Jubilee! Church and Community Support For Local Economic Growth in a Book That Matters to All of Us

CSS Publishing Company, of Lima Ohio, has just published a book which will interest almost everyone.  

Jubilee!  A Workbook for Church and Community

ISBN 978-0-7880-2608-9.  

Karl Evanshas spent the last 25 years developing his thinking on poverty in the USA.  This book outlines the legitimate, appropriate and theologically correct targets for mission and action in both rural and urban economically deprived areas. It will soon be available from CSS Publishing Company.  It is also available from any bookstore.   In addition, Evans has prepared a CD-led local church and community workshop.  The workshop is available from Evans.  Bulk purchases are available from him for slightly less.  The workshop is good for a lengthy series of church school classes, a one or two day workshop, family development studies, community discussion series, etc.  It can be led either using or not using the spoken dialogue on the CD.   The book centers on the study Evans led for the United Methodist Church General Board of Global Ministries in 1988-89.  In that study, several researchers visited and studied the 25 counties of the USA with the lowest  per capita income of 1987.  The counties included the major ethnic groups of the country: Anglo, Black, Latin, Native.  The effort was to find what executives should do when they went into these counties.  That result was a recommendation that the staffers not be afraid to talk about what they saw in the counties.  That was about all.   However, Evans pushed ahead with the study.  Karl and Donella Evans have visited and studied most of the 250 lowest income counties of the nation since that study.  The results have extended the findings of the first small study dramatically.  The work has isolated 15 factors missing or weak in local realities.  These economic hardships are theologically correct for almost all faith groups.  They are legitimate and appropriate for the Church and other non-profit organizations, and Biblically oriented as mission and action targets.  These factors are the core of Jubilee!  The book is a handle for the pastor, congregation and community as it comes to grips with the call of Christ to mission in this area.   Jubilee! will serve as a planning guide to local church mission in economic strength.  The outcome of the process will strengthen preaching, worship, leadership development, education, missions, inclusiveness,  church expenditures, and a host of other areas.  Finding handles on this subject is very difficult in our time.   Evans hopes various local pastors and lay persons will find a way to build local workshops around these presentations.  With some resourcefulness, Evans and the support group will encourage them to raise their own funds for the workshops, including the purchase of books and CD, supplies and advertising.  Raising about $250 will give them materials for the workshop for ten persons and about $100 general expense money and potential net.  This should be an attractive package for many in low income communities..   Evans have a special heart for pastors serving very low budget ministries around the world.  A majority of all congregations around the world can not afford full time pastors.  He wants to make it possible for them to use these materials to produce and lead workshops in areas of need.  Evans believes he can prepare the work in such a way that the local leader can realize a small profit from the process.  Those local leaders will not become wealthy from the workshop, but any increase will be helpful to them.  It will also give them a new sense of what must be done to support local economic growth.   This may well be one of the most important Christian social missions of our time.

Reliable and Cost-effective Payroll Administration Services For Small and Large Businesses

Payroll means a sequence of accounting transactions like working with the salary process of employees, holding money of employees for payment of payroll taxes, insurance premiums, etc. Payroll administration job includes receipt and analysis of payroll data. They do the actual work of tallying hours and creating the paychecks for all the employees of a client.

Holding years of experience in payroll administration services, our Accounting Services provides reliable and cost effective services for any small or large businesses. Moreover our accounting service provides payroll software that enables you to transmit and receive your payroll data securely, easily and efficiently through the internet. You can view a pre-check register to verify that the payroll is perfect at every time. Our payroll solutions offer you more control, and at the same time provides flexibility in how you manage all of your payroll-related functions.

The Major Payroll administration services we provide for any business include:

Preparation of timely and accurate notifications of tax liabilities and deposits Preparation of medical leave and payment details Processing of various payroll accruals Digital data processing of timesheet, commission, bonus calculation, overtime, Insurance deduction and PAYE Calculation of net pay Preparation of various department summaries of month-to-date payroll data Year-end return preparation Preparation of employee earning statements with current pay period and year-to-date wages, adjustments, and taxes Calculation and payment of taxes at various government levels Key Benefits while availing our payroll services are as follows: The utmost advantage our clients get is the presence of professional expertise in Payroll Administration However complex or voluminous be the project, our specialists will complete them within deadlines without compromising on continuity, quality, and reliability of service We also provide highly Cost-effective services Our Payroll administration services are usually flexible by nature and integrate themselves into the business smoothly, hence work to the advantage of the business establishment In addition, you can acquire an Ability to focus on your core business Payroll administration outsourcing Services can really save valuable time when it comes to working out on your payroll data

Flat Rate Conference Call Services - The Hot Zone

Although it isn't necessary to buy the latest and greatest system, in general you really do not want to buy something based solely on one factor such as the price. Because if you had any experience at all in this free-market economy price does not always indicate quality.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but you get the idea. This tidbit is especially true if you're planning to implement this teleconferencing system within a hot zone. Or in other words, if you're planning to use it with real clients, supply chain partners, and stakeholders.

Then you have a vested interest to provide the best presence as well as sense of professionalism in front of these constituents. Otherwise it may be OK to go with a lesser costing system, if you're only planning to use it with some of your employees and those that you're managing within the organization. Anything used on an ad hoc or informal nature can be used on a free teleconferencing or cheap conferencing solution.

From that starting point you will at least have a point of reference to decide where you want to steer your communications strategy- by upgrading certain components on a needed basis. This gives you maximum flexibility.

Matthew Broderick and Eric McCormack Named Top Stars of "The Music Man"

Matthew Broderick and Eric McCormack lead the rankings of top drawing headliners for the musical "The Music Man" compiled by GuestStarCasting.com

Rounding out the Top Five ranked performers are television veterans Barry Williams and Gary Sandy, and Broadway leading man Craig Bierko.

Broderick, currently in preparations for a new Broadway revival of "The Odd Couple" opposite Nathan Lane, starred in a 2003 Disney television movie of "The Music Man."

McCormack, best known for his title role in the hit series "Will & Grace" played the principal role of Professor Harold Hill on Broadway in 2001 and reprised the role at the famed Hollywood Bowl.

Other leading men charting in the rankings for their drawing power as Harold Hill include Larry Gatlin, Jeff Goldblum, and Jack Stauffer.

GuestStarCasting.com is a theater industry resource providing rankings and statistical projections on the top name talent potentially able to positively improve Return on Investment.

Actor rankings are compiled based upon cumulative and recent box office receipts, overall marquee name power, critical review, and consumer demand.

From Meredith Wilson, "The Music Man"is a family-friendly crowd pleaser in which traveling salesman Professor Harold Hill embarks on a mission to con the innocents of River City, Iowa into buying band equipment on the promise he'll personally teach the student band while failing to disclose that he himself can't read music or play an instrument.

A slight comedic actor known for his boyish charm, Broderick is the winner of two Tony Awards. In 1983 he won the Best Actor in a Play award for his role in "Brighten Beach Memoirs" and in 1995 he won the Best Actor in a Musical award for his turn in "How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying."

He was nominated for the Best Actor in a Musical award again in 2001 for "The Producers," losing out to his co-star Lane. Both Lane and Broderick reprise their roles in an upcoming film adaptation.

McCormack is a veteran of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival and has won an Best Actor Emmy and six Golden Globe awards for his role on "Will & Grace"

Williams gained fame as a child actor on the television series "The Brady Bunch" before turning his talents to musical theater on Broadway, on tour, and in regional revivals with such productions as "Pippin," "Guys and Dolls," "The Sound of Music," "City of Angels," and "The Music Man."

Sandy achieved notoriety for his starring role on the hit television series "WKRP in Cincinnati" opposite Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, and Howard Hesseman. In addition to "The Music Man", Sandy's well known stage roles include a Broadway run in "The Pirates of Penzance" and the national tour of "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" opposite Ann-Margaret.

Bierko headlined the 2000 Broadway revival of "The Music Man" and was named Sexiest Broadway Star that year by People Magazine.

The Waltons (Season 2) DVD Review

Nominated for 15 Golden Globes and 25 Emmys, including two for Outstanding Drama Series, The Waltons enjoyed nine seasons of high audience ratings and notable critical acclaim. Premiering on CBS in the Fall of 1972, the hour-long drama series chronicled the lives of a tightly-knit mountain family living during the Depression era. Creator Earl Hamner Jr. based The Waltons on his true-to-life story of growing up in the Hamner family. Noted for its family-oriented subject matter (and absence of torrid sex and violence), The Waltons paved the way for the success of the popular TV series Little House On The Prairie (1974). And, in the aftermath of the cancellation of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) and Green Acres (1965), proved wrong the assertion of some CBS executives that shows with rural settings were becoming unpopular. Celebrated for its raw depiction of the human experience, The Waltons towers above modern day television dramas by laying claim to the added weight today's critics give to "realism" in a series while simultaneously avoiding the bad language, adult content, and gratuitous violence that often accompany those shows which earn such a designation...

The Waltons follows the daily lives of the various members of the Walton family as they make a living working their humble saw mill on Walton's Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Set in the 1930's, the series unfolds through the eyes of John Boy (Richard Thomas). An aspiring writer, John Boy chronicles life on Walton Mountain where his parents, John Sr. (Ralph Waite) and Olivia (Michael Learned), raise their seven children (John Boy, Jason, Mary Ellen, Erin, Ben, Jim-Bob, and Elizabeth) with the aid of live-in grandparents Esther (Ellen Corby) and Zeb (Will Greer) Walton. A wide array of supporting characters live near the Waltons, including Reverend Fordwick (portrayed by Three's Company star John Ritter), the Godseys, the Baldwins, and various others. As the trials of the Great Depression fade into the tribulations of World War II, the Waltons connect with every facet of the human experience - love, marriage, birth, death, aging, social ills, and the numerous travails of life, making The Waltons one of the most popular shows in television history...

The Waltons (Season 2) DVD features a number of memorable episodes including the season premiere "The Journey" in which Maggie McKenzie would like to see the ocean one last time in her life, and John Boy agrees to take her, although he must miss an important dance in order to do so. Meanwhile, Grandpa Zeb and the kids nurse and injured bird back to health. This episode is also notable because it boasts of being the only show of series in which creator Earl Hamner (playing the role of Maggie's wife) appears... Other notable episodes from Season 2 include "The Fawn" in which Erin nurses an injured fawn back to health while John Boy becomes a collections agent for a notorious landlord, and "The Honeymoon" in which John Sr. and Olivia enjoy a belated honeymoon in Virginia Beach...

Below is a list of episodes included on The Waltons (Season 2) DVD

Episode 26 (The Journey) Air Date: 09-13-1973

Episode 27 (The Odyssey) Air Date: 09-20-1973

Episode 28 (The Separation) Air Date: 09-27-1973

Episode 29 (The Theft) Air Date: 10-04-1973

Episode 30 (The Roots) Air Date: 10-11-1973

Episode 31 (The Chicken Thief) Air Date: 10-18-1973

Episode 32 (The Prize) Air Date: 10-25-1973

Episode 33 (The Braggart) Air Date: 11-01-1973

Episode 34 (The Fawn) Air Date: 11-08-1973

Episode 35 (The Thanksgiving Story: Part 1) Air Date: 11-15-1973

Episode 36 (The Thanksgiving Story: Part 2) Air Date: 11-15-1973

Episode 37 (The Substitute) Air Date: 11-22-1973

Episode 38 (The Bequest) Air Date: 11-29-1973

Episode 39 (The Air Mail Man) Air Date: 12-13-1973

Episode 40 (The Triangle) Air Date: 12-20-1973

Episode 41 (The Awakening) Air Date: 01-03-1974

Episode 42 (The Honeymoon) Air Date: 01-10-1974

Episode 43 (The Heritage) Air Date: 01-17-1974

Episode 44 (The Gift) Air Date: 01-24-1974

Episode 45 (The Cradle) Air Date: 01-31-1974

Episode 46 (The Fulfillment) Air Date: 02-07-1974

Episode 47 (The Ghost Story) Air Date: 02-14-1974

Episode 48 (The Graduation) Air Date: 02-21-1974

Episode 49 (The Five Foot Shelf) Air Date: 03-07-1974

Episode 50 (The Car) Air Date: 03-14-1974

Make Yourself Creative: Two Easy Idea-Generating Methods

Here are a couple of exercises to force yourself to come up with some brand new ideas. These methods can be used to give your business an edge, to overcome creative blocks, or just for fun - to prove to yourself that you can have some great ideas.

Method 1: "It's X meets Y"

Many movie critics use the "It's X meets Y" formula to help them quickly and accurately describe what a movie is all about. For example, the film Open Water was described by one critic as "It's Jaws meets Blair Witch". Anyone can now guess that the film involves sharks (or other water-dwelling monsters), and is a horror film filmed in a realistic way.

You can also use this formula to create brand new products, which can be easily understood by the potential market.

Choose 2 products from your industry (or choose 2 at random), with different features and audiences. Combine the two and consider the result. This is your brand new product. Do this a few times to create 5 different new products and then evaluate them to see which to go with. For example "It's Pop Tarts meets AllBran" could give you the idea to make a toastable breakfast health snack, or mini-Poptarts that you pour into a bowl and eat as a cereal.

Funnily enough, this method works really well with new movie-script ideas.

Method 2: "Redesign This"

This method allows a product to be developed very quickly. Consider an existing everyday item and improve it. Write down the item's main essential features - no more than the essentials. Then write down all the extra features you would personally like to see in the perfect version of this item. Then sketch out some ideas which have all the features you have though of.

If we consider a Kettle, what essentials features does it need? The ability to heat liquid, to be safe, easy to pour, easy to fill. If we think of it like this we could design a kettle that can have variable settings for different liquids - one to boil water, one to heat baby's milk, one to make hot chocolate (though it would have to be easy to clean!). Or we could make a more traditional style kettle, but with an extra wide spout to allow it to be filled without having to remove the lid.

These new ideas appear only when we strip an item down to its absolute essentials and start again from scratch.

Is your business as targeted as it could be, or are you providing unwanted features? Could you bring out some new redesigned products to complement existing ones?

It is very satisfying to improve an old classic.

Data Loss and Preventative Measures to Avoid It

Data Loss can be devastating. It could instantly take a small or medium size business from "Open for Business" to "Out of Business" in an instant. On a personal level, it can wipe away weeks, months and even years of critical data where there is no means of accessing or recreating the valuable information.

However, there are preventative measures that can be taken to ensure that you do not fall victim to the unfortunate circumstance of loss of data. As a data recovery lab, we know. We just took a direct hit from hurricane Wilma. Hurricane Wilma was "Not our First Rodeo", and more than likely, will not be our last.

We are also seeing an increase of drives on a local level that have been affected by this natural disaster, just as we did after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Hearing stories on a daily basis of data loss, I thought it to be only fair to share some of our preparations of how we (as a Data Recovery Lab) survived as a business, and had basically no loss of business continuity. Fortunately, the only loss we did have was the actual day that the hurricane hit and we all watched the devastating destruction from our homes.

Here are a few of the procedures that we as a data recovery lab, put into place, yet once *again* this year, prior to landfall of Hurricane Wilma.

o We are fanatical about backing up. Keep in mind that our business is based upon hard drive failures. If you can imagine it, e.g. Fires, Floods, Mechanical Failure, User Error, we have heard it. The thought of a category 3 hurricane barreling towards us, was not a pleasant one.

o Ensure that you have "Backups of your Backups." Always keep a current backup offsite for absolute worst case scenarios.

o Prior to vacating the premises, Make Backups of Critical Data, Verify that all electronics are plugged into UPSs' (as they should be) power down and unplug from A.C. if possible. (Including Telephone and Modem Lines.)

o If possible, elevate all electronics and electronics equipment off of the ground. Even with Flood Insurance, Insurance providers will draw the line between "Wind driven Rain", and "Rising Water".

o Last but certainly not least, remain calm and approach any Computer Failure/Data Loss with a rational and sensible approach. A majority of hard drive failures, and data loss resulting from them can be successfully overcome, if proper measures are taken. There are numerous previously published articles that outline what NOT to do when faced with this type of potential crisis. Consult a professional data recovery lab to see what options are available for you, before it is too late.

With a Natural Disaster such as a category 3 hurricane approaching, there are exterior preparations as well. (Hurricane Shutters, Non-Perishable Foods, Water, for at least 3-4 days, Ice, Flashlights, Batteries, and Battery operated Radio or TV for News Alerts.) Anyone who lives in a hurricane prone area should already know these basics.

Hopefully, by taking these tips to heart (and mind), your business and or place of business will not be "Gone with Wind!"

Five Kinds of Bank Fraud - Title 18 - U.S. Code - Section 1344 Explained

Violations of law at a bank or by using accounts of a financial institution are commonly prosecuted in federal court as "bank fraud".

The United States Attorney's Office will seek an Indictment (a charging document formally charging the person with a crime) for bank fraud based upon a relatively non-complex theft or embezzlement of monies by a bank employee, or a more complex scheme to defraud based upon false statements, such as an overvaluation of property or securities. Also, the federal prosecutor's office will seek an Indictment for bank fraud based upon a complex scheme to defraud, such as a scheme based upon a series of false loan applications and misuses of loaned monies or non-existent collateral.

The United States Code contains federal crimes that are prosecuted by the Department of Justice or its field offices, the United States Attorney's Offices, in respective districts in the different states. Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, titled Bank Fraud, makes it a crime to defraud a bank or commit a scheme to defraud regarding the accounts of a financial institution. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1344 reads as follows:

BANK FRAUD

Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts to execute, a scheme or artifice--

1) to defraud a financial institution; or

2) to obtain any of the moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by, or under the custody of or control of, a financial institution, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises;

shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for more than 30 years, or both.

FALSE STATEMENTS

The violation of making a false statement to a financial institution is also a commonly used criminal law used to prosecute people for making misrepresentations to fact to a bank. The crime of making a false statement is often utilized when federal prosecutors are investigating a person for bank fraud or violations concerning a financial institution.

Under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014, it is a federal crime to make a false statement to a financial institution. 18 U.S. C. §1014 reads as follows (in summary):

False Statements to a Financial Institution -

Whoever knowingly

1) Makes a false statement, or overvalues any property

2) For the purpose of influencing an anyway

3) The action of a financial institution

shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for more than 30 years, or both.

Overview and Advantages of Kegging Your Homebrew

Homebrews are the best way to have fun and drink because they are very well made and one does not need to drive home afterwards. For every celebration the brews are very convenient as they provide the best drinks without having to spend a fortune on them. One is also able to determine what goes into the brews and so there is no danger of unknown ingredients in the brews. For those people who love homemade brews kegs are very popular; they have an authentic taste that makes them unique.

Kegged beer is very much tastier than the normal beer. This is because first of all it is carbonated to higher levels as there is no limitation. It is also very possible to drink it very soon after making it because it takes a shorter time to mature. Kegging beer also helps it to keep fresh for a longer time and so this is a way of preserving homemade beer.

Kegging homebrew also reduces the cost of packaging because it is not necessary to bottle the beer. There are several steps in the process of kegging homebrew. One must have the ready-made brew to start this process.

Cleaning

Once one gets the kegging equipment that is made of stainless steel they must sanitize it. This is very important in order to keep pathogens away. One should use a strong sanitizer and ensure they dilute it well as required. After this, one should dip all the parts of the kegging equipment in the sanitizing solution, having dismantled them to single pieces for better cleaning. After rinsing off the sanitizer, one should pass the containers through carbon dioxide (CO2) to get rid of the smell of the sanitizer because after all, this is a beer and it will be ingested.

Filling the kegging equipment

After cleaning the equipment now one is ready to put the brew in it. This is a careful process that will require the person to be able to fill the container to the brim and leave no air spaces. It also has to be done in a hygienic environment to avoid invasion by bacterial elements as this may be very dangerous if consumed. It should also be expertly done to avoid entry of unwanted elements. Pressure may be enhanced by putting in a bit of carbon. The lid should be air tight to avoid letting more air as this will decrease the pressure.

Carbonation

To complete the kegging process, the beer must now be carbonated. There are several ways this can be done. One of them may be by diffusing the CO2 into the beer. The other way may be saturating the beer with CO2 over a long period of time. In order for the beer to take up more carbon dioxide, it should be at a very low temperature. Although the last method is mostly used in companies and large beer manufacturing firms, it may also be effective if available. This is high pressure carbonation. After this t,he beer has been kegged and is ready to drink.