Discover Three Keys To Unleash Your Innate Power

Everyone, who comes to me for mental / emotional healing, is seeking to step into their DESTINY-not just for their own fulfillment, but for the future of our world.

Do you desire to step into your DESTINY?

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For centuries many philosophers have intensively researched human capacity, they each added to the discovery that each of us has 5 "Quantum Powers" that are dormant inside us, just waiting to be unleashed, that can allow you to overcome these perceivable limits and step into the larger destiny the Universe has for you.

In my 50+ years of studying philosophy from Thales of Miletus (c. 624 BCE - c. 546 BCE) (pre-Soctratic) Greek philosopher who is often considered the first philosopher and the father of Western philosophy to modern-day philosophers, I am sharing their discoveries, and how you can access your innate powers.

There are 3 keys to unlocking Your Quantum Powers. Overcome Your Limitations. Accelerate Your Evolution. You will have Greater Impact in your life and on the world.

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These are the 5 Quantum Powers I will explore with you to discover what you need to shift:

• Expand time so you can do more in less time than ever before without adding stress to your life
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• Partner with the energy of the Universe to more easily accomplish your goals and fulfill your dreams
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Allow me to assist you to overcome your limitations and step into a life of true power, connection and fulfillment.

I will assist you to take the steps you need to take to claim your happiness, success, fulfillment, and empowerment? You can take advantage of the opportunity to create a new reality for your life?

You may need to ask for assistance to clear out the self-doubt, fear, guilt, shame or unworthiness.

Here's to living your empowered life NOW.

There is no justification about asking for assistance to create happiness and success. If you have read the books, taken workshops, had psychic readings, taken prescriptions and OTC drugs and still struggle; you may have mental / emotional blocks preventing you from moving into your happiness and desires.

This is an investment in your Self, your happiness, your success, your fulfillment, and your empowerment. Following these principals will change your life forever. My desire is two-fold to assist you to experience it for yourself as soon as possible and to see the joy, happiness and success you create. Remember only you can create your happiness and professional success.

It is your DESTINY ... You can do it! Call me if you need assistance to overcome any blocks or sabotaging behaviors!

For your convenience, I offer a 20-minute FREE no-obligation phone conversation to answer your questions and discuss how you can discover and create personal and professional success. http://drdorothy.net And you will receive value in the 20-minute conversation.

Understanding the Bible, Book Summary

Chapter 1: The Purpose of the Bible

The author laments that people normally ask varying questions and employ diverse strategies to read the Bible. Others, he asserts, give up Bible reading altogether or never start reading because they cannot see the relevance of accounts of people in the distant part for them today. However, Christians believe that although the Bible has a wide variety of human authors, there is a single unifying theme for a divine Author. It is perhaps most succinctly presented by Paul to Timothy in I Tim. 3:15-17. The apostle brings together the origin and object of Scripture. The writer investigates the nature of the Bible's usefulness and analysis three words used Paul - salvation, Christ and faith.

Stott presents the central idea that the supreme purpose of the Bible is to instruct its readers for salvation, implying that Scripture has a practical purpose which is moral than intellectual. Since this is neither scientific nor literary, the Bible could be rightly seen as a book neither of literature nor of philosophy, but of salvation. He notes that salvation, in addition to forgiveness of sins, includes the entire sweep of God's purpose to redeem and restore mankind and indeed all creation. The main thrust is God's love for the rebels who deserve nothing but judgment.

God's plan, originating in His grace, Stott emphasizes, took shape before time began. He made a covenant of grace with Abraham, promising through his prosperity to bless all the families of the earth. The rest of the Old Testament tabulates His gracious dealings with Abraham's posterity, the Israelites. Although they rejected His Word, He never casts them out. In the New Testament, the apostles emphasize that forgiveness is possible only through Christ's sin-bearing death, and a new birth leading to a new life only through the Spirit of Christ. The New Testament authors insist that though people have already in one sense been saved, in another sense their salvation still lies in the future. Conceived in a past eternity, achieved at a point in time and historically worked in human experience, it will reach its consummation in the eternity of the future.

Stott's hypothetical argument is that if salvation is available through Christ and if Scripture concerns salvation, then scripture is full of Christ. Christ's assertion was that in each of the three divisions of the Old Testament, the Law (the Pentateuch/First five books of the Bible), the prophets [history books or former prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings) and latter prophets (major-Isaiah to Daniel- and minor prophets- Hosea to Malachi)] and the Psalms (writings), there were things concerning Him and all these things must be fulfilled. Discovering Christ in the New Testament is not strange. The gospels, acts, epistles and revelation vividly portray Him. In the latter for instance, He appears as a glorified man, a lamb, majestic rider on a white horse and a Heavenly Bridegroom. The survey of the two testaments demonstrates that we must turn to the Bible if we want to know about Christ and His salvation. The writer puts faith in its right perspective after lamenting its misuse.

Chapter 2: The Land of the Bible

Stott observes that some knowledge of the historical and geographical setting of God's people is absolutely necessary to put the study in perspective. The reason for the recording of God's dealing with Israel in general and individuals in particular is to teach us (Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:11). Scripture refuses to conceal the faults of great characters in the Old and New Testaments.

The writer dismisses the claim that Jerusalem was the centre of the earth as a sheer geographical nonsense even though Christians would defend it theologically. However, Christians believe in the providence of God whose choice of Palestine cannot be an accident. An obvious feature is that it acts as a kind of bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa. Strategically, therefore, God set Jerusalem in the centre of the nations (Ez.5:5).

When God told Moses that He'd bring the Israelites out of Egypt into Canaan, He described it as good and spacious. Joshua and Caleb, unlike the other spies, confirm that the land was exceedingly good. Several popular expressions were used to refer to the whole country from north to south. The commonest simply is from Dan to Beersheba. Stott suggests that perhaps a simpler way to remember Palestine is to visualize four strips of the country between the sea and the desert - the coastland, the central highlands, the Jordan valley and the eastern tableland.

Stott affirms that God's revelation as the 'Shepherd of Israel' was natural because of the intimate relationship which grew over the years between the Palestinian shepherds and the sheep since the latter were kept more for wool than for mutton. Jesus further developed the metaphor, calling himself the Good Shepherd. Though many Israelite farmers kept livestock, even more cultivated the soil. The three main products of Palestine (grain, new wine and oil) are normally grouped together in many biblical passages (Deut. 7:13; Joel 2:19). The writer notes the tremendous importance of the early (autumn) rain and the latter (spring) rain to harvest. Without them the corn would remain thin and desiccated. God Himself linked the rain and the harvest together and promised them to His obedient people. Three annual festivals had an agricultural as well as a religious significance. In them they worshiped the God of nature and the God of grace as the one God, Lord of the earth and of Israel. They are the Feast of the Passover, the Feast of the First fruits/Harvest and the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles/Ingathering. The observance of these was obligatory. They commemorated the signal mercies of the covenant God of Israel who first redeemed His people from their Egyptian bondage and gave them the Law at Sinai and then provided for them during their wanderings in the wilderness. From another standpoint, they are all harvest festivals marking respectively the beginning of the barley harvest, the end of the grain harvest and the end of the fruit harvest. Stott's use of three maps showing the Fertile Crescent, the historical and natural regions of Palestine clearly puts the study in perspective.

Chapter 3: The Story of the Bible - Old Testament

Stott observes that Christianity is essentially a historical religion and that God's revelation is an unfolding historical situation, through Israel and Jesus Christ. The writer forcefully argues that biblical historians quickly sank in the quicksand of subjectivity since they were writing 'sacred' history, the story of God's dealings with a particular people for a particular purpose. They were selective in their choice of materials and in the eyes of the secular historian, unbalanced in their presentation of it. Other regions were only included if they impinge on the fortunes of relatively unknown Israel and Judah. Great heroes were either scarcely mentioned or introduced obliquely. Christians believe that Christ's advent is the watershed of history, dividing time into BC and AD and the Bible into the Old and New Testaments.

The order of the thirty nine books is dictated neither by the date of their composition, nor the date of the subject matter but their literary genre. Broadly speaking, the three types of literature in the Old Testament are history, poetry and prophecy. The historical books (Pentateuch) and then twelve more tell a continuous story. After these come five books of Hebrew poetry or wisdom (from Job to Song of Solomon) and finally the seventeen prophetical books [five major prophets (Isaiah to Daniel) and twelve 'minor' prophets (Hosea to Malachi)]. Stott describes the creation, observing that God was not a national mascot. He observes that several forms of pre-Adamic 'homicid' seem to have existed previously for thousands of years and believes Adam was the first 'homo divinus'. The writer highlights the call of Abraham, the groan of the Israelites under Pharaoh and their eventual release. Subjectively dismissing the Red Sea crossed by the Israelites as probably some shallow water, he observes that the miracle lay in the fact that God sent it as the moment Moses stretched his hand. At Sinai, God gave Israel three precious gifts - a renewed covenant, a moral law and atoning sacrifices.

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness and none of the adult generation which brought a negative report - except Joshua and Caleb - entered the promised land. God appointed Joshua to succeed Moses. Israel's history was a cycle of backsliding, oppression and deliverance. God raised judges who combined several functions. The greatest was Samuel who remonstrated with the Israelites and warned them that future kings would be oppressive. They did not listen and Saul became the first king, ending the theocratic state ruled by God directly. David was designated heir to the throne of the disobedient Saul. As king, David unified Israel and devoted himself to God. His son Solomon, who succeeded him, did not love God with all his heart. The kingdom was divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah after his reign.

Stott highlights the Babylonian captivity which lasted for fifty years. The hardest trial was religious for the Israelites felt spiritually lost in their separation from temple and sacrifice. Ezekiel was among them as a guide. Israel had to wait for another four hundred years before the Messiah was born. Throughout the uneasy period of Maccabean rule, important movements were developing in the Jewish community which later hardened into the various religious parties of our Lord's day.

The writer, in addition to end notes, arranges dates in chronological order at the end of the discourse.

Chapter 4: The Story of the Bible - New Testament

Stott observes that it is an account of the words and deed of Jesus of Nazareth. The gospels, strictly speaking, are testimony and not biography, bearing witness to Christ and the good news of salvation. He highlights five reasons why the gospels would be approached with confidence and not with suspicion. Four evangelists were Christians, honest men to whom truth matters. They give evidence of their impartiality. Thirdly, they claim either to be themselves eye-witnesses of Jesus or to report the experience of eye witnesses. Jesus seems to have taught like a Jewish rabbi. Lastly, if God said and did something absolutely unique and decisive through Jesus, it is inconceivable that he would have allowed it to be lost in the mists of antiquity. The gospels tell the same story, yet differently. The first three are usually known as Synoptic Gospels because their stories run parallel and present a synoptic - that is, similar- account of Jesus' life. Every reader of John's gospel is immediately struck by the differences between it and the synoptic gospels in subject matter, theological emphasis, literary styles and vocabulary. Commenting on the birth and youth of Jesus, each evangelist begins his story at a different place. Mark plunges almost immediately into Jesus' public ministry, heralded as it was by John the Baptist. John goes to the other extreme and reaches back into a past eternity to the pre-incarnate existence of Christ. He was brought up in Nazareth in Galilee. The only incident from His boyhood recorded in the Gospels took place when he reached the age of twelve and was taken up to Jerusalem for the Passover. He eventually noted that His duty is to spend time in the Father's house. Growing in wisdom and stature in favour with God and man, the evangelists did not give a strictly chronological account of the Lord's public ministry which appears to last approximately for three years. The writer refers to the first year as the year of obscurity, the second year of popularity and the third the year of adversity.

Stott traces Jesus' final hours of liberty which he spent privately with the twelve disciples in a furnished room. In the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed with an agony of desire that He might be spared having to drink 'this cup'. Crucifixion was a horrible form of execution. How Jesus viewed and endured his ordeal is shown by the seven words which He spoke from the cross. Finally, He commended His Spirit to the Father, indicating that His death was a voluntary, self-determined act. The writer traces the story of the resurrection on Easter Day. The Lord eventually began to appear to people. These appearances continued for forty days. The last one took place on the Mount of Olives. After promising them power to be His witnesses once the Holy Spirit had come upon them, and having blessed them, He was taken up into Heaven.

The writer vividly highlights the dawn of the infant church. Waiting for the promise, the Holy Spirit came and filled them all. Stott affirms that Pentecost must also be understood as a fundamentally missionary event when three thousand people were converted, baptized and added to the church that day. Unable to crush it by external pressure (persecution), the devil tried to undermine it from within. The writer also comments on Paul's missionary journeys, his arrest and journey to Rome and the deeds of the apostles after the book of Acts. The map of Paul's missionary journey and significant dates to remember at the end of the chapter further illuminates the discussion.

Chapter 5: The Message of the Bible

Stott re-echoes that the message of the Bible concerns salvation through Christ. He expresses the Bible's own claims that it contains neither a ragbag of miscellaneous contradictions, nor a gradual evolution of human ideas but a progressive revelation of truth by God. The author concedes that there are several differences between the Old and New Testament revelations. The revelation was given at different times, to different people and in different modes. This notwithstanding, God is the ultimate author of both testaments. The Bible is essentially a revelation of God. There are two basic truths about God to consider which Scripture emphasizes. The first is that He is a living and sovereign God and the second is that He is consistent and does not change like shifting shadows. He is constantly contrasted with the dead idols of heathenism. Stott further observes that the principal way in which the living God has expressed Himself is in grace. The God of the Bible is the God of all grace (1 Pet. 5:10). Grace is God's free unmerited people. God's grace is covenant grace. The writer further investigates what may be described as three stages in the outpouring of God's covenant, expressed in the three dynamic words - redemption, adoption and glorification.

Redemption was originally not a theological but a commercial word. To redeem, Stott confirms, is to purchase someone's freedom, to recover by payment of a price something which had been lost. New Testament authors draw an analogy between the Passover, which initiated Israel's redemption from Egypt, and the death of Christ which has secured our redemption from sin. The New Testament fulfillment is dramatic. John showed in his gospel that by one reckoning Jesus was shedding His blood on the cross at the precise time when the Passover lambs were being killed. Christ, the Lamb of God, offered Himself as our Passover sacrifice. Now He is seated at God's right hand, resting from His finished work of redemption and crowned with glory and honour. He has won an eternal redemption for us.

Redemption from sin by Christ's blood is to be redeemed from slavery and adopted into sonship. It is because we are sons that God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts (Gal. 4:6). To be a son is to be an heir. Suffering is the pledge of glory. This leads to the third stage in God's unfolding plan of salvation, which is glorification.

The New Testament is full of Christian hope. It reminds us that in spite of what we are presently enjoying, there is still far more to come. Paul referred to it as the hope of glory which has several meanings outlined by Stott. Firstly, the return of Christ (Matt. 24:27); secondly, the resurrection in which our incorruptible body will be a body of glory like Christ's (Phil.3:21; I Cor.15:35-37). Thirdly, the judgment. We shall be judged according to our works (Matt. 16:27; Rev. 20:11-15). Fourthly, the new universe will make everything new.

Stott brilliantly compares Genesis and Revelation. He observes that the Bible begins with creation of the universe and ends with the recreation of the universe. It begins with the fall of man and concludes in a garden with Paradise regained. God's kingdom will be ultimately consummated. All creation is subject to Him. His redeemed, adopted and glorified will share His reign for ever (Rev. 22:5).

Chapter 6: The Authority of the Bible

Stott attributes the confusion of the contemporary church to the lack of an agreed authority and argues that it will never recover its moral or mission unless it first recovers the source of its authority. Christians normally use three interrelated but distinct words in connection with the special nature of Scripture - revelation, inspiration and authority. Inspiration indicates the chief mode God has chosen to reveal Himself - in nature, Christ and by speaking to particular people. Authority is the power or weight which Scripture possesses because of what it is, namely a divine revelation given by divine inspiration. It carries God's authority.

The writer identifies three disclaimers which may anticipate objections and disarm possible criticism. Firstly, the process of inspiration was not mechanical since God did not treat the human authors as tape recorders or dictating machines but as living and responsible beings. His second is that every word is true in its context and Job is cited as a classic example when he noted that he spoke of things he did not understand. The 'anthropomorphic' descriptions of God, representing Him in human form and referring to His eyes, ears, outstretched arm, mighty hand, fingers, mouth, breath and nostrils. We do not interpret these literally simply because God is a Spirit and therefore has no body. His third disclaimer concerns the nature of the inspired text of Scripture, which alone can be regarded as God's written word. This is the original Hebrew or Greek as it came from the author's hand. He argues that no special inspiration/authority is claimed for any particular translation as a translation. He dismisses the absence of the actual autograph presumably as God's deliberate providence probably to prevent us giving superstitious response to pieces of paper.

Stott further treats the grounds Christians base assurance that the Bible is God's written word, originating with God and authoritative for men. Firstly, the historic Christian churches have consistently maintained and defended the divine origin of Scripture. Secondly, the prophets introduced their oracles with formulae like 'Thus says the Lord' or 'The Word of the Lord came to me saying...' The third is supplied by the readers of Scripture. Fourthly, the authority of Scripture is believed because of what Jesus said. He gave His reverent assent to the authority of the Old Testament Scripture for He submitted to its authority in His personal conduct, the fulfillment of His mission and in His controversies. He endorsed the New Testament differently. This is evident in His appointment of His apostles. Secondly, they had an eye-witness experience of Christ. Thirdly, they had an extraordinary inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Lastly, according to Stott, they were empowered to work miracles. Our impression of the uniqueness of the apostles is confirmed in two ways. Firstly, they themselves knew it and so exhibit in the New Testament their self-conscious apostolic authority. Secondly, the early church recognized it, dismissing both the 'kenosis' and 'accommodation' theories.

Stott concludes by providing reasonable justification for submitting to the authority of Scripture. Firstly, it is a Christian thing to do. Secondly, to submit is not to pretend that there are no problems. However, problems do not overthrow our belief. Thirdly, it confirms the Lordship of Christ. It is reasonable to bow to the authority of Scripture because, according to Stott, we bow to the authority of Christ.

Chapter 7: The Literature of the Bible

Stott firmly asserts the infallibility of God's Word and observes that He has given us three teachers to instruct and guide us. These include the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, the Christian's disciplined study and the teaching of the Church. Our foremost teacher is the Holy Spirit Himself and Stott believes He enlightens four groups of people - these are the regenerate/born again (John 3:3), the humble (Matt. 1:25-26), the obedient (John 7:17) and the communicative. He notes that if the Holy Spirit is our first and foremost teacher, there is a sense in which we ourselves must also teach ourselves, implying that we are expected to responsibly use our reason. The spiritual person, unlike the natural, has the mind of Christ. Paul's conviction leads him to appeal to his readers' reason. Stott argues that we cannot deny the place of the church in God's plan to give His people a right understanding of His Word. The pastoral ministry is a teaching ministry. Luke gives a striking example of the role of the teacher (Acts 8:26-39). Although it is true that no human teacher is infallible, Stott vehemently argues that God has appointed teachers in His church for a purpose. It is our Christian duty to treat them with respect and to feed on God's Word when faithfully exposed, cautiously examining the Scriptures to verity the truth of the teachings received (Acts 17:11). The writer believes that it is by receiving the illumination of the Spirit, reasoning and listening to the teaching of others in the Church that we grow in our understanding of Scripture.

Stott presents three principles which, he believes, will guide us in our interpretation of Scripture. These sound principles of interpretation include the natural, original and general sense. He refers to the natural sense as the principle of simplicity. One of our basic Christian convictions is that God is light. He chose human language as the vehicle of His self-revelation. He used the language of men in speaking to men. Since it is ordinary because human, we must study it like every other book, paying attention to the rules of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Stott believes that no serious bible reader can escape the discipline of linguistic study. He recommends knowledge of the original languages (Hebrew and Greek), acquisition of an 'accurate' modern English version and an analytical concordance. Stott refers to the original sense as the principle of history since God chose to reveal Himself in a precise historical context. Questions that should be asked when the reading the Bible include, what did the author intend to convey by this? What is he actually asserting? What will his original hearers have understood him to have meant? This enquiry is commonly referred to as the 'grammatico-historical method' of interpretation. The writer critically considers the situation, style and language of writing. The third principle of interpretation is referred to as assortment of contributors. Divinely speaking, the entire Bible emanates from one mind. It therefore possesses an organic unity. Implicitly, we must approach Scripture with the confidence that God has spoken and has not contradicted Himself in so doing. Scripture, therefore, must be interpreted as one harmonious whole. These three principles, Stott believes, arise partly from the nature of God and Scripture as a plain historical, consistent communication from God to men. The solemn responsibility to make our treatment of Scripture coincide with our view of it is apparent.

Chapter 8: The Use of the Bible

Stott's discussion on the use of the Bible to punctuate his text is deliberate. He observes that the conviction that our God is living and vocal, rather than dead and dumb, is basic to our Christian faith. He explains the sound reasons for accepting the Bible's authority and sound principles to guide us in its interpretation. He identifies two possible attitudes to God's Word. These are to either receive or reject it. Jesus similarly warned His contemporaries about their response to His teaching. Those who build on a rock and will ultimately survive the storms of adversity and judgement are those who demonstrate His teachings.

Stott outlines basic principles of Christian living, stressing the importance of quality time in meditating on God's Word. The practice of daily quiet time, Bible reading and prayer, he reiterates, is an inviolable tradition which has certainly stood the test of time and brought immeasurable benefits to countless generations of Christians. Christian meditation and prayer, however brief, at the beginning of each day prepare us to bear the day's responsibilities and face its temptations. Stott emphasized the importance of personal, family and group Bible studies, and above all the public exposition of Scripture in Church. He observes that very often the pew blames the pulpit when the former actually determines the kind of pulpit ministry it wants. Congregations, he argues, have far more responsibility than they commonly recognize for this kind of ministry they receive. He recommends that they should encourage their minister to expound Scripture. They should come to church in a receptive and expectant mood. They must come with their Bibles earnestly eager to hear what the Lord says through the lessons and sermon.

Stott lists five facets of the life-cycle of the doer of the Word. The first is worship which is impossible without a knowledge of the truth. Since it is a response to the truth of God, it is only God's Word (His self-revelation) which evokes the worship of God. In all public worship, there should be Scripture reading and an exhortation/instruction based on it (Neh. 8:8; I Tim. 4:13). The Bible's place in private and public worship is indispensable. The second is repentance. God's Word tells us what we are as well as what He is, discloses to us our sin and calls us to confess and forsake it (Jer. 7:3). The third is faith which is an integral part of the Christian life. The fourth mark is obedience. Yet obedience involves submission (John 14:15) and this, Stott argues, appears to be out of fashion today. The fifth mark is witness. Stott impresses that truth cannot be concealed or monopolized.

The Bible then has an essential place in the life of a Christian simply because God's revelation leads to worship, His warnings to repentance, His promises to faith, His commands to obedience and His truth to witness. God's Word is indispensable to us, irrespective of the medium through which we receive it. Indeed, Stott realistically observes that it is through His Word alone that the human being becomes equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17).

Divorce Bank Account Blues - What Happens to Your Mortgage Debt During a Divorce

Debt, Credit, and Bankruptcy

We have referred to property as either marine or separate. The same classifications apply to debt. In general, both you and your spouse are liable for any debts incurred during the marriage - it does not matter who really spent the money. When the property is divided up during the divorce, the person who receives the asset usually also obtains the responsibility for any loans against it.

It's in both of your best interests to pay off as many debts as possible before or at the time of the final decision. To do so, use whatever liquid assets you have - bank accounts, money market funds, stocks, bonds, or cash values ​​from life insurance. It may make sense to sell assets to accumulate some extra cash. The most easily sold assets include extra cars, vacation homes, and excess furniture. (Do not expect to get much for used furniture without it has value as an antique or collector's piece.)

If you can not pay off the debts, then the decree must state who will pay which debt and within what period of time. There are generally four types of debt to consider: secured debt, unsecured debt, tax debt, and divorce expense debt.

Secured debt includes the mortgage on the house or other real estate, and loans on cars, trucks, and other vehicles. It should be made very clear in the separation agreement who will pay which debt. If one spouse fails to make a payment on a debt that is secured by an asset, the creditor can pursue the other spouse.

Unsecured debt includes credit cards, personal bank loans, lines of credit, and loans from parents and friends. These debts may be divided equitably. The court also considers who is better able to pay the debt.

For unsecured debt, any separation agreement needs to include a hold-harmless clause. This will indemnify the nonpaying spouse, which means that the paying spouse gives nonpaying spouse the right to collect not only all missed payments, but also damages, interest, and attorney's fees if payments are not made. Without a hold-harmless clause, the nonpaying spouse has the right to collect only the missed payments.

Often, the legal decision and the financial exit are very different things. This is a lesson Paul learned the hard way. Tracy and Paul were married eight years, during which time Tracy ran her credit cards to the limit with her compulsive spending. The court held Tracy sole responsible for paying the $ 12,000 in credit card debt. After the divorce, however, Tracy did not change her ways and was unable to pay off her debt. The credit card companies came after Paul, who ended up paying them off.

In a case like this, one solution would have been to pay off the credit cards with assets at the time of divorce or for Paul to have received more property to offset this possibility.

Tax Debt

Just because the dispute settlement is final does not mean you are exempt from possible future tax debt. For three years after the divorce, the IRS can perform a random audit of your last joint tax return. In addition, the IRS can question a joint return - if it has good cause to do so - for seven years. It can also audit a return whenever it believes fraud is involved.

To avoid surprises, the divorce agreement should spell out what happens if any additional interest, penalties, or taxes are found, as well as where the money comes from to pay for defending an audit. We know of countless horror stories where the unsuspecting spouse (usually the ex-wife) is all of a sudden obligatory for a huge tax bill and does not have a clue how it happened.

Divorce Expense Debt

Although it is not always clear who is liable for debts incurred during the separation, typically these debts are the responsibility of the person who incurred them. An exception would be if one spouse runs up debts he or she is unable to pay to buy food, clothing, shelter, or medical care for the kids. The other spouse is probably obligated to pay those expenses.

You will accrue other costs during the dispute process, including court filing fees, appraisals, mediation, and attorneys. Other less obvious expenses are accounting, financial planning, and counseling. The separation agreement needs language that states who is responsible for these expenses.

Divorce expenses may accrue after the decree, such as attorney fees for doing QDROs, title transfers, and tax preparation for the final joint tax return, mediation fees, and long-term divorce counseling for the parents or the kids. Who pays? You do, unless it is spelled out clearly so there are no doubts at a later date.

Dividing Marital Property and Debts

Many people try to divide each asset as they discuss it - your half of the house is $ 4,000, my half of the house is $ 4,000. Since you will rarely divide the house like this, this may not be the most useful way to go about it. It may be more practical to list each asset as a whole item under the name of the person who will keep it.

For example, in the wife's column, list the marital equity in the house if she is thinking of continuing to live there. List the entire value of the husband's retirement in his column, if that is your initial inclining. An advantage to this method is that it allows you to see the balance, or lack of it, of your initial plan as you develop it. If you want to know dollar values, you may need a third party, such as an appraiser, to help you determine them.

This is the time to have a real heart-to-heart discussion with your about-to-be-ex about the range of his or her sense of fairness. Ask:

• Is the only possibility for a 50-50 division of things by value? By number?
• Are you more interested in cash than in things?
• Will you take less than 50 percent if your share is all cash?
• Are you more interested in future security than in present assets?
• Are you willing to wait for a buyout of your share, such as house selling or retirement, and are you looking for more than 50 percent to compensate you for waiting?
• Are you interested in a "lopsided" agreement (more to one of us than the other) to compensate for the larger earnings made by you or your spouse?
• Do you want to be "made whole" - meaning ending up where you were at the beginning of the relationship?
• Do you need to be compensated "off the top" for some contribution you made to the acquisition of property?
• Is there a possibility that any assets or investments are hidden?

If you both can agree on a generic plan that meets each of your ideas of fairness, you will find you have an agreement that practically wrists itself. The bonus is that you save on lawyer's fees.

As you allocate the debts, decide first whether they are marital, separate, or a mix. Then agree who will pay off the balance of each. Remember that the problem of unsecured debts may be handled more easily as if it were a monthly credit card payment than a division of your property.

Think about the long-term effect of the division of assets and debts you are considering. For example, suppose you get all assets that appreciate slowly or depreciate, and which take money to maintain (home, car, furniture). Then suppose your spouse takes all assets that increase in value or produce income (stock, retirement accounts, rental home). Guaranteed, in a few years after the divorce, what in the short term appeared to be "fair" or "equal" will look quite different. Your spouse's net worth will far exceed yours - and the gap will just continue to widen.

The word bankrupt strikes fear in the hearts of many people - especially those going through divorce. You may be trying to decide whether it is better to ask for alimony or a property settlement note and are addressed in indecision. Perhaps your spouse has threatened either to leave the country if anyway is required or to file bankrupt if money is owed or a property settlement note is due. Let's look at some of the rules of bankruptcy as they apply in divorce situations.

Two types of bankruptcy are available: Type One allows you to develop a payoff plan over a three-year period and Type Two allows you to liquidate all of your assets and use the proceeds to pay off debts, erasing debts that can not be paid in full .

Type One bankruptcy may reserve the assets and allow the debtor to pay off all the secured debt, as well as a portion of the unsecured debt, and discharge the rest of the unsecured debt. The debtor needs to make payments under a plan that is approved by the bankruptcy court.

Type Two bankruptcy forgives all unsecured debts and requires the forfeiture of all assets over a certain minimum protected amounts. Creditors have the right to repossess their fair share of the assets. The net proceeds from the sale of assets are divided pro rata among the creditors.

Here are some things to remember:

• If a spouse files bankruptcy before, during, or after dispute, the creditors will seek out the other spouse for payment - no matter what was agreed to in the separation agreement.
• While you are still married, you can file for bankruptcy jointly. This will eliminate all separate debts of the husband, separate debts of the wife, and all jointly incurred domestic debts.

Caution - promissory notes or property settlement notes, especially unsecured notes, are almost always wound out in bankruptcy. Some secured notes, depending on the property that secures them, can also be discharged. Here's what happened to Cheryl: Sam and Cheryl divided all their assets. To achieve a 50-50 division, Sam still owed Cheryl $ 82,000. He signed a property settlement note to pay Cheryl the $ 82,000 over a ten-year period at 7 percent interest. After the divorce, Sam filed for bankruptcy and listed the property settlement note as one of his debts. Cheryl never received a penny of the money that was due her.

Note: Certain debts can not be discharged in bankruptcy. These include child support, maintenance, some student loans, and recent taxes.

A Delectable Treat With Bundt Cakes

If you have the intention to make this birthday special, then Bundt Cakes can be the right choice for the celebration. The cakes are finely made so that you can really get the pleasure of the scrumptious taste of the item. One bite and you would just fall in love with the cake. The creamy delicacies can make other occasions special as well. You can even have a wonderful wedding and anniversary with Bundt Cakes. Popularly known as desert cakes, they can be happily served at the end of the meals. The sweet delight is wonderfully overstated with several sweetening ingredients to give your tongue a real treat with the cake.

Falling in Love with the Cake

Bundt Cakes are baked in Bundt pans and this fact makes the cake special and different from the rest. The baking process is exceptional and it is done with care to help the cake acquire the real taste. The crazy taste of the cake will attract you most towards the stuff. One bite and you would just sway in celebration sojourn. The cake is best to look at. The colorful appearance of the cake is a real attraction to watch. When displayed, you can feel the sensation happening. The 'creamy munch' entices you to serve yourself with another!

The Creamy Taste

Bundt Cakes come with stupendous creamy fills. If you want to make the cake at home then you have to keep notice of the fact that the ingredients are well mixed. Things are blended in the right way so that you can derive the most pleasurable taste at the end. You can even order cakes online. Once you place the order, the item would be served at your doorstep right away. When grouping the ingredients, or blending the flavors, you have to do things right to safeguard the good taste of the pie.

The Things Required While Making the Cake

Once you have a party at home or at office, and you feel that making such bulk cakes at home is not done, you can at once order cakes online. This is sure to put an end to your hassles. However, for smaller get-together you can decide to make the cake at home. For the purpose you can start collecting a list of required ingredients. You should have granulated sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, flour, melted, chocolate, eggs, chocolate baking bar, melted butter, vanilla extract, thick whipping cream, a pinch of salt and vegetable oil. Mind it, an omission in any one of the ingredients can spoil the taste of the Bundt Cakes.

Making of the Cake can be Made Easy

The recipes for Bundt Cakes have grown quite popular down the years. The cake is baked in intricate pans. The baking process is special. They add a good taste to the item. Once you have prepared the cake you can store it for long. The ingredients are just perfect for long time restoration. The pan should be perfectly greased or else the cake can stick to the pan. Place the cake just at the middle of the pan.

Inspirational Bible Verses - How Not to Come Up Empty

A crisis may have prompted you to pick up a Bible, hoping to find quick words of comfort or guidance for the moment. If you have never spent time before reading through God's word, chances are that you came up empty. The Bible is quite rich however with inspirational Bible versa to guide us through every circumference we face. Script covers topics as diverse as finances, fear, sorrow, parenting, purity, relationships, and our responsibilities to God and man. Here are a few dos and a do not to unlocking the treasure found in Scripture so you are better positioned in the future.

1. Do not berely use the Bible as you would the yellow pages. Searching the concordance or the Internet to find a verse that speaks to your need will be of little help if you do not read beyond that specific verse to understand the context within which it was used. Promises will be of little comfort if you do not know God's character. Several promises are conditional and may not apply in your case.

2. Do spend time reading the Bible on a daily basis, not just when you are in a crunch. When I committed my life to Christ, I was in a church that encrypted daily personal Bible study. The more I read through the Bible that previously sat untouched on my bookshelf for years, the more I developed an understanding of and a hunger for God's word. Passages and versions that I had heard or read in Sunday School or church years before now came alive. I got to meet and know Christ through the Scriptures.

3. Do pray before you read the Bible. Ask God to help you to understand the Scriptures and to open your eyes so you can see wonderful things in His word. We need the Holy Spirit to help us to understand and receive the things of God (1 Corinthians 2: 14-16). While you are reading, ask Him to teach you and help you apply the lessons to your life.

4. Do start with the Gospel of John then complete the rest of the New Testament books and then move on to the Old Testament. On my first attempt to read through the Bible I started with Genesis. When I got to Leviticus I lost the struggle. Someone shared this tip with me and my second and subsequent attempts to read through the Bible were successful.

5. Do try reading different translations for passes that are difficult to understand. My favorite translation is the New King James Version (NKJV) as it is a literal translation and it combines the beautiful poetry of the King James Version (KJV) with modern English. For a serious study of the Bible stick with the literal translations. Others include the English Standard Version (ESV) and the New American Standard (NASB).

6. Do memorize and meditate on Scripture. This will help to renew your mind (Romans 12: 1-2) as you start to see the world from God's perspective and develop an eternal mindset. The Holy Spirit will also bring a verse to your memory just when you need it most (John 14:26).

The Bible has been called God's love letter to us. Reading through you will experience Christ and His love. If you start out without a personal relationship with Him, you will develop one as you will soon see your need for Him. God's amazing love for us will be made evident through the pages of Scripture. As you spend time in God's word, you will be changed. As a result, you will avoid many of those obstacles and pitfalls that would have consequences of your sin. In the next storm, you will know that the one who tells you to not fear is with you and will help you (Isaiah 41:10). You will know that He loves you more than you can imagine. You will know that He is sovereign. You will know that He is capable and faithful. Inspirational Bible verses will then be more meaningful to you. Get to know the God of the Bible and make it a habit to spend time in the Word so that you will know these truths before you are faced with the circumstance.

Tips For Driving A Rental Car In The Rain

Although the rest of the country may be dry in winter, we all know when it rains it pours in the Western and Northern Cape. We also know that driving in the rain can be dangerous and quite disastrous. Moreover, we understand that driving an unfamiliar rental car is not just infuriating, but perilous as well. However, if you were to drive in such inclement weather conditions, here are a few tips to help you prevent accidents caused by rainy climate. Who knows? You might even save yourself from having to pay car hire damages.

The road is slippery:

Without a doubt, the roadway you'll be driving on will be slippery, and the biggest issue with driving in the storm: is traction. Traction mostly occurs when the pavement is wet and develops a firm slick surface which causes tyres to lose grip, making it difficult to stop quickly. Should your rental car slip or hydroplane, it is advisable that you avoid abruptly stepping on the brakes as this can spin your car. Instead, firmly grip your steering wheel and slow down.

By all means, avoid using cruise control.

Don't drive through puddles:

It's storming, so chances of coming across a huge puddle in the roadway are high. You might have an impulse to drive through it. Please, resist that urge. The danger here: that water could be hiding a gigantic pothole. Even more hazardous: water splashing up into the car's engine compartment could damage the electrical system. You don't want to damage a hired car, right? Right.

Your headlights must be on:

Turning your lights on will not only assist you see the road clearer, but it will also help other drivers see you. But, you must try to avoid turning on the high beams as they can actually obscure your vision further. If you're driving a car equipped with fog lights, try to flip them on. The low light from these headlamps may help upsurge your visibility in the rain.

Keep at a distance:

When it's raining it takes longer to have control over the car. You won't be able to stop, brake or turn as quickly. The other vehicles on the road won't as well. So driving slower and keeping a distance between you and other drivers is crucial.

If you can, keep your tyres and steering ranged with the car driving in front of you. Why? Because, the car in front of you is shifting and pushing water away, clearing the roadway, while, it creates a better driving surface for you.

Avoid driving next to big cars:

Trucks and buses make big water splashes that can hit your windshield and briefly block your sight.

Driving on a muddy road:

Now, you've ventured from the wet tarred roads of the city, into the mud-coated country roads. In this case, two things may happen: you might get through it without an incident, or you may get stuck.

One thing is guaranteed though, you will skid. But, don't hit the brakes. Be aware of where your front wheels are pointing. Drive slowly. Driving slowly will decelerate your vehicle, and ensure you gain traction. Once you're in control of the rental car again, keep going.

What if you get stuck? Keep a steady pressure on the gas pedal. Press your accelerator. Doing so will create a light wheel spin, which will whirl the mud from the tread, giving the tyres a grip again. If that doesn't work, turn the steering wheel back and forth. Moving the wheels, may allow the tread a chance to gain enough grasp to keep your car moving.

Should your car be unable to move forward, try to throw the transmission into reverse. Chances are: you might return to a dry roadway. Slowly ease onto the accelerator, and hopefully, out of the mud. Once you're out - before resuming to normal speed, give the tyres a chance to kick the sludge out of the tread.

Clean the rental car:

You don't want to pay for car rental damages! So clean the car, because mud holds moisture against metal, which leads to rust and corrosion. Dried mud on a drive shaft, may throw it out of alignment and cause damage.

Things to Be Considered While a Choosing Payday Loan

A payday loan is a short term loan that is often used to cover up unexpected expenses and it is paid into your bank account directly. In order to apply for this type of fund, it is vital that you should fill up the application form properly and that you should fill up a few other forms as well. If you follow this type of online application procedure, it is vital that you only have to spend a few minutes for this purpose. Once it is approved, there is possibility that the total amount of money will be deposited directly into your bank account. For this type of application process, all you have to do is to write your bank account number as well as Social Security Number on the application form. Here are a few things that you should consider before you apply for this type of fund as quickly as possible.

The first step that you should follow is to contact at least four or five lenders and that you should ask them to provide price estimates as quickly as possible. It is vital to remember that they all may provide different types of price quotes and it is important that you should choose someone who offers a price rate that suits your requirement. Plus, you may ask him if you have to pay anything extra at any point of time.

When you look out for this type of fund, the thing that you should follow is to gather knowledge about its repayments terms. Repayment is the exact time that is allowed to the borrowers to repay the loan successfully. It is vital that you should be able to repay it within the prescribed period of time and it is also important to note that you may also have to face a penalty if you can not repay it within that period of time.

However, there are a few lenders who allow you to extend that period of time up to six months. Therefore, the next step that you should follow is to ask about the necessary action that he should adopt if you do not have an adequate amount of money to repay it within the stipulated period of time. All you have to do is to apply for an extension at least two days before your scheduled date of loan repayment. It is vital that he should give you this kind of facility. He may ask you to pay the interest rate within the stipulated period time and he may also encourage you to repay the rest of the amount as quickly as possible.

Your next step is to find out the details of repayment terms as much as you can. All you have to do is to ask him about the exact date within which you have to pay off this kind of fund as soon as possible. It is important to remember that you will not be charged a penalty if you pack back this kind of fund prior to the specified period of time.

It is vital that you should find out the details of customer support that is offered by him. It is advisable that you should choose someone that provides excellent customer service and that listens to your problem whenever you approach it at any point of time.

The final step that you should follow is to contact your local business bureau as quickly as possible and that you should find out if there is any kind of complaint being launched against him at any point of time. Plus, you should also check out if there is any sort of negative review or comment being written by the customer on any social networking site at any point of time.

Promotional Products Startup Guide For New Companies

If you have either bought or are starting a new business from the ground up, one of your most immediate needs is to establish your brand in the market place as soon as possible. Certainly one of the best and most cost effective ways to accomplish this is with the help of promotional products. However, I am not writing this article to convince you of the importance of using promotional products but rather to help you with the process of implementing this type of marketing approach. In this article, I will be discussing a kind of mental checklist that will be necessary to help make this process go much more smoothly for you. Keep in mind that I will be providing you a general rather than a comprehensive guide to the ordering process as with more than 850,000 promotional products and growing in our industry I could not in this small article cover all the necessary guidelines for ordering each product. Nevertheless, I will address some of the key considerations that will help you in the selection and ordering process for most promotional products.

One of the first areas in this process you must address is to come up with a budget. Your thinking here should be first to come up with a total budget and then to break that total budget into segments which should include a price range for each promotional product you want to order. Don't forget to compensate for costs other than the actual product in your budget such as shipping, taxes, and any fulfillment costs that might be incurred in delivering or packaging the promotional item. As part of this budgetary process you will want to decide on how many different types of promotional items you will want to purchase. Once you have decided on how many promotional products you will be using in your marketing effort, you will need to figure out how many of each individual item you will want to order. This really then becomes more of a mathematical function of how many promotional items you will be ordering and how much you have budgeted for the entire promotional product program.

With the financial aspect of the promotional product program figured out your thought process should move to the marketing aspects so you can then zero in on the precise products that will accomplish your branding mission. This is where you need to begin to ask yourself some important questions. It is through the questioning process that you will define your entire approach to getting the appropriate and most effective promotional product and still stay within your budget. Questions such as: who will you be targeting with these promotional products? What is the message and impression you want the product to convey to the person receiving it? Where will the promotional product be given out? Although I can think of many more questions that I as a professional would ask to better define your goals lets limit it to these three very important questions for now. Let's briefly discuss the first question: who will the products be given to? Actually this question can best be answered by asking and answering a series of other questions like: will the products be given to current customers or prospects? Will the products be given to men, women or children? What position does the recipient hold in an organization? These are just a few questions you will need to ask yourself in defining your target and thus determining an appropriate and effective promotional product. With regards to the second major question I presented concerning the message and impression you want to convey to your customer, you will need to examine why you are giving the promotional product out in the first place. Do you want to give the promotional product out to create awareness of a new product or service your company is introducing? Perhaps, you want to use it to directly boost sales and give it as a gift with purchase which we call a premium in the industry. There are many ways to help your business grow with the help of promotional products, in fact, to many to mention here in this article. But the way to find out how you can best use them is by questioning and understanding your own company's needs. Finally, the last major question involves the logistics and the distribution of the promotional products. For example, where will the promotional products be given out? Will your sales people be giving out the promotional product during sales calls or maybe at a tradeshow? Maybe your company will be hosting a seminar and hand some products out there. Still another possibility would involve mailing out products to customers such as gifts acknowledging their support and creating good will and loyalty to your company and brand. However you choose to get the product to your marketing target distribution and logistics should be an important consideration in your decision to purchase certain promotional products.

Having touched on the marketing aspect of choosing to promote your brand with promotional products, it is now time to turn your attention to what essentially is the nuts and bolts part of the actual ordering process. This part of your marketing efforts involves specific choices that you will have to make regarding each product most of which have their own unique characteristics. Once you actually decide on a promotional product, things like size, color, specific features, and options available for that product should be thought out. You will then need to decide how you want to customize the product. Things like the number of ink colors you will want to imprint on an item, how many sides on a product will be imprinted and in the case of an embroidered product the size and location of the embroidery will come into play. Finally,you will need to make sure that you have your artwork done by a graphics professional who can put it in the proper format to submit for actual production. Although there are many products and possibilities for the creative and effective use of promotional products, with a little thought on your part the basic guidelines I have outlined in this article will provide you with a good starting agenda. Of course, a top professional promotional product supplier with extensive experience and the technology necessary can help and fill in the important missing gaps and take you the rest of the way to successfully completing your marketing mission.

The True Meaning of the Word Freedom

Freedom is a very powerful word. Webster's dictionary defines freedom in many different ways, but this is the one that really stuck out to me. Freedom is the state of being free - liberated from slavery, restraint or the power of another. When I read this definition, the Bible verse Acts 12:7 ran through my mind- And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. Can you imagine the delight in Peter's heart as those chains released his hands and he was no longer in captivity?

You too have the opportunity to escape captivity and live in freedom for the rest of your life. Can you imagine actually being free financially, spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically? For most people that seems completely unrealistic, but I'm here to tell you it can be your reality. Remember, inside the word impossible is possible. It is possible for you to have freedom in every area of your life!

In the United States, we observe Independence Day on the fourth of July. There are fireworks exploding in the air across America in celebration of our freedom, which was made possible by the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. When that document was signed, it was "declared" that America was free. Let me ask you a question. When will you declare your independence? When will you declare your freedom? Before you can achieve it, you must believe it so say it out loud now... I DECLARE THAT I AM FREE IN EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE! THE SHACKLES ARE GONE! I AM FREE!

After you declare that you are free, you need to understand exactly what freedom is to you. If you don't know what it is, then how are you going to achieve it? What is freedom to you? I'm going to break down each letter of the word F-R-E-E-D-O-M, and I want you to visualize what it really means to you.

The first letter in the word freedom is 'F', which stands for focus. Are you focused on being free in every area of your life? If not, then you need to shift your focus and become focused on your freedom. Most people don't become truly free in their lives, because they are comfortable or simply aren't courageous enough to stretch themselves beyond their current life boundaries. Take advantage of getting uncomfortable and stretching yourself, because to be free you have to do things differently than most people.

Just imagine standing inside of an average size circle every single day. Your current job, friends, habits and overall way of life are also in the circle. Can you feel it getting tight? Don't you have the urge to step outside the circle? Now, imagine extending your foot, stepping outside of the circle and feeling an ultimate sense of relief. You have room to move and make decisions that you couldn't make inside that circle. Sadly, you will never get to leave that circle because it's the limit that you've placed on your life unless you make the decision get focused on your freedom and stretch yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Whatever you focus on everyday will determine whether or not you achieve freedom in your life. One of the main objectives that you should focus on is taking advantage of every single minute in your day. If you are scheduled and plan your day, then you are forging forward towards freedom. On the other hand, if you lay in bed at night, reflect back on your day and have no idea what you did all day long, then you are allowing time to take advantage of you. I often hear people say, "I have no idea where the time went." It's one of those moments when I have to bite my tongue, because I want to tell that person that they are wasting their time instead of investing it.

Time is our biggest form of currency so we must spend it wisely. If you focus on freedom and invest your time wisely, then you are one day closer to being free instead of remaining entrapped. While working with one of my coaching students, I asked her to show me her planner. I wanted to know where she was investing her time, because she was stuck in a rut. Surprisingly, she had every single minute of her day scheduled. This woman knew where she was every minute of the day and led an extremely busy lifestyle. However, I looked closer at the actual activity and saw the issue. I explained to her that just because she was active didn't mean that she was productive. She filled her day with meaningless tasks that created activity instead of accomplishment. Just because your calendar is full doesn't mean that you are investing your time wisely. I encourage you to sit down and take a good look at where you're spending your time and how some of those insignificant, waste of time activities are pushing you further away from your freedom.

Another determining factor in whether or not you become free is what you actually look at on a daily basis. I love to take photos with other champions at events and have built a Why wall in my office in South Florida. This wall is filled with not only pictures but also letters, art, cards and many more positive, inspirational things that I have received from people all over the world. In my home office or as I prefer to call it my "construction zone", I have pictures of my own dreams and goals. I focus on these things every day as I sit in my construction zone and build my business. No matter the obstacle that I encounter, I'm constantly reminded of my Why in life, because I see it in front of me.

What are you looking at? If your answer to that question is "nothing", then that's exactly what you are doing to achieve freedom in your life...NOTHING. In my favorite book, The Bible, it states that a man without a vision will perish. Another way of saying it is that a person without focus in pursuit of his dream will fail. I cringe when see someone reading those garbage books and magazines that highlight all the gloom and doom in the world. Can you really expect to achieve freedom in your life if you are focusing your mind and eyes on that trash? I challenge you to throw out the garbage and start reading positive, inspirational material. You can also take it a step further and hang some pictures of your dreams and goals in your construction zone. You won't believe how quickly your results will skyrocket when your focus is shifted!

If you're saying, "That sounds easy. All I have to do is organize my planner and hang a few pictures then I will be focused on achieving freedom in my life." YOU ARE WRONG! It's not a one step process. It's daily focus in every area of your life. When I say that you have to be focused, I don't mean that you just simply think about freedom sometime during the day. You need to be focused like a sniper with a laser pointed at his target...laser-focused! If you let anything or anyone distract you, then your target (freedom) will no longer be in sight.

Overheating Battery Issues Stall Chrysler Hybrid Project

As the demand for hybrid vehicles grows, Chrysler has been forced to momentarily shelve their hybrid testing. Tests found the batteries overheated in some of the pickup trucks. 109 truck models and 23 minivan models with plug-in hybrid technology are no longer currently testing.

It seemed the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks were delayed to damage due to their prototype batteries. There are no reported fires or injuries to operators as a result of the damage. Chrysler is testing a lithium powered battery since the third quarter of 2011. The project was expected to run through 2014, but no plans have been made to extend the testing.

This testing is partially funded by the United States Department of Energy to the tune of $ 58 million. Chrysler makes up for the rest of the funding with $ 65.2 million. A majority of the money was meant to fund the pickup truck testing, which was expected to cost $ 97.4 million. The reminder of the fund was meant for the minivan testing that was expected to cost $ 25.8 million.

The project testing was spread between 16 municipalities and utility companies. That spread the testing between 20 states. The batteries themselves were supplied from a Canadian company called Electrovaya, which specializes in lithium battery development and manufacturing. It even released its own electric car run on the battery that can go for 120 miles on one charge.

Despite the suspension of the truck and minivan hybrid project, Chrysler is moving ahead in development of the company's own battery. A representative has called their vision a "superior battery" to what they were implementing before. This time the company will create a different chemical makeup of the battery to prevent the overheating problem.

So far, the vehicles tested as part of the program have racked up 1.3 million miles equivalent. Minivans have recorded as high as 55 miles per gallon while the trucks have gained as much as 37.4 miles per gallon. Current hybrid minivans average about 28 miles to the gallon and trucks average about 23 miles per gallon.

Part of the testing was not just to increase the mileage of every gallon, but to create reverse power flow. This is where the battery then sends power to the electric grid. In the future, the powerful vehicle batteries could have the backup for home appliances during power outages. Chrysler hopes to have the first to release a vehicle with electric grid connectivity.

Smart Parts SP-1 Tactical Parts - Top 5 Upgrades For the Money

The Smart Parts SP-1 has gained significant popularity since its debut about two years ago. It was created as a continued effort from Smart Parts to develop tournament level performance in entry-level priced paintball guns. The original Ion started it all. It taught the rest of the industry that a tournament level gun no longer had to cost 500+ dollars. The Ion was holding its own on fields filled with guns costing 4-5 times as much. The SP-1 replaced the Smart Parts SP-8 as Smart Parts' flagography marker marker. It soon found a permanent place in the 'entry-level priced' woodsball arena.

The Smart Parts SP-1 offers 3 firing modes from the factory: semi, 3 burst and full auto. This was not the case originally. The first series of SP-1 guns were only electronic assisted semi-auto. It has an ultra-low operating pressure of about 180 psi. This offers minimal kick and less ball breaks. Also, low pressure means less turbulence as the ball exits the barrel resulting in better accuracy and more consistent firing. Smart Parts even released videos on their website of the SP1 firing underwater! The board (like most on the market today) is covered with silicon to resist water. It was their way of showing the paintball world that the moisture associated with paint or rain will not affect the operation of this rugged, all-weather paintball marker.

The SP-1 functions very well straight out of the box. There are many upgrades available that will allow you to take performance to new levels. This article will discuss the most popular ones sold on the market today and what to consider when purchasing.

Barrel - The SP-1 uses an Ion (Impulse) barrel thread. This means that 'most' barrels designed for the Ion will thread into the SP1 break. We say most because the SP-1 uses a longer shroud than most woodsball guns requiring that the barrel be inserted about 6 "into the shroud before meeting the threads of the break.

Most SP-1 owners purchase at least a 12 "barrel. How does the stock barrel compare to most of the aftermarket barrels on the market? The old adage applies here - 'you get what you pay for'. of $ 35 - $ 50. Some of the best valued barrels include the JJ Ceramic, CP 1 Piece, Lapco Big Shot and the Smart Parts Tactical Barrels. 1 Shroud.

SP-1 Board - Although the factory board is fine for everyday use and even tournament level events, people still like options and love to tweak. They are plenty of aftermarket boards that offer more firing modes and rate of fire settings than you'll ever use. There are literally millions of setup profiles that you can create to tweak the firing characteristics to your exact preferences. One of the most popular upgrade boards sold for the SP-1 is made by Virtue Paintball. They have plenty of years experience in the industry, creating boards used by some of the best players in the world.

Paintball Loader - The factory SP-1 is capable of at least 15 bps (balls per second). Really any paintball gun that can fire over 10 bps would benefit from the use of an electronic loader. Do you need a $ 150, 30 bps loader? No, you do not. Stick with one that is capable of at least 20 bps. There are loaders on the market that run in the vicinity of $ 45-60 that will suit your needs just fine. The new Invert Halo Too, Invert Leaderader II, VL Evolution III and the Spyder Fasta loaders are all solid performers that offer a great performance match for the SP-1. Most offer optional board upgrades that increase loading speed. Having this option may be important if you swab the factory board out later or become insanely quick on the trigger.

SP-1 Bolt - The factory bolt in the SP-1 is far superior to the bolts found inside other paintball guns within the same price range. But you can achieve even higher levels of performance by swapping the bolt out with one of many quality aftermarket bolts on the market. One of the best SP-1 bolts out there today is the TechT Paintball L7 Bolt . This bolt works in the Ion XE, SP1 and Vibe. It only weighs about 7 grams. It is designed for maximum airflow and minimal drag and friction on the internal o-ring around the bolt. This equates to faster cycling, even less kick than stock and better accuracy than shot to shot. It should not be the first upgrade you make, but after all other areas are covered, the L7 bolt is a worthy internal upgrade to any SP-1.

SP-1 Stock - Seeing that the SP-1 is a tactical paintball gun, it only makes to add a rear butt stock. Smart Parts makes a stock adapter plate for the SP-1. This allows the SP-1 to accept 'some' 98 style rear stocks. The key word here is 'some'. First the adapter requires some space to attach to the end of the stock. Rear Stocks like the carbine style collapsible stock have the extra space due to the length adjustment of the center tube. Other stocks the have a rear plate that immediately follows the end 98 adapter will not work with the SP-1 Stock Adapter. These include most of the AK style stocks, folding stocks and various other designs out there. The only stock we've been able to use with the adapter plate is the 4 or 6 position collapsible carbine (M16) style stock. Not all brands will work with the adapter either. If you look at the end adapter piece on a Tippmann 98 stock, you will see special ridges milled into the end. There is a defect groove that must be there for the Smart Parts adapter plate to properly seat completely. Not many stocks have it. The Liberty (Tapco) T6 98 Stock does have it.

A paintball stock has many functions. Adding a stock aids in shooting stability. By resting the end on the stock on top of your shoulder, it also frees up one your hands for relating. Having a butt stock on your SP-1 also provides a rear attachment point for a tactical sling.

Most of the other SP-1 upgrades that people commonly add are a matter of personal preference: assisting in a certain look or specific function depending on the type of play. Weaver-based accessories like a bipod, sight, laser or grip are all options to consider for an even more tactical setup. Any accessory that has a weaver or picatinny base (measuring 7/8 "in width) is most likely to work. Accessories that are specific for 'dovetail' or 3/8" rails will not work on the Smart Parts SP-1.

The SP-1 Tactical offers a solid foundation from which you can build the ultimate scenario paintball gun. If budget is a factor, first get the upgrades that will give you to most performance gains for your buck. Then add the accessories that'll give you the desired look and added function later.

Be safe and enjoy the woods!

How to Be Classy and Elegant Without Money

You do not have to be well dressed or have a lot of money to look and be classy. Class is what comes from the inside. It is your actions, reactions, facial expressions, ability to take a compliment, decline an invitation and overall how you carry yourself in life. I've met many women that are brash, rough around the edges and often just downright rude and not 'lady-like'. On the other hand I've had the pleasure of meeting many women who are polite, kind, helpful, are respectful of others, have pleasant facial expressions and certainly do know how to accept a compliment. These rare breeds of women simply make the decision to be classy, ​​with or without without money. In my observations and own personal upbringing this is what I have learned ...

1. SMILE! Smiling creates a more pleasant environment for those around you and keeps your spirits up too, no matter what life is throwing at you each day.

2. Learn how to take a Compliment. Too many women shrug off another person's well meaning comments either on their accomplishments, work, beauty, wardrobe, home and the list goes on. They do this with the "it's no big deal" response and attitude. You work hard every day and commit yourself just like Hollywood celebrities do but they accept their Oscars and Emmy Awards for all of their dedication and accomplishment. Smile, politely say thank you and just feel good about yourself.

3. Nobody likes a Fishwife. If you have not heard the expression, I'll fill you in. The fishwife is the woman who yells for her husband at dinner, screams at her kids and rants until everyone and everything is in order. This is so unappealing. Replace anger, yelling and rage with softness and grace. Calmly ask your children, spouse or friends to do something for you in a polite tone. I'm not suggesting you fake who you are but simply move in a direction that exudes class and respect for those around you.

4. Answer the phone like you would if a hunk was calling. Be polite and simply say "Good afternoon, Jane Smith speaking". You have granted the person on the other end and let them know who is speaking. I never like to hear "Hello ?!" in an exasperated tone or one that reeks "you called at a bad time, what do you want?" If it is really a bad time, simply do not answer the phone. Let the machine get it and call back at a more suitable time. You may be liable to say something you would not otherwise and will likely regret later.

5. Profanity is a No-No. Classy women do not swear and sound like a drunken sailor, it just does not work. They use creative vocabulary or tone down their thought of something terrible. Example: Someone cuts you off in a parking lot and soon causes a huge accident. Do not stick your head out the window and say "What the *% $ # were you thinking ?!" and give them the finger, rather keep it to yourself. No matter how mad you are or how panicked you feel do not lose your temper and cuss. Not only is this not lady-like (nor is it man-like, just plain rude) and if you had your kids in the car they're likely to repeat it.

6. Do not get drunk. Celebrating with friends and family with a couple of glasses of wine is not a sin, if you can handle it. Getting drunk at a party then dancing on the table singing is just so trashy. You will not like what people say about you and what they recall later. It just is not worth it! Classy women know their limits, drink within them and when they reach their limit they drink sparkling water, soda water with lime etc. to mingle with the crowd but not cause an accident on the way home.

7. Your Wardrobe Matters. You do not need to have a lot of money, or any for that matter to be a classy woman. Simply always take pride in what you do own, put on your best face and go out into the world. If your clothes have threads hanging and a stain you could not get out and a tear in the seam of your pants it is obvious that you lack the pride that others take. Always wear clean clothes, freshly pressed with no threads, rips, stains or fading. Instead neatly put together an outfit that you know looks good and throw on a few basics: mascara, lipstick (or gloss), and a bit of blush.

8. Speak Eloquently. There is no need to speak in slang. Learn the English language properly and try your best to use it and your best vocabulary daily. You were given a brain and have had education, let your words exude that too. Form your words fully. Accent or no accent people want to understand what you are saying. Speak clearly and form your words fully.

9. Turning down a request. There are times in life where we are simply too tired, not interested or do not have the financial wherewithal to take part in an upcoming event or in someone's request. Most women just say okay, I'll do it or I'll be there because they do not want to be perceived as rude. There is nothing wrong with taking time for yourself, just ensure you express it the right way. Example: Your grandmother asks you to take some items she has stored for you as she knows she is moving to a retirement home soon and you just do not have the room and do not like them anyway. Simply say "Grandma, these are definitely some neat treasures. This does not leave room for discussion on how big your apartment is, or what taste you have. If she asks again, repeat the same words. "I would love to but I simply can not".

10. Walk Proudly. Whether you are entering or leaving a room, grabbing some quick groceries or pumping gas, hold you head up high. I'm not kidding. Hold you head up high, shoulders back, lengthen your spell and tuck your tummy in. Gracefully walk to your destination always with purpose. Classy women always appear as though they have just landed in from Paris and are only in town for 2 days to grace you with their presence. You have completed a lot to date. You need to show yourself strong, confident and proud. You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel about yourself and how many heads will turn.

11. Nail your Nails. There is nothing worse than seeing someone with dirty fingernails. It says a lot about their health and personal hygiene and how much they care about themselves. Yellowing, chipped and ragged nails at any length are not good. People see your face and hands no matter how much of the rest of you is covered up. Keep your nails at a short, neatly kept length. Seeing the whites of the nails is important, so keep those! Invest in a pair of nail clippers and keep them cut regularly. Keep a file on hand in your purse should a nail break. Avoid the yellowing nails get by leaving nail polish off your nails for periods of time, use baking soda and lemon juice and soak them if you have this problem. Once filed and given a basic buff, use 2 coats of neutral polish like a natural pale pink. My favorite is Mademoiselle by Essie. Use a topcoat to prevent chipping and off you go. French manicure is most classy if you can afford to have it done professionally. Thankfully after painting my nails for 20 years I've mastered the art of doing my own perfect French manicure. If you have dark chipping nail polish you are better to take it off completely and wear nothing or a coat of clear or neutral then go out like that. The same holds true for toe nails and pedicures. Your toes will hold polish for 3-4x as long so you can leave this longer and do some spot touch ups when necessary.

12. Be clean and Hygienic. There are too many women making time for TV, shopping, cleaning and everything under the sun but who do not properly care for themselves. Classy women are not dirty. They do not sleep with all their makeup on at night and they brush and floss regularly, and take care of their health. Firstly, showering daily is a must. Being clean is not for everyone else who smells you but it is so that you feel clean and fresh and ready to give your best. Secondly, you should wash you hair bare minimum every other day. If you are leaving it longer than that your hair will start to get greasy and clumpy looking (usually at the back of your head where YOU do not look). I see it all the time in the workplace, a woman dressed well and her makeup looks pretty but her hair is dirty, it ruins the whole thing. There are some times where you can not prevent it as you woke up late, no worries, just wear your hair up so it is less conspicuous.

Sexual Hauntings 2 - How To Get Rid Of An Incubus Or Succubus

Are you experiencing strange sexual assaults at night, in your bed, from an unseen force? Are you becoming scared to go to bed now for fear of a recurrence of these horrible attacks? If so, then it is a strong possibility that you have either an incubus (if you're female) or a succubus (if you're male) haunting your house. You therefore need to take urgent steps to get rid of this entity. Divine Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare are the only weapons that can be employed to stop the incubus and succubus.

But how do you actually get rid of such a formidable and frightening demon completely?

Well, the first thing you need to do is to have a good look around your house to see if you have any items or ornaments relating to the occult or witchcraft. You need to pinpoint exactly which items you have bought recently which may have sparked off these paranormal activities. There have been many cases in history where the victim of an incubus or succubus attack has brought into their home, or been given, an object - an item that may have been cursed, or even been used in actual black magic rituals - totally unaware that that object may be carrying dark, malevolent powers. And if you think you have found the likely source of your hauntings, then the best advice you could take would be to get rid of that object immediately.

If, however, there are no possessions in your home which you could reasonably attribute to paranormal activity, then your next step would be to research the history of your home - that is, of course, if you have not long moved into the property and have only just started to experience these night demon attacks. You need to find out everything you can about the place, either from official records or by making enquiries within the neighbourhood: who were the previous residents, did they too suffer similar sexual assaults from demonic entities, and so on.

Once you have solid proof that you do indeed have an incubus or succubus haunting your home, you can then take the necessary steps towards driving out the entity for good. If you a Christian, you must use all your faith to make you strong, and call on the power of The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ - with the assistance of a priest or a similar spiritual leader - to command this evil entity to depart, to leave you alone in peace and never bother you again. As powerful and threatening as the incubus and succubus can be, it is certainly not indestructible, and can quite easily be vanquished, with the help of God and prayer, as easily as Satan himself can be.

If you are not a Christian, then there are alternative methods you can employ to expel your sex demon: aura cleansing with an experienced practitioner, a process which involves "amputating" the cord that ties the entity to you repeatedly; Wiccan rites, which are good for charging the air with positive energy and eliminating the negative energy; and even psychic energy employed by yourself, under the guidance of an experienced medium or psychic, which involves you summoning up all your will power and mental strength to deny the entity all access to both your body and your mind, with a view to eventually causing it to leave your home completely.

Incubi and Sucubi can not force sexual intercourse on an unwilling person strong enough to resist them. They can also be repelled by certain powerful amulets, including the Quabbalah amulet containing the Holy Angelic names Sanvi, Sansanvi Semnageolf.

So next time you are lying in bed and are suddenly awoken, in the middle of the night, by a cold breath on your cheek, a lustfully wandering hand, or the pressure of an unseen body pinning you down to the mattress, please do not feel too afraid, for given the methods of protection I have highlighted, then you can rest assured that this incubus or succubus assault on your body will be a - mercifully - transient one.

How to Upgrade WordPress!

WordPress is a widely accepted and extremely preferred content management system which offers a simplified and user-friendly operations and a lot more to look upon. Any software or application, when used in the latest version, offers the best of services and functions so possible and so does WordPress. The procedure of updating can be transported out in two ways namely Automatic and Manual.

• Automatic Updates: You may often get infurated with the update notifications of various kinds. WordPress relieves you with the automatic update option. For the version 3.7+, the user needs not to imprise an even bit of efforts. If the site is designed to install updates without the use of FTP credentials, the updates will itself run in the background allowing the version to update from 3.7 to 3.7.1, 3.7.2 etc. This is facilitated for minor and security updates however even for the purpose of major updates, the user just needs to click 'Update Now'.

WordPress provides the users with minor bug fixes with the minor latest versions as available. Therefore, a user is suggested to adopt minor fixes as and when available. Automatic updates are so very useful and valuable. Neverheless, if one wants to disable the option serving automatic updates, he can do it too.

If the notification conveys 'failed updates', the way out is to delete the file named .maintenance which is present in the WordPress directory. This will eliminate the message. If all the efforts of automatic updates go in vain, the user can turn up to Manual Updates.

• Manual Updates: Manual Updates can be time-consuming and tiring, however, the sense of accomplishment is satisfactory. The Manual Updates option can be exercised if the blog's URL is in the form [http://example.com/wordpress/].

The procedure involves few steps that are mentioned below.

1. The User needs to download the latest available version of WordPress.

2. All the plugins are to be deactivated which can be done by using the deactivate button in the drop-down list after selecting all the plugins.

3. Replace the previously annexed WP-includes and WP-admin directories with the latest installed ones. This can be done using the FTP or Shell Access)

4. The users without deleting any WP-content folder or directory are required to overwrite the existing WP-content folder's individual files with the new files. This can be done using FTP, file manager or shell SSH.

5. The same process needs to be followed by the rest of the files. All new files available in the root directory of the new version must overtake the old files in the existing directory.

6. The default files so customized must not be overwritten or else you will lose access to the preset ones.

7. Try the WP-config-sample.php as it might have certain new settings that could attract you and fascinate you to implicate your own WP-config.php.

8. Just in case, you hired the manual procedure after the auto-upgrade failure, a file named .maintenance will hamper you. This needs to be deleted from the directory through the FTP.

9. Log in to your database and further follow the database update instructions which are offered with an update link to assure compatibility. Also, reactivate the plugins and at this note, the task is accomplished.

Auto Repair Fraud

Car repair problems entail the largest group of consumer complaints in the country. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that consumers lose billions of dollars every year due to unnecessary or substandard auto repairs. While most car repair shops are legitimate, there are some dishonest car mechanics running shops in many parts of the country. It is very simple for crooked car mechanics to compel car owners that unnecessary repairs are required because the average Joe knows nothing about cars. People do not realize that they are being scammed. This makes proving car repair fraud cumbersome. Even those customers who suspect that they have been gypped by a crooked car mechanic do not know what to do in order to make their case.

In this article, we will describe the various car repair scams. Familiarize yourself with our advice the next time you take your car into a repair shop. We will also provide some advice on how to reduce your chances of becoming a victim to a crooked car mechanic or repair shop.

Highway robbery

This is one of the oldest car repair scams in the book. These "highway robbers" own or work for service stations. They prey upon drivers who stop to pump gasoline, get air or water, or use the bathroom. There are various tactics they use to part the unsuspecting driver from his money. They have been found spraying oil or dripping it under a car then claiming that there is a leak from the driver's car. They have also been found slashing tires and cutting water hoses and fan belts so that the driver will be forced to purchase new ones. These robbers target the danger that the driver faces if they attempt to drive off without making the necessary repairs and many times charge hefty prices.

Repair Estimate Fraud

Customers who do not get repair estimates in writing experience the consequences when they come to pick up their cars. When the customer drops off the car, he gets a reasonable quote, but at the end of the day, the customer discovers that the repair shop has jacked up the final bill from the original verbal quote. This may seem legal, since many car mechanics find more problems under the hood once the work begins. Car mechanics and repair shops have been known to leave blank the estimate amounts when they have customers sign repair invoices. After the customer leaves, they fill in an inflated amount or an elaborate description of the problems.

Maintenance Hook Fraud

Repair shops will advertise tune-ups or preventive maintenance service at very affordable rates. Crooked repair shops will then use these maintenance specials to "hook" or "snag" and deceive their customers. A simple oil change and lubrication order can turn into very costly repairs. Some mechanics will purposefully damage the vehicle during an inspection to inflate the bill and "uncover" other car problems.

Willful misrepresentation of repairs

Today's vehicles are sophisticated, high-tech cars. The average Joe is not cognizant on how to fix or maintain their car. For this reason, it is very simple for crooked auto mechanics to gyp the customer.

This makes it difficult for the car's owner to decide on whether or not to have the car repaired. Be cautious of a mechanic who seems very adamant at explaining the problem with your car. Always seek a second opinion and definitely get an estimate of repair costs before signing off on any repairs.

Part replacement problems

Many crooked mechanics have been known to charge customers for parts that were not even bought or installed. Furthermore, the mechanic will charge you for the labor cost to install a part that does not even exist. This is definitely scamming the customer. The old parts swap is another common parts scam. Used car parts are often times installed in your vehicle, yet the mechanics charge you as if they are new parts. Always ask for your old or damaged part back after it has been replaced. This will help maintain integrity in your car mechanic.

Fake car parts

To cut down on costs, some crooked car mechanics use fake or counterfeit car parts in place of quality replacement parts. The price difference can be significant but you will not see the savings. The repair shops will charge you the full amount of a genuine part and will "forget" to inform you of this. This business practice can endanger you out on the road. Fake car parts, in general, wear out sooner than genuine parts. Determining the fake from the real car parts is difficult because the product counterfeiters often replicate trademarks or change them slightly that it takes an expert to tell the difference. If you believe that counterfeit car parts have been used in lieu of quality parts, file a report with your state attorney general's office or local Better Business Bureau.

Bait and Switch Repair Scams

Many car repair scams start off with an ultra-low price on a specific repair job; i.e. the bait. The repair shop reels in a customer with an advertised price on shocks and then finds ways to jack up the repair invoice with several other repairs; i.e. the switch. Imagine that you bring your car in to take advantage of the special. Once there, they will tell you that you need this, this, and this. This is a classical bait and switch scam. The only difference is that you will receive the advertised special, but you will also end up paying a shotload of money on repairs you did not expect.

Tips to follow when getting your car fixed

1. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Ask for a written estimate before you sign off on repairs.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Most states require that a repair shop give an estimate in writing. If the repairs are expected to be greater than the estimate, they must call you for your approval.



























2. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Ask for a written guarantee
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Get all guarantees in writing. Make sure that the shop honors its guarantees.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   














3. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Do a background check on the repair shop
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Contact the Better Business Bureau if there are any complaints made against the shop by other customers.



























4. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Do not get gypped into paying for unnecessary repairs
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Do not tell a repair shop what repairs to perform unless you are certain that you need the repairs.



























5. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Get a second or third opinion
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You may have to pay for the estimates, but you could save yourself a bundle of money by searching for the best deal.



























6. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Look for a repair shop that employs certified car mechanics before the time for repairs comes
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You can take your time in shopping for an honest repair shop, and you will not be hasty.



























7. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Ask them to provide you with your used car part
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Be sure to ask that they provide you with your used car part so that you can rest assured that they are being honest about installing a new or reconditioned part.



























8. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Be sure that the repair shop honors any existing warranty on your vehicle
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   If so, the parts and labor may be covered by the factory's or extended warranty.



























9. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Look for cleanliness and professionalism in the repair shop
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Good repair shops are usually kempt and organized. Their staff's demeanor is very professional. Legitimate repair shops will not pressure you into making unnecessary repairs and will take the time to answer any questions you might have.

There are many forms of consumer fraud going on nowadays. It is up to you to educate yourself on what is or is not legitimate. Hopefully, our advice will minimize your chances of becoming a victim of the crime of car repair fraud.