer that we learn the voice of God, the mind of God, and movement of God.
Tap into the powerful blessing of the Power of Prayer, P.O.P!!!
“Show Me Your Guns!”/0 Comments/in /by
What an eye-catching title!  In fitness, “guns” are those super-size arms that people show-off in an instant.  The arms and abs are the two most popular parts of the body. In today’s Health & Wellness, we are going to concentrate on the arms, specifically the triceps.
“Your triceps comprise more than two-thirds of your upper-arm mass,” says BJ Gaddour, Men’s Health Fitness Adviser. “So, building thicker, more developed triceps muscles makes your entire arms look like shotguns than pistols.”
Many people don’t realize that the triceps are a three-headed monster, consisting of three muscles. The first is the long head that runs down the back of your arm and is the largest of the three. The second is the medial head positioned on the mid-line of the triceps, lying deep within the arm. The third is the lateral head which is located on the outside of the arm, giving that familiar horseshoe shape that makes your triceps stand out.
If you desire to form your triceps and are a beginner, start with 1-2 sets, 6-8 reps. Then move toward 2-3 sets and 8-10, 10-12 reps.  A rep (repetition) is a complete motion of an exercise from start to finish. A set is a group of consecutive repetitions. For example, if you did “two sets of ten reps on the triceps kickbacks, this means you did ten consecutive kickbacks, rested, and then did another ten kickbacks.
Below are some exercises to help you shape your triceps.  You can use barbells, dumbbells, or any weighted object. Proper form is very important when doing exercises. When doing resistance training, concentrate on alignment (especially the back), range of motion, and tension. Google the below exercises for more information.
Always remember to consult your physician prior to any exercise regiment
Skulls/lying triceps extensions with dumbbell
Skulls/lying triceps extension french press (barbell)
Triceps kickbacks standing
Kickback on bench
Dips (with bar)
Dips using bench/chair
Cable pull downs
Close grip bench press
One arm overhead extensions (sitting or standing)
Two arm overhead extensions seated/standing
Close-grip push ups
Close-grip knee push ups
By Tracy Byrd, Fitness Instructor
Information by: www.menshealth.com/fitness
Divorce & Lassie/0 Comments/in /by
Divorce is a difficult and troubling time for most. Divorce gets especially hard when a couple has to determine what to do with Fido, Zeus or Sebastian.  The pet industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. For many Americans without children, or for even those with children, the family pet is just that – FAMILY. Thus, what happens to your furry loved one in a divorce can have serious emotional impact for all involved.
The sometimes callous and impassionate legal system regards animals as chattels. A chattel is a tangible, movable, or immovable, item of property, except real estate or other things connected with reap property. In other words, a pet is a piece of property. That’s a pretty cold definition of a member of our family! NRS 193.021 states, “personal property includes dogs, domestic animals, and birds.”  Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending upon your point of view, in the eyes of the law, your pet is akin to a vase or a car. Under NRS 41.740, “a person can sue for damages should anything happen to his or her animal, not to exceed $5,000.”
According to NRS 123.130 and case law, all property acquired after marriage is presumed community property, which is to be divided equally.   This creates an interesting dilemma when it comes to deciding what to do with the family pet upon divorce.  Only the judge’s discretion determines the outcome unless the parties can come to a mutually agreed upon agreement.  In an ideal world, a divorcing couple should put aside their differences and do what is in the best interest of the pet.
Should a new law be promulgated to elevate Lassie’s status above a piece of property? Should we establish a ‘best interest of the pet’ standard?  Do we order pet support?  These questions may seem comical but in reality, thousands of dollars are spent by divorcees willing to pay large sums of money to care for Lassie.
 While this is still a growing and fluid area of the law, the Court has options that it can consider when handling this issue.  Factors such as, who purchased Lassie, who is the registered owner, bring Lassie into the courtroom and see who Lassie runs too or whoever gets the house, gets Lassie.  While these may not seem ideal ways to decide who gets Lassie, it’s all we have until the law catches up understanding our love for Lassie and Fido.
“GOD couldn’t be physically with us so he gave us dogs…& notice Dog spelled backward is GOD and they both show unconditional Love!”~author unknown
By Tanika Capers, Esq.
Poor and Educated Part II (The Value of A College Education)/0 Comments/in /by
In last month’s Money Matters column, I talked about the severity of the student loan debt crisis in America.  To highlight, Americans, owe more than $1.3 trillion in student loans debts and the only debt category higher is mortgage debt.  We are essentially mortgaging away our future by paying for our past!  Part of the reason we struggle to build wealth is because we have gone into such deep debt in the pursuit of an education.  Don’t get me wrong; I have a high regard for education and I believe if you can get an education and it will help you in the future, you should get it!  But do it wisely! Let’s talk about some things we can do to make sure the money we are spending on making ourselves better is well spent!
First, let’s talk about your choice of school.  Do you want to go to any Ivy League college?  According to ivycoach.com, Princeton is the cheapest Ivy Leagues University and tuition and fees cost just over $61,000 in the 2016-2017 academic year!  Yeah, that’s a little pricey for me.  So if you are like me, and you don’t have Ivy League money a state school would be a great alternative!  Even better, you could attend a state college (which is usually cheaper than private schools) in your home state and save on out-of-state-tuition!  Community college may also be an option and they are even cheaper than state colleges.  Although community colleges may not offer the degree one is seeking, It is not uncommon for a student to start at a community college and after a year or two of taking all of their prerequisites, transfer to a nearby state college.  There are several ways to get an education you just have to realistically look at your options and devise a plan.
If you are going to earn a degree or pursue a certification, you have to know how much your degree/certification is going to cost you (in time and dollars) and you should know how it will benefit you when you graduate.  Do not choose to be clueless!  The cost to get an education can be found on the school’s website and you can get an idea of what kind of money to expect from sites like salary.com  And if you are not willing to settle for the income commensurate with your career choice, then you might want to reassess.  You also need to know the marketability of your prospective degree.  For example, teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and mechanics are usually in demand and these professionals can find jobs just about anywhere.  But if your degree is in Egyptology, Bag piping, Canadian Studies, Comic Art, or Auctioning, your career opportunities are much more narrow.  I know in this American culture, it is popular to encourage people to “follow their heart” no matter what the cost, but that is just unwise.  I’m not telling you to chase the money and work a job you hate because it pays well, but I am saying you have, and will likely gain more, responsibilities that must be considered.  It may be possible to satisfy your heart’s desire through another means other than your occupation like through volunteer services, a second job, or a society club.  It’s just something else to think about.
Like I said earlier, I have a high regard for education.  People should never stop learning and getting a formal education is a great way to learn.  But, just like most things in life, there are multiple ways to go about it. Investing in an education can be a big step and it is worth the extra time it takes to count the cost (Luke 14:28-31). Doing some research and planning
will bring focus to your goals, making you more efficient and can easily save you tens of thousands of dollars!  This gift of life God gives is short (James 4:14) and too precious to waste.  And we only have a limited amount of resources (ability, time, and money).  So, if you, or anybody you know, is pondering the thought of getting an education or some training, I recommend taking the time to do some detailed planning.  Besides, like Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to plan, you are planning to fail.”
By Alfred King, Financial Consultant
Building a Healthy Family/0 Comments/in /by
Building a healthy family relationship is essential for families of all types. Whether it is a married couple, a family of four or a single mother and her adopted child, families thrive on love. Without a healthy family relationship, it can feel like someone has no one to turn to in times of crisis and or times of celebration. Healthy family relationships do not come automatically–they come with time and effort. The concept of family goes back to the origins of creation. When God created Adam and Eve, he told them, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). As a result, the first family came into being, and even though it got off to a rough start, families have been the basic building block of humankind ever since.  In an effort to reverse the trend of destructive relationships and strengthen the infrastructure of our society, we must be committed to the education, promotion, and support of each other through prayer, communication, fellowship, resources and most importantly making God and His Word first in our homes. Families play a large part in giving us self-confidence, validation, and self-esteem. Our society considers families the basic unit of the social order: Strong families form the basis of strong communities.
If you are building or rebuilding your family, I pray that these five principles will be a guide for you and your spouse. I am standing in Faith with you, that God will give you and your children the breakthrough that you are praying for, these are simple but applicable steps that can bring positive results in the health of your home.
 
Family Principle 1, “Eat Dinner Together”
 
Find the time to eat dinner together as a family.  Eating together as a family is a healthy habit that helps to bring everyone together. I believe eating together teaches children proper etiquette and it is an opportunity for open communication.  It is a time to bond, be involved and build intimacy. Even if you don’t have children, eating together allows you to relax from the busy pace of work and just talk.  It is nothing like hearing the laughter and conversation of family around a dinner table. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).
Family Principle 2, “Quality Time”
 
Spend quality recreational time together doing activities that each of your family members enjoy. Even if your children are adults, take the time to plan family time. You can play board games, attend a concert, go the movies, go see a play, go to a game or read a book together. Creating regular family rituals is vital in showing your family they are important. If you are blending your families invite the all children to be involved; making every attempt to be a peacemaker.  Spending regular time together is what makes a family a tight unit. There is a famous quote that states “Your family needs your PRESENCE more than your PRESENTS”.  “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:1-2).
Family Principle 3, “Respect”
 
Respect each other’s personal space. If your spouse asks for some alone time, give it to them.  Children learn respect, how they see parents respecting one another. If your children at times need quiet time, teach them to build healthy boundaries. Everyone needs time alone, and respecting privacy is one of the things that build solid relationships. If you have multiple children, it is important to give each one of them, their time alone with you, as the parents. Take your son to a sporting event while your spouse takes your daughter to a movie or nail salon.  It is very important that we as parents pray for wisdom in raising our children. God gave each of them different personalities and they will have their own journey in life.  Respectfully, we have to give them their space to grow and develop. Alone time with parents helps children feel special, it is their personal time of validation and an opportunity to learn from their first classroom “Home”.  “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). 
 
Family Principle 4, “Communication”
 
Allow everyone in the family to openly communicate feelings respectfully.  I believe that to maintain a healthy family relationship, each member must be able to communicate freely with one another, as well as listen effectively. Listening allows you to learn more about your family’s thoughts and personalities. Communicating allows you to express yourself to relieve frustrations and other emotions. When your family is having a discussion try never to interrupt a family member through disrespectful tones, demeaning words, or through passive aggressiveness; instead, listen until he/she is finished, then relate how you feel. This effective type of communication prevents and solves arguments, keeping the family relationship healthy.  “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly”  (Proverbs 15:1-2).
Family Principle 5, “Financial Security”
Many families struggle when comes to financial freedom. Trying to juggle life, responsibilities, priorities, and extra curricular activities can be overwhelming. The key to good money management is expense management. We need to learn to live below our means and be content with what God has given us. This is hard for all of us, but it is a valuable life lesson. Developing a good budget is key. Everything we have comes from God. He owns it, and He entrusts it to us to use for His purposes. True financial success comes not from accumulating a large surplus in our bank account, but from following God’s plan for our finances. As we do this, He will provide for all of our needs. As Christians, our first financial priority, just as in every other area of life, should be God and His work. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).
Pastor Clinton House