Will You Add? - News and Society

Trading Is Not Rocket Science!
Despite what some people may lead you to believe; day trading, swing trading and trend trading is not anywhere as difficult as they would like you to think. It really boils down to two key components.First, you have to have an approach that helps you identify trades that have a consistently high probability of making money. Once you have this you must exploit this "edge" over and over again.The only way to do this is to use the necessary discipline to never deviate from your system. The minute you start tinkering or tweaking things is when you will lose your edge!!!You will most likely be tempted to do this after you have had a few losers. This is the time however to keep your focus and remind yourself that your system has a statistical advantage that has held up over time.Think about this for a moment? If you go gambling in Las Vegas and can even gain a 1% advantage over the house you can make a literal fortune by exploiting this edge. That little one percent advantage can make the casino lose a whole lot of money over time. As a matter of fact the minute they notice that you have a viable system they will label you a cheat and ban you from the playing. It sure is a good thing that can't happen to

•Articles or audio sermon samples
•Event calendar
•Contact information (consider alternative contacts)

The third reference visibility is newspapers and periodicals. Obviously your church should run ads to announce special events such as revivals, public seminars and public services offered. Consider assigning the title of publicist to someone that will be responsible for running ads and getting free periodical, news and media space. If your church is offering a public service like gifts for the needy at Christmas send press releases to the area media. Announce available ministries, special events, new ministries, building programs etcetera.

Other possibilities that increase visibility might include billboards, highway signs, bumper stickers, T-shirts, radio spots and TV spots. Next I want to leave you with a couple of power tips for creating visibility.

New Residence Welcome Package

Working From Home - Is It Right For You
The work at home lifestyle is often idealized - more time with the family, a 60 second commute and working in your pajamas. Before you take the leap take some time to consider if working at home is really for you. For some, working it home is the ideal situation; it suits their family, financial situation, skill set and personality. But for others it can be a nightmare that ultimately leads to financial troubles and unhappiness. Here are a few things you might consider before make the move.Your Ideal Work SituationWhen, where and how are you most productive are three important questions to ask yourself. Do you need a pristine office, absolute silence and the input of fellow colleagues? Do you need to be allocated work, pushed to meet deadlines and generally encouraged to stay positive? These are hard questions to answer but in order to make the best decision possible it’s important to be honest with yourself.To be successful working at home you’ll need to be highly motivated, a self starter and have excellent time management skills. Depending on your home situation you might also need to be able to work in a noisy environment, be capable of working odd hours and staying focused with many interruptions.

This article is intended for Bible believing Church leadership. As a conservative old school believer I used to say “we don’t need user friendly churches; we need user deadly churches.” (Romans 6: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. KJV) This is to imply that the church should be so structured to bring about transformation that means proverbial death to the old man and sinful behavior. While this is true one can not abandon wisdom in the name of conservativism, holiness or old time religion. A Church without a life transforming message that challenges the status quo and clarifies right from wrong is nothing more than a hymn singing social club. But that’s another article; in this article I want to explore the wisdom of being a user friendly Church and what that means.

I have been inspired by Paul’s writing to the Colossian Church: Colossians 1: 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. So what is His will? Clearly it is not His will that any should perish. (Matthew 18:14)

With more than nine years as a full time evangelist I have had the opportunity to worship with some of the most successful Churches and ministries in the country. In recent years I have visited scores of Churches in more than half of the continental US states posing only as a visitor; in all of this I have identified 4 qualities of user friendly churches. I have shared these principles with Churches all over the country in much greater detail than is possible here; it is my hope that you will be inspired by these ideas and further explore the user friendly principles. Before I share them with you I want to define what I mean by “user friendly”. A user friendly church is accessible, comfortable and conducive to visitor participation. Now here are the four qualities.

Visibility

User friendly churches are visible. This does not mean that you have to be in a prime geographic location. What it does mean is that the community needs to know you exist and why it would benefit them to attend.

To create greater visibility let’s start with your immediate community. Obviously your property should have curb appeal. Simply a little manicuring of the lawn, landscape and parking lot will make a huge difference. Your property appearance should scream “we know you’re looking and we welcome you to look closer.” It would be a shame if hundreds or thousands of cars passed by your property every day and only a few noticed your church because it blends in with the surroundings. Of course you will want to check on zoning restrictions that restrict what you can do on your property. If restrictions are tight you can do things like folding signs and removable effects that can be placed at your drive access at the start of the service and removed as service begins walk lightly and you can get away with a lot.

Here is a checklist to get your maintenance staff started:
•Clear easy to read signage
•Clear easy to recognize lot entrance
•Cleanliness
•Inviting landscape (don’t hide the building)
•Pleasant lighting
•Attention grabbers (banners, flags, special occasion signs, inflatable mascot or seasonal displays)

The second visibility is what I call reference visibility. Reference visibility includes the yellow pages, internet and newspapers as well as a few other options that should be considered. When I arrive in a new city the first thing I do is find the phonebook and check for a UPCI church to attend. Upon surveying a substantial sampling it became obvious that the first place families go to find a new church upon moving is the yellow pages.

Your yellow pages listing should include your church name, defining statement of faith or organizational association, pastor’s name, at least two contact numbers, address, service times, driving directions and web URL address. If you can afford the space you should also include ministries offered, a benefit statement, map and picture of the property and or pastor.

The reference visibility that is second only to your yellow page listing is the internet website. If your church doesn’t have a web presence, make it happen within the next thirty days. Your church website doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated; a free site management service is better than nothing. The following checklist includes the minimum information you should make available on your website:

•Church name
•Statement of faith
•Names of ministries and ministry directors
•Driving directions and or map
•Photo of the church
•Articles or audio sermon samples
•Event calendar
•Contact information (consider alternative contacts)

New Residence Welcome Package

A Look at Deck Fasteners
Deck fasteners are screws especially manufactured to fasten the many soft, thin planks of a wood en deck in place. Wooden decks must be able to withstand many different kinds of weather and corrosion, and so deck fasteners must be able to stand up to these elements just as well. Therefore, deck fasteners are usually coated with a weather-resistant coating that protects them from rust and corrosion. The coating is made of zinc plating. A steel screw plated with zinc is called a galvanized steel screw. A screw can also be coated in a ceramic material. Deck screws can also be made of stainless steel or high-copper-content screws, as these screws won’t stain the deck.Deck fasteners are designed to drill their own hole, drive downward gradually and easily, lay flat against the surface of the deck, and be difficult to extract once inserted. For this reason, deck screws are said to be sharp-pointed, self-drilling, self-countersinking, and shallow-threaded. Sharp points eliminate the need for extra drills. The threads of a deck screw are sharp as well. The top of the shank, up at the collar by the head, flares upward, so that it sets perfectly level with the deck. The threads of the screw are set at a very gradual or shallow degree, so that the

ruitful in every good work. So what is His will? Clearly it is not His will that any should perish. (Matthew 18:14)

Visibility

New Residence Welcome Package

Frugal Tips And Philosophies
Frugal is thrifty in summary. Frugal is summarized as values with traditional backings over belief and lifestyle. Often those who practice frugal restrain themselves and use resources for buying economical services and goods sparingly. The purpose is to make their purchases good last. It seems to fulfill their goals.Using the cash economical system frugality places emphasis on economy since the money is employed to meet personal long-term goals, communal needs and familial.In short, frugal is penny-pinchers that use thrifty tactics to save energy, money and the economy. Few of the chief tactics of frugal involve waste reduction. This process changes the common cost expenses or habits. A frugal will suppress spending for the purpose of achieving gratification instantly through means of self-restraining fiscal while striving toward efficiency.A frugal avoids traps. These people defy expensive items that the common norm society focuses on. A frugal embraces free items, or gratis choices rather than focusing on materials.Frugal does not have a problem bartering. The barter system is a process that involves many challenges, such as negotiation, bargaining, swapping, trading, exchanging and so on.In summary, frugal

your property should have curb appeal. Simply a little manicuring of the lawn, landscape and parking lot will make a huge difference. Your property appearance should scream “we know you’re looking and we welcome you to look closer.” It would be a shame if hundreds or thousands of cars passed by your property every day and only a few noticed your church because it blends in with the surroundings. Of course you will want to check on zoning restrictions that restrict what you can do on your property. If restrictions are tight you can do things like folding signs and removable effects that can be placed at your drive access at the start of the service and removed as service begins walk lightly and you can get away with a lot.

New Residence Welcome Package

Save Hundreds of Dollars on Your Insurance from the Reptilian Insurance Company
You have to love the branding of the Gieko Insurance Company Gecko. Brilliant marketing and you have to laugh because it is so ridiculous and funny to listen to a Gecko with an Australian Accent no doubt tell you that you can save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance by switching to Gieko.If you think about the absurdity of it all, I mean here is a talking Gecko on your Television Set telling you that you can; Save Hundreds of Dollars on Your Insurance from the Reptilian Insurance Company. That is just too funny.Indeed and memorable too. In fact that is such a wonderful and creative advertising campaign that they keep running it month in and month out. Brilliant marketing and excellent branding; no wonder Advertising Age Magazine nominated it for the one of the best commercials in 2006. Even beating out the Vonage Commercials; Stupid Things People Do.The advertising campaign is so ridiculous that even its originators make fun of it and the talking Gecko even makes fun of himself on the commercials now? Go figure; how could a talking Gecko catapult an Insurance Company to the top of the Industry in less than a year? Well done and that folks is my marketing and branding tip for the day. Consider all of this in 2006.

her options that should be considered. When I arrive in a new city the first thing I do is find the phonebook and check for a UPCI church to attend. Upon surveying a substantial sampling it became obvious that the first place families go to find a new church upon moving is the yellow pages.

New Residence Welcome Package

15 Ways to Save Money in Your Cleaning Business
1. Hire part-time workers vs. full-time workers. This can save money on benefits, higher wages, and paid breaks.2. If you have full-time employees, consider combining two 15-minute breaks into one half-hour break. Studies show that this will save approximately 20 minutes of productive time. Why? The national average for a 15 minute break is actually 27 minutes!3. Take control of absenteeism. For example, develop a perfect attendance bonus per pay period, or don't pay sick leave for the first day of absence. Be sure to check with your state laws on attendance policies first.4. Hire "floaters" or "project teams". Floaters will fill in for absent employees and handle any special projects and detail cleaning.5. Only use overtime for emergencies and unplanned events.6. Avoid lawsuits by documenting disciplinary action and accurate performance evaluations. Avoid using phrases like "he has a bad attitude". Bad attitudes are difficult to prove. Rather, give examples of specific poor performance.7. Do not hire borderline probationary employees. If you have a typical 90-day probationary period before hiring an employee as a regular employee, be sure to give constructive feedback throughout the probationary period

•Articles or audio sermon samples
•Event calendar
•Contact information (consider alternative contacts)

New Residence Welcome Package

You can easily get information about new residents who move into your city or county. If you share your plan with apartment managers they may help you with distribution. Simply put together a welcome package that includes some home warming gift, some coffee and or tea a brochure and handwritten card of invitation from your assembly. (I like the idea of having the card signed by hand by each member. This can be done in advance.)

Hotel Church Directory

Organize and produce a nice looking church directory to be placed in hotel rooms. The cost of the directory can be shared by all of the churches you choose to involve. Most hotel guests that attend services while visiting your city will attend the church of their choice anyway you’re just making your information available through one more media. May also consider an area attractions directory that would include only your church and other businesses; I have seen such directories that list only Christian owned businesses in the area.

Accessibility

Accessibility begins with your marketing pieces (Brochures, yellow page and media ads etc.) you should include clear directions that include popular area landmarks and highways, maps are nice. Once the visitor finds your property it is important that they know how to access your parking lot so have lot entrances clearly marked. The last thing you want is for your visitor feel frustrated or anxious this early in the visit. It is also a good Idea to have visitor parking reserved and marked with signs. Make sure the main entrance is marked clearly so the visitor knows exactly where to go. If you use alternative entrances or walks during bad weather have portable signs to put out to accurately direct the visitor. Greeters should be present to greet the guest; make sure they are trained to inform the guest about where the sanctuary, restrooms, nursery and Sunday school classes are located. A tour should at least be offered; if the tour invitation is turned down hand the guest a diagram of the property that clearly indicates the location of rooms that may be of interest.

Service times should be visible on signs and at all entrances. Greeters should be trained to meet ladies with children and the elderly at the car during adverse weather conditions to assist them into the building. Pathways should be well lit. Restrooms should be clearly marked and if they are hidden down some dark or hidden hallway mark the hallway and light it up. Ushers should ask the guest where they prefer to sit (front or back) and offer to escort them to a seat.

Friendliness

Now this isn’t something you can plan and assign. Congregational friendliness must be learned and it must be sincere. The saints should greet the visitor with a smile and a handshake as well as some non-prying personal questions. These personal questions can help identify common ground to create personal relationships. Youth and children should be taught to get to visitors their own age; they may invite the guest to join them in the Sunday school class. I would like to think that someone in our assembly would extend an invitation to our guest to go out to dinner with them. I try to make this invitation myself when time and opportunity permits. If it makes you more comfortable most won’t accept.

Someone in leadership should approach all visitors to explain how the service will be conducted, when the children will go to their classes and where those classes are. If an entire family visits find out the ages of the children and adults and inform them where they should go for breakout Sunday school classes. Once you know there ages it can be a good idea for either the Sunday school teacher or a representative from the class to personally greet and invite the visitor to join today’s class.

Diversity of Ministry

Truly user friendly churches are aware of unique needs of their community and make an honest effort to meet those needs. If you have a large population of Spanish speaking people, and obvious ministry need is Spanish interpretation or Spanish specific ministry. Other considerations include young married couples, singles, senior citizens, college students, military etcetera.

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Will You Add? - Growing Churches And Why They Grow

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