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By Reginald Sharp What Is a Poof Chair (Foof Chair)? A Poof chair (sometimes called a Foof chair), is a chair that is filled with shredded, polyurethane foam. A Poof chair is softer than a traditional bean bag. Poof chairs soothe tired, aching joints because there are no pressure points, unlike the traditional bean bag chair. What Is Poof Chair Cover Made Of? Poof chair cover is made of durable wear-resistant and stain-resistant fabrics that are double stitched and double zippered for added safety. How Much Does A Poof Chair Cost? The price ranges from under US$100 for a small Poof chair. Mid-range prices are between US$130 and US$200 for a medium size Poof chair, and large Poof chairs can cost upwards to US$300. Why Should I Consider Buying A Poof Chair? Because they are very comfortable. The Poof chair engulfs your body into a soothing and supple cushion of patented, polyurethane foam. There are no pressure points. You can easily fluff (refoof) your chair again and again for years of enjoyment. What Is A Bean Bag Chair? A bean bag chair is popular form of furniture made of fabric and filled with small chunks of styrofoam or PVC pellets. Bean bag chairs have acquired a cult following. Beans bags, often simply small bags literally filled with dried beans, are used in a number of children’s games involving throwing and catching or throwing at targets. Since the mid 1990s, some companies have begun selling chairs filled with shredded polyurethane foam, charging a premium for the extra comfort this can provide. Bean bag chairs are known to bean bag enthusiasts by many names, such as “Physics Bag” or “Oversized Sac”. What Materials Are Used To Make Bean Bag Chairs? Bean bags today use polystyrene bead for filling. Polystyrene bead originally comes in a sugar form and steam is blown into the sugar to expand it. It is also called expanded polystyrene or EPS in the industry. The diameter of the bead that goes into the bean bag does vary from about 3 - 9mm. However, you can now also purchase micro-bead which is 1 - 3mm in diameter. After a couple of years of use, the beans within a bean bag will become compressed and comfort will be reduced. You can generally pick up smaller bags of refill to top them up. In 2005, a UK based company developed a new style of bean bag, shifting away from the standard blob style to a more stylish designer range of furniture. This style of bean bag has quickly caught on with expats living in London, primarily because they don’t want to buy expensive leather suites to only use for a couple of years before returning to their home overseas. What Should I Consider When Buying A Bean Bag Chair? There are many things to look at when considering the purchase of a bean bag chair. Some of the factors to take into account are size, material, print, filling and price. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for a bean bag chair. Different people will find different things appealing, and ultimately the most important factor in purchasing a bean bag chair is whether or not you like it. Moreover, when looking for a bean bag chair, it is important to find one with a removable outer sleeve. These are usually coupled with a water-resistant inner liner which stays on at all times to contain the bean bag filling. With a sleeve that can be removed and washed, you can keep your bean bag chair clean and in good repair quite easily. Whatever bean bag chair you ultimately choose, don’t forget to try it out first or, if you purchase online, to make sure there is a flexible return policy. A bean bag chair should feel as though it is molding to your body when you sit in it - this ultra-decadent feeling of comfort is after all the main reason for choosing a bean bag chair over more traditional furniture. In What Sizes Do Bean Bag Chairs Come? Bean bag chairs come in sizes ranging from the very small to the extremely large. The smallest bean bag chairs are intended less for use as an actual chair than to accompany a full-sized bean bag chair as an ottoman. The next size category are childrens bean bag chairs, large enough for a small child but too small for most adults. Then come queen-size bean bag chairs, which can comfortably accommodate most adults. Finally, there are king and deluxe-size bean bag chairs, which are so large that most adults will be fully enveloped by them, and large enough to accommodate two or more adults. How Much Do Bean Bag Chairs Cost? Bean bag chairs can cost under US$100. Mid-range bean bag chairs cost between US$130 and US$200, depending on size and material. Polyurethane bean bag chairs and designer bean bag chairs with ornate prints can cost upwards of US$300. For more information, visit 1-Bean-Bag-Chairs.com. Reginald Sharp is a writer and webmaster for 1-Bean-Bag-Chairs.com. 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By Jean Lam One of the most intrinsic desires of people all around the world is being capable of following a successful weight loss plan, and getting rid of a those extra pounds that make them uncomfortable. However it seems that this task becomes increasingly difficult with time, and people actually end up gaining weight instead of losing it, but why does that happen? The fact is that people are not actually aiming to become someone different, they are actually trying to stop being themselves, which is completely wrong. You should not aim to stop being an obese individual; instead you should focus your efforts in becoming the ideal individual that you have ever dreamt of. It may seem as if this weight loss method is just some mumble jumble that will really not help at all, but it is not, you would be amazed to know how amazingly powerful your brain is. So, only by focusing on what you want, and stop focusing your efforts in avoiding what you dont want, you will be able of following an efficient weight loss program which will eventually transform you in the physical person that you want to become. Following a weight loss plan requires discipline, and it requires your complete dedication and motivation; if you are not truly aiming to become a slender person, then you will eventually gain that weight right back. Here is a practical exercise that you can perform which will provide a small demonstration of the power that your mind holds without you even realizing it, the power that may be used to compliment your weight loss efforts. Do this: the next time you wake up, think about a small improvement that you would like in your life, and try to keep it simple; then focus on picturing yourself living this improvement, and convince yourself that you will get it. As time passes, that improvement will definitely take place, trust me. There are many recent studies that you may read, which explain the reason of this interesting factor, but in the meantime, you need to know that subconscious programming is the most efficient weight loss method, just picture yourself being the physical person that you want to become, and convince yourself that following a weight loss plan is exactly what you are going to do, because you already know that you will lose weight. Do it for a few days, and you will marvel at the results. This article can be freely published on a website as long as it’s not modified in any way including the author bylines, plus all the hyperlinks must be made active just like below. Jean Lam is a writer, author, publisher and owns several sites. Visit his weight loss obesity website for lots of articles about losing weight. Also check out the weight loss eBook that will give you tips for your weight loss problems. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Lam http://EzineArticles.com/?Subconscious-Weight-Loss,-Knowledge-Is-Power&id=504562 order phentermine without a prescription buy phentermine online phentermine no prior prescription needed cheap phentermine 37.5

By Alexander Gordon Off Balance Sheet Financing involves raising money in a way that it does not appear on the financial statement as loan or cash flow. Some of the most widely used ways to achieve that is to go by joint ventures, leases and R&D partnerships. The lesser-used methods are trade receivables securitization and passing tax benefits to investors. Techniques for Off Balance Sheet Financing; Off Balance Sheet Financing uses the following techniques: 1) The company forms a joint venture with a partner company. One party provides the technical know how while the other provides the funding. The smart way to structure Off Balance Sheet Financing is to obtain royalties from the proceeds of the venture. 2) The company can lease equipment or other facilities for its operations; rather than buying them. The lease equipment is not considered company asset, and it can save your business from having to buy equipment. 3) You can pass off some tax benefit to an investor in order to keep the funding off your balance sheets. 4) Trade receivables securitization is another technique of Off Balance Sheet Financing. The Special Purpose Entity created by the company purchases receivable from Originator and offer securities to investors. 5) A third party provides synthetic Leases to the company. The third party purchases property in its name and leases it out to the company. The company is considered a tenant or debtor of the third party. Disadvantages of Off Balance Sheet Financing;Off Balance Sheet Financing have some disadvantages that relate to the companys ability to function independently. 1) If your company forms a partnership with another party that can provide funds, it means that you have to part with technical know how. 2) You may have to pass on tax benefits to investors. This can eat into your cash flow. 3) Trade receivables securitization is not possible unless your company has a steady cash flow. 4) The Off Balance Sheet Financing Techniques have a potential for misuse, as the Enron case proved. According to critics, Off Balance Sheet Financing is a method of artificially raising return on assets and debt to capital ratios. For all its disadvantages, sometimes Off Balance Sheet Financing is the only hope for companies that need to raise funds and do not have many options. If you need to know more about Off Balance Sheet Financing techniques, you can consult a financial advisor or small business consultant who will guide you with the intricacies of this valuable method of raising funds. Alexander Gordon is a writer for www.smallbusinessconsulting.com - The Small Business Consulting Community. Sign-up for the free success steps newsletter and get our booklet valued at $24.95 for free as a special bonus. The newsletter provides daily strategies on starting and significantly growing a business. Business Owners all across the country are joining “The Community of Small Business Owners to receive and provide strategies, insight, tips, support and more on starting, managing, growing, and selling their businesses. As a member, you will have access to true Millionaire Business Owners who will provide strategies and tips from their real-life experiences. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Gordon http://EzineArticles.com/?Smart-Techniques-Of-Financing-Off-Balance-Sheets&id=376723 phentermine overnight without a prescription discount phentermine without prescription phentermine no prescription required order phentermine online without prescription

By Patrick Malcolm The fig tree, Ficus carica, possibly originated in Northern Asia according to archeological fossil records. Spanish missionaries brought it to the United States in 1520. Historical Sumerian tablets record the use and consumption of figs in 2500 BC. In Greek mythology, the fig figures prominently as a gift of Demeter to Dionysus and as having received the blessing and sanctity of the Greek Gods. Plato documented that Greek athletes at Olympia were fed diets of figs to increase their running speed and overall strength. The figs contained up to 50% concentration of sugar which was virtually like feeding the athlete a candy bar. The most famous Biblical reference to figs is that, in which Jesus cursed a fig tree for not producing any fruit for him as he passed by, a curse that killed the fig tree, Matt 21:18 The Jewish King, Hezekiah, was cured of a life-threatening plague by applying figs to the infected spot. 2 Kings 20 The Apostle, James, brother of Jesus, used the metaphor of the fig tree to describe the appropriate behavior that he expected to follow from Christian living. James 3:12 Fig leaves were used in the early church to hide the genitalia of nude, marble sculptures that adorned religious buildings. Fig trees were also used in ancient history as shade trees and to chop and use as quick start firewood. Cooked figs were used as sweeteners in ancient times and this practice is still used in many third world countries in Asia Minor. The figs contain over 50% sugar. Hybrid figs contain many hollow, tiny seeds on the interior of the fruit, similar in taste as those found in blueberries and strawberries. A fig fruit has a round tiny opening at the base of the fig called an eye. A tiny wasp flies into the interior of the fig and pollinates the tiny flowers lining the interior walls of the fig. These tiny seed are not generally digested by the stomach and offer a great laxative effect to the elderly sedentary citizens. American hybrid figs do not require or receive pollination to be transformed into edible fruit. Fig trees in Europe can grow to a tremendous height of 100 feet, but the fruit is very difficult to harvest when the tree grows taller than 10 feet. In harvesting the figs, it is important to pick the fruit from the tree, when it is completely mature–usually when it sags, droops, and changes color. If the figs are taken from the tree prematurely, the sweetness declines, but more importantly, if the figs are removed in the juvenile developing state, a white milky fluid exudes from the stem, which is transferred to a persons hands and then eyes or mouth, the fluid is very irritating and should be washed away as quickly as possible. One of the most famous figs in the United States is the Black Mission fig tree, which was named after the California, Franciscan mission that dates back to 1770, when it was planted there and cultivated on a commercial scale. Perhaps the most famous product of figs is the fig newton that uses dried figs placed between curved, sweet wafers and distributed by Nabisco. In Europe, figs are gathered from commercial fig tree orchards where they are sized, graded, and packed to sell as fresh fruit at local markets. Figs are easily dried after harvesting from the trees, and various brands are popularly sold throughout the world, because of their extended shelf life in the United States, California is the largest producer of figs and most of them are marketed as dried figs. In the South figs are boiled in sugar liquid, sometimes adding strawberries and the resulting fig preserves are eaten during the fall and winter months as fig preserves on hot buttered biscuits. The trees grow into picturesque specimens in many landscapes. The trunks are often whitewashed when young in order to keep the sun from scalding the tender bark. The roots are vigorous growers and will grow far away from the canopy; however, trimming these roots does not damage the tree. Fig trees grown in full sun have soft wood that break easily. The trees easily grow to 100 feet in Europe but usually less than 30 feet in the United States. Fertilizing fig trees on most soils is unnecessary and unwise, because nitrogen fertilizer tends to promote aggressive branch growth and will reduce the size of the crop. If too much nitrogen is applied, the fruit does not mature properly and the fruit has an off taste. The first crop of figs that matures in the spring is called the breba crop and the next and tastiest crop matures in the fall. Figs are harvested from the trees from June till October, although some new cultivars will be ready for eating in April. The shelf life for freshly picked figs is short and fig generally last only about three days in refrigeration. A fig should not be picked from a tree, if it is over ripe or mushy, since it will begin souring from fermentation. At this point figs will lose their roundness and begin to collapse inward. When a fig is harvested from a tree, it should be soft to the touch and a very firm fig will not ripen properly, if it is picked at this immature stage. The beautiful leaves of the fig tree are used to make an odd scented perfume with the aroma of wood or musk. The white, milky latex from the tree can be used as a meat tenderizer or in making cheese, if the latex is dried and powdered. Figs can be frozen whole or sliced in plastic bags or jars and expected to last satisfactorily for one year. Dried figs can be soaked in warm water to restore their shape and softness. Fruit of figs is high in iron, calcium, potassium, and fiber, and they are used as a diuretic and a laxative. Figs contain protein digesting enzymes and can be used as a meat tenderizer and a taste enhancer. Dried figs are often used to substitute for recipes calling for dried apricots, dates, or prunes. Fig trees are considered to be about as cold hardy as citrus; however, recent hybrid cultivars show that fig trees can survive temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit for limited periods of time, and if the tree freezes to the ground, the new shoots will sprout in the spring to rapidly renew the fig tree. Copyright 2006 Patrick Malcolm Learn more about various plants, or purchase ones mentioned in this article by visiting the author’s website: http://www.tytyga.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Malcolm http://EzineArticles.com/?Ancient-Fig-Trees-Through-History&id=316212 cheap generic phentermine purchase phentermine cod buy phentermine online without prescription cheap phentermine with no prescription

By Yolanda Nash Your hubby has popped the question and you are so excited. You have been waiting for this day for years and years it seems like. Well now that you know you are getting married it is time to start the planning process. You and your soon to be husband was thinking of getting married on the beach. Well if you do plan to get married on the beach then you need to have the margaritas and all of the beach themed items. So now you have started gathering up some beach themed merchandise and you came across some beach wedding favors. The only problem is their are so many choices that you are just dumbfounded. Well do not worry because below I have outlined some of the more popular and fun beach wedding favors that you can purchase. Beachcombers Flip Flop Place card Holders These darling, hand painted flip flop place card holders will splash a little summery color on your reception tables. Each place card holder is loaded with sweet detail sure to tickle any guest - like the multicolor trim, or the tiny pearl that adorns the metal clip. Each set includes two pairs of flip flops, ie 4 place card holders, which your guests can later take home to use as memo clips or photo holders. Beachcomber sea life theme features pearlized fish or starfish details on each little shoe. Each clip measures approximately 4 inches tall, 2 inches long and about one inch wide. Let me tell you these little place cards are one of my favorites. When you purchase them as place card holders they can easily double as favors. So you will save a little extra money when you purchase these. “Shore Memories” Sea Shell Bottle Opener with Thank you Tag This “Shore Memories” sea shell bottle opener makes a unique favor for guests. The bottle opener is made of high quality stainless steel. The shell handle is hand painted resin and it is so intricately detailed in its design that it looks like a real sea shell. Each sea shell bottle opener is presented in an elegant gift box with a clear top and a raffia tie. A designer tag that reads “Thank you for sharing this day” is included on each favor. The opener measures 4″ x 1.5″ and the gift box measures 5″ x 2″. This bottle opener is great because when it comes time for cocktail hour everyone will have their own bottle opener. Awesome favor if I might say so myself. Set of 4 Palm Tree Place Card Holders The set of 4 palm tree place card holders are handcrafted and hand-painted and will bring a decorative touch to beach and island events. Each palm tree measures 2.5″ tall x 1 3/4″ wide. There is a tremendous amount of detail on the leaves, the trunk ,and the sand. Guests can use the palm tree holders after the event to hold their own beach photos. These are just a few of the many different types of beach wedding favors that you can purchase for your beach themed wedding. So take a look at some of the online retailers and find the perfect favors for your event. Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types of beach wedding favors such as palm tree place card holders, flip flop place card holders and much more. So if you are looking for bridesmaid gifts or wedding favors then we got you covered. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yolanda_Nash http://EzineArticles.com/?Beach-Wedding-Favors&id=524444 low cost phentermine no prescription phentermine to order canadian pharmacy phentermine phentermine online no prior prescription

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Deshawn_Jon]Deshawn Jon Mobile phone giant Nokia is always looked up to with awe as it has been instrumental in equipping its users with the best mobile phones in the recent times. And all of us are aware of its mass appeal. This Finnish company has brought about a revolution in the field of mobile telephony by making itself the numero uno brand in the telecommunications arena and the 4th largest non US company in the world (source- Fortune magazine 2006). There are enough reasons to justify its much deserved mass appeal and the largest market share that this mobile phone supremo holds. The 36% of the total mobile phone market share is governed by Nokia. And we are more drawn to believe the trend as we peep into the excellent mobile phones that this company promises to give you. Take for instance the latest wonder gadget from Nokia known as N95. This handset is the best equipped mainstream handset that mobile phone market has ever seen. The critics and the users are all going gaga over this wonder device. A single handset that supports a 5 MP camera, GPS navigation system, HSDPA (3.5G) technology, inbuilt Wi-Fi and loads of other features in this handsets is indeed marvellous. Nokia N95 is surely a jewel in the crown of Nokia. The N series by Nokia has given us some of the finest handsets of the times. We have seen Nokia N91, N73, N93, N70, N71 and N80. Then there are series as E series, xpress music series, L’Amour series that have adorned the horizon of the cellular telephony. E series are famous for their high end business phones, x-press music series for the music phones and for the fashion conscious people, L’Amour collection suits the best. In fact, one of the basic models called Nokia 1100 is the world’s most loved mobile and it is the most used mobile phone around the globe. So, Nokia hasn’t just made a mark in the high end mobile phones segment but even the low end mobile phones by the manufacturers have come out to be a major hit. So Nokia has qualified itself as an indisputable monarch in the absolute realm of mobile telephony and is constantly experimenting and innovating technologies to retain that position for a longer time. We at [http://www.bestcontractmobilephonedeals.co.uk/]Mobile Phone Deals are offered free latest handsets as a part of contract like [http://www.bestcontractmobilephonedeals.co.uk/nokia.asp]Nokia Mobile Phones deals with lots of offers and free gifts. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deshawn_Jon http://EzineArticles.com/?Nokia-Mobile-Phones—The-August-Monarch&id=560496 diet pills and phentermine phentermine online no rx phentermine for cheap online consultation for phentermine

By Paul Hoffman The Gospel of Mark is a narrative, in the oral tradition of early Christian teaching. To understand the story of the rich mans conversation with Jesus, one needs to view the Gospel in total. In this Gospel, Jesus is a mentor and teacher of the people. Jesus is teaching the truths of the Kingdom of Heaven. Moreover, Jesus is leader to the disciples/apostles. Mark wrote his narrative in active voice telling the events in the discipling of the apostles and ministry to the Chosen People of God. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus talks with people in all walks of Jewish life. Thimmes (1992) helps explain the constituents of Marks Gospel. For Mark, constituents are groups of people, the twelve (apostles), religious leaders, Jesus family, crowds of people, and women. She continues to write that individual characters, like the rich young man, appear at times; however, they appear in justification of Jesus, His actions, His mission.Inner Texture/Intertexture The inner texture - repeated patterns of speech and structure (Bekker, 2005) include the theme of teaching, preaching to the people, offering insight to the apostles, challenging the teachers of religion, and commanding followership. To the people following Jesus, He tells simple stories for their understanding, to the apostles, He explains the parables in depth as to assure their understanding and their ability to spread the truth after the Accession. To the scholars of Jewish religion, Jesus traps them in their own words. Intertexture the tapestry woven into modern society (Bekker, 2005): The Church today continues to teach and interpret for the faithful. The Gospel of Mark uses intertexture through social topics common to the time in a manner that reflects culture.Mark wrote based on oral tradition and oral history (Dewey, 2004). Like organizational leadership today, Mark shared Jesus vision through story telling, in Marks situation, as suggested by Dewy (2004) and Robbins (2005), Mark wrote as scribe of Peter. Peters oral history became written history through Mark. Oral histories and traditions of a great leader adhere to that leader over time. Like modern organizations, myth and folklore help preserve organizational history. We tell the stories in pieces in a way that people can understand the context, and then weave the stories into a text. More than myth and folklore, Marks gospel is a factual accounting resulting in little change over time.Inner Texture in MarkThere are several recurring themes in the Gospel of Mark. We read that Jesus preached, He spoke with authority, He taught. These references tell us Jesus was a teacher. However, teacher has a different meaning today than the time of Jesus. Daily Bible Study (2005) offers a definition of teacher used during the time of Jesus. Teacher: Rabbi, meaning Teacher, or Master was, and is, a dignified title given by Jews to doctors of the religious law and distinguished teachers. In the New Testament, it was most often recorded when used by His disciples for Jesus Christ. Therefore, Marks use of teacher referring to Jesus is of respect for Jesus knowledge of sacred scripture and ability to relate it to disciples and followers.In the passage, Mark 10:17-22, the word teacher appears twice as spoken by the rich young man, once in the beginning of the story and again in the middle. The rich young man recognizes that Jesus speaks with authority when preaching. This young person did not come upon Jesus; rather he ran to Jesus giving homage by falling to his knees, and addressing Jesus as teacher. Hebrews 7:7 offers some insight to the young mans behavior, It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Other accounts suggest the rich young man was a local leader (ruler) to whom others would bow in respect (Luke 18:18). Recognizing the historical perspective of the teacher and the action of the rich young man to kneel before Jesus, one can understand how this person felt toward Jesus as a leader and teacher of the people. However, did this young man recognize Jesus as the Son of God? As the story unfolds, the young man also addresses Jesus as good, good teacher. Good appears three times in this short passage all in the opening verses. After the young man addresses Jesus as good teacher, Jesus replies by asking the young man to qualify good, as No one is good but God alone. This line of questioning seems to have a rational logical progression. First Jesus asks why the young man considers Jesus good. Second, Jesus states only God is good. Third, the unanswered question in logical progression is, you address me as good, I say only God is good. Therefore, if only God is good and you address me as good, do you recognize me as God? This appears a challenge to the young man to accept Jesus as the human manifestation of God.What word might the young man have spoken that we translate as good. Searching online sources for good in relation to it use in this passage, one Hebrew derivative appeared tov. In Greek, one finds agathos, meaning that which is good or goodness. Another Greek term is kalodidaskalos, meaning teacher of good things or teaching what is good. After researching the meanings of the good and teacher used in this passage, one can conclude the rich young man recognized Jesus as a scriptural teacher, with scholarly knowledge, who taught good things. One cannot conclude the young man recognized Jesus as the Son of God.Stevenson (no date) wrote of the encounter that the rich young man was mistaken that he and Jesus were equally good because of their acts. However, the young man had already stored his good works on earth and related in Matthew 6:16-18. In the midst of the encounter, Jesus commands the rich young man to obey the commandments. However, Jesus seems to speak to the young man is terms he understands from the Scribes and Pharoses. The pattern Jesus used was unassailable do not violate a Commandment. The instruction do not repeats five times. Upon Jesus telling the young man to obey the commandments, the young man replied he obeyed since being a child. He felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him (Mark 10:21). This story concludes with Jesus final attempt at the young mans transformation, Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Me. Jesus asks this young person to give up his earthly treasure for heavenly treasures. Unable to accept this command, he turns and leaves Jesus. At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions (Mark 10:22). Although the passage ends with verse 22, Mark writes of Jesus continuing to instruct the disciples on the value of knowing God rather than trusting riches. The young man was unable to surrender riches, position, and title on earth for heavenly treasure. Social and Cultural Texture In the time of Jesus as today, wealth was power and status was important. The case to make is the rich young man wanted a place in heaven; however, on his terms. Jesus spoke of the rule of Jewish law obeying the commandments, give up riches, and follow Him. The result is the young man rejects Jesus offer and goes away.Ideological Texture Marks gospel, unlike the others opens with Jesus as the subject, Here begins the wonderful story of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (Mark 1:1). Therefore, Mark places Jesus as central in the passage of the rich young man to teach others on the dangers of wealth. Jesus projects himself onto the rich young man drawing him into scene. The disciples traveled with Jesus, yet they are not a part of the story until verse 23 and Jesus begins His instruction.Sacred Texture Jesus tells the young man only God is good. He asks why the young man addresses Him as Good Teacher. In this passage, Jesus reinforces the Jewish law as interpreted by Jewish teachers of the law. Jesus offer to follow Him was not the short cut the young man wanted since it meant giving up worldly goods for Gods good.Opening-Middle-Closing Texture This passage fits the Robbins (1996) texture pattern having an opening, middle, and a closing. Opening, Mark 10:17: Jesus was leaving on a trip when a rich young man came running up to Him asking how he could get to heaven. Middle, Mark 10:18-21: Jesus had a conversation with the young man telling him to obey the commandments to reach heaven. Jesus loves the man offers the young man a chance to follow Him, and he rejects Jesus offer. Closing, Mark 10:22: As a rich person, he was unable to give up material goods for spiritual goods to attain heaven. Christian Leadership How does leadership in the time of Jesus compare to modern leadership? Christian leadership is simple according to Smalling (2005). However simple, he iterates it is not easy. Organizational leaders understand the management paradigm of hierarchical structure; however, fail to recognize the biblical paradigm of servant leadership taught throughout the gospels. Christian leadership, biblical leadership shared in the New Testament is a gift from God. Mathew 20:20-28 tells of the sons of Zebedee seeking position power in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus says in verse 23 that He (Jesus) cannot say who sits where in Heaven, Those places are reserved for persons my Father selects. Zebedees sons had ambition which is good in a leader; however, they were self-focused not God focused in the leadership desires. Modern Christian leaders must possess humbleness. Winston (2002) writes of humble and haughty leaders. The former is servant to the goals of the organization and the latter is servant to his/her own goals. Christian leadership, biblical leadership shared in the New Testament is a gift from God. Mathew 20:20-28 tells of the sons of Zebedee seeking position power in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus says in verse 23 that He (Jesus) cannot say who sits where in Heaven, Those places are reserved for persons my Father selects. Zebedees sons had ambition which is good in a leader; however, they were self-focused not God focused in the leadership desires. Modern Christian leaders must possess humbleness. Winston (2002) writes of humble and haughty leaders. The former is servant to the goals of the organization and the latter is servant to his/her own goals.Many texts cite leaders as charismatic, seeking a relationship between the leader and those led. This is probably true of all leadership situations; however, has an exceptional gift for inspiration and nonrational communication (DuBrin 2004, pg. 65). Charismatic leaders may be social doing what is best to benefit others, or personal doing what is best for self. Christian leaders need to concern themselves for the whole rather than the one.In organizational change, especially reorganization, and reculturing, leadership is often transformational. A leader may evaluate the organization in terms of forces. There are forces for change and forces against change. The transformational leader must minimize or eliminate the resistance factors so the forward motion of change progresses positively. The rich young man could not rid himself of resistance forces. A Christian transformational leader needs to know Acts 20:28, to keep watch over yourself, the leaders spiritual welfare. This person must also keep watch over all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseer. This element of the verse is very similar to agapao love explained by Winston (2002). Finally, Acts 20:28 concludes Be shepherds of the church. Church in organizational terms is the population of people making up the organization.The first inkling of Jesus leadership comes in the first chapter of Mark, verses 21-22. In these, we read how Jesus went into the synagogue and taught them as one that had authority, not as the scribes. Modern learning organizations teach employees leadership skills through mentoring, preparing the younger employees for the time that they will take over leadership.Jesus is not a titled leader; yet he has many followers and fierce official resistance to His authority. Sims (1996) refers to Jesus leadership in Mark as a call from power as dominance to power as participation. Mark 10:44 relates the servant leadership teaching of Jesus, And, whoever wants to be greatest of all must be slave of all. DuBrin (2004) acknowledges leadership as a partnership or relationship over the long-term. DuBrin continues by citing Peter Blocks stewardship theory of leadership. As mentioned elsewhere in this paper, the stewardship theory supposes the greater good of the whole rather than the individual. Successful leaders in modern business recognize their strength come form the collective strength of the group. Pfeffer (1998) writes of the seven practices of successful organizations in chapter three, and similar to Mark 10:44, he says successful organizations (r)educe status distinctions and barriers. (pg.65), and be selective in hiring new people. Jesus was selective in hiring his inner circle. He picked fishermen to make them fishers of men (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17). He chose a tax collector (Matthew 10:3, Luke 5:27), although their people considered tax collectors behavior unethical (Mark 2:16, Luke 7:34). The Christian leader, servant/leader selectively gathers others around whom he/she can teach. Then they, in turn, carry the vision and values forward to the next level. The Christian leadership rests on multiple points. The rich young man passage offers a glimpse of three balance points, God, others and self. Blue (1999) takes leadership in journeys, three separate journeys, yet each dependent on the others. The first journey is upward, having a spiritual relationship with God, integrating God into our lives, being God oriented. The second journey is inward. The inward journey according to Blue is where we (attend) to our own healing, attending to the stuff that’s wrong with us. Do not deny your feelings, try to interpret them and learn from them. Feelings are the bodys way of giving us information and we often choose to ignore them. The third, final journey is outward. We cultivate relationships with many and intimacies (platonically - agapao) with a few. We find those who are honest with us and us with them. Conclusion Mark 10:17-22 is Jesus call to action to give up secular gods. In reciting the Commandments in verse 19, several are not included. Notably, Jesus does not include the First Commandment. Jesus is already aware the rich young man has put other gods before God. Modern leaders need to observe the events of Mark 10:17-22. It is not a social interaction. Jesus asks this young man to accept a new position, a new work ethic in support of Jesus mission. Leaders have a call to service, to serve the organization, its constituents, its community, and its human resources. Winston (2002) charges that too often leaders put people into positions because of technical ability without taking into consideration the overall good of the organization. Pat Boone in Robertson (2004) asks what if the rich young man had sold everything, What would he have become (pg. xiii)? This seems a leadership gamble, select someone because they have technical skills or for their potential to influence the organization. Leaders often feel they need skill over potential; however, the true servant leader does not need to gamble with human assets. True Christian leaders hire the right person who fits into the organizational culture and begins an educational mentoring program. Unfortunately, we do not know the answer to Pat Boones what if question. The interview did not go well for the rich young man. Reference: Bekker, C. (2005). Exploring Leadership through Exegesis. Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA. Blue, K. (1999). Healthy Leadership. The Grace and Healing Conference in 1999. Retrieved November 8, 2005 from http://muchloved.tripod.com/love/kblove1.html#journeys Dewey, J. (2004). The Survival of Mark’s Gospel: A Good Stroy? Journal of Bibical Literature, 123(3). DuBrin, A. J. (2004). Leadership: Research Findings, Practices, and Skills (4th Edition). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. Hoffman, P. (2001). Retail Leadership Strategy in Tight Labor Markets: Bellevue UniversityPfeffer, J (1998). The Human Equation: Building profits by putting people first. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press. Robbins, V. K. (2005 October 26). The Intertexture of Apocalyptic Discourse in the Gospel of Mark. Emory University. Retrieved on November 8, 2005 from http://www.religion.emory.edu/faculty/robbins/Pdfs/ApocIntertexture.pdf. Robbins, V. K. (1996). Exploring the Texture of Texts: A guide to socio-rhetorical interpretation. Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International. Robertson, P. & Buckingham, J. (1972, 1995, 2004). The Autobiography of Pat Robertson: Shout it from the housetops. Gainsville, FL: Bridge-Logos. Smalling, R. L. (2005). Christian Leadership: Principles and Practicalities [Electronic Version]. Retrieved November 6, 2005 from http://www.smallings.com/Books/CHRISTIANLEADERSHIP.htm. Sims, B. J. (1996). Gospel Text, Mark 10:46-52 - The healing of blind Bartimaeus. The Center for Progressive Christianity. Retrieved November 7, 2005 from https://www.tcpc.org/resources/articles/let_me.htm Stevenson, J. (No Date). Entering the Kingdom of God: Mark 10:13-31. Retrieved November 3, 2005 from http://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/mark.html Thimmes, P. (1992). The Gospel of Mark as Good News [Electronic Version]. Catechist, 26, 36-40. Retrieved November 7, 2005 from http://homepages.udayton.edu/~thimmepl/mark.html. Winston, B. (2002). Be a Leader for God’s Sake. Virginia Beach, VA: Regent University School of Leadership Studies. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hoffman http://EzineArticles.com/?Mark-10:17-to-22—-Jesus-and-the-Rich-Young-Man&id=282550 5 buy sildenafil citrate cheap generic viagra online buy real viagra viagra order canada

By Steven Lanier Massive exposure is a must in online business. Too many would be successful entrepreneurs and home based business owners focus on the age old saying quality before quantity. This does not hold true in the home based business industry. When dealing with online marketing and advertising, QUANTITY comes before QUALITY. Let me give you an example. You go to a lead source with the intent on buying leads, and are given a choice. You can order 20 highly targeted surveyed phone verified leads for $30, or you can order 15,000 30 day old auto responder leads for $30. On the surface the 20 highly targeted leads seems to be a better deal. Because you got 20 people who appear to already be waiting to buy, and they are just waiting for your phone call or email. In online business this simply isnt true. The fact of the matter is each of these lead lists have been sold and resold countless times. It doesnt matter who your lead provider is, chances are the list of leads you ordered have been sold at least 5 or 6 times. Some companies will claim that this isnt the case with their particular brand of leads, that they only sell their lists two or three times to separate companies, and this may be true. THEY might not have resold the lists multiple times, but the provider they used did for sure. And for this reason alone, quantity is more important then quality when dealing with these types of contacts. A $3, 10 question phone verified surveyed lead will perform just as well as a 3 cent auto responder bulk lead under these circumstances, and the results will only become evident by using a massive amount of contacts and playing the numbers game. Your goal in this industry should always be mass exposure. Trying to get the most promotional bang for your buck to a targeted audience. Any advertising means you decide to use, whether its purchasing bulk leads or paying for PPC advertising, you want your product to be put in front of a targeted audience. So make sure any leads you buy, and any PPC provider you choose to take advantage of, helps you in terms of MASS EXPOSURE. Most successful online marketers will use a wide range of mass exposure tools. Including email, traffic exchanges, PPC, Podcasting, articles etc. Anything that will bring the MOST traffic to their websites. Not necessarily the MOST targeted. Now dont get me wrong, targeted traffic is great. But getting guaranteed targeted traffic can be both time consuming and expensive. At the end of the day with highly targeted traffic you could see a conversion improvement of only .5% - 1%, for a price increase of a couple thousand dollars. So unless you have huge investment capital, going for the highly targeted variety of traffic isnt always worth it. What about PPC (pay per click) traffic vs. Traffic Exchange traffic for home based business? In all honestly I believe traffic exchange traffic is superior to PPC traffic when you utilize the PPCs correctly for a number of reasons. First and foremost traffic exchange traffic is free, you can direct thousands of targeted hits to your website daily at NO cost. If you were using a PPC, the cost can be astronomical. Lead capture on the traffic exchanges is highly effective, you can pretty much count on 1 opt-in for every 700 visitors you send to your site. In a PPC, the same could hold true, but you are paying anywhere from .5 cents to 25 cents per visitor, sometimes even more. Which can make PPC advertising impractical. PPC advertising doesnt fulfill the requirement of mass exposure, again your sacrificing quantity for quality and that idea never works very well online. Can a good inexpensive PPC campaign help your business? Sure. But it should be one tool in your arsenal, and a minor tool. If you plan on getting ALL your website sales through PPC advertising, the costs can quickly outweigh the profits.In closing, always go for quantity over quality in online advertising and marketing. Steven Lanier is an online marketer, and professional list builder. Steven has grown large downlines in several MLM’s and is a top affiliate in many companies and opportunities. Visit his website here http://www.maxprofit.ws Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Lanier http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Mass-Exposure-in-Online-Business&id=575344 buy viagra in the uk where to buy sildenafil on line buy viagra alternative order viagra canada

By Hubert Crowell The Message driven ChurchBy message we are not talking about The Message, but the sub-message. The message of Jesus is usually always preached and does not change, but what about the sub-message or how the message is stated?Is the sub-message, Jesus says… or how to fix a broken world… or help for hurting people? Does your church center around the Sunday service, is this where it happens?The down side of a message driven Church is that is least likely to change and could be least flexible.The up side of a message driven Church is that it is a strong voice as long as the person in charge is around, but may struggle when the leader dies or moves on. The Medium driven ChurchThe medium driven Church could be a church with a strong Sunday School. It could be centered on the pulpit with one strong person. It could be the choir or a bus ministry. It could also be a TV ministry.The up side is that it could be flexible or creative.The down side is when it fixes in on one medium or one person. The Market driven ChurchThe market driven Church is a church that aims for specific group or class of people, or any area that can be identified.The up side is that it is usually the most creative and the most flexible. Always on top. Constant change.The down side is that a market driven Church can become a slave to the market and with a highly market driven Church there is a high risk factor. Willing to comprise the message. Good AlignmentWhen all three of these are in alignment with each other you have the best situation. They are all good, but they must have good alignment. They may not be in balance, but should be in alignment. For example the message must reach the market. To do this you must study and know your market. Who are you reaching for and who is available for you to reach. How well do you communicate what you are to your church?How well do you communicate what you are to your community? Image is what others think you are.Identity is what you know you are.Try to merge image and identity so that others really know what you are all about. Step One - Inspire commitment from your staff or board.Step two - Develop a self-awareness.Ask yourself what is the dominant theme for out church now? Use a five year maximum time frame.What moments from my church’s past and present are emblematic of our vision?What do we want to say about our church and to whom? If you try to appeal to everyone, you will not appeal to anyone.Which truth about my church will I choose to represent us?Pick only one and go forward with it. The one you pick is your identity and the one you go forward with is your image. Marketing strategyBe careful not to sell what you cannot deliver! You may not understand who you are.Why do tag-lines matter? Think of it as your bumper sticker. It tells who you are and how you want to be seen. A large southern church that has just come out of a long successful revival and is now trying to get back to being a church again, has picked a tag-line ( Explore Life Now ). Their market is a large geographical area that the past revival reached and the congregation usually spends the weekend when coming to the church. With beaches nearby, the message is to come, attend church and enjoy the beaches. A few bad tag-lines:”It’s not your father’s Oldsmobile”, Oldsmobile is no longer around, they drove off their older market by insulting the older drivers. “Brown and Buddy”, Pepsi Cola tag-line and it only ran one week. They were aiming for the black community and it drew all kinds of negative feedback. A few good tag-lines:”Just Do It” and “Where’s The Beef?” This one lasted about 5 years in the 80’s and was only dropped during the 90’s due to weight becoming a public issue. Look for a good advertisement company for your church, they will know how to make use of the subliminal messages in the selection of color fonts and graphics in your ads. Avoid using real people from your congregation in your ads, you never know what may happen to them and you may have to pull an expensive ad. If you ever blame a consumer, you have lost them. Blame is the result of negative guilt. Not all guilt is negative. Remember that all non-profits require funding. People will develop an image about ur church, but will it be what we want? Let’s give them our image! OrientationWhat is the magnet north for your Church? If you shake a compass it will always return back to the same direction. What ever your church goes through, the direction it returns to is your orientation. Examples of Church orientation: Worship Music Preaching Small Groups Christian Education Relationships Growth Children Youth Fill in the blank. As it is right now my church is ___________, orientated. What is your church’s message? What is your church’s medium? What is your church’s market? What was the size of your congregation 2 years ago? What was the size of your congregation 5 years ago? What is the average age of your congregation? Has your revenue increased, decreased or remained the same? Are you closing the door to visitors? Example: Private jokes known only to the congregation can turn visitors away. Do you make it sound like you must have problems to become a member? Values of your ChurchClarify the values of your church, values are a policing factor.Select the three top important values in your church. Example: 1. Personal relationships 2. Spiritual life 3. Authority of Scripture After the top three, the rest are just what people want to hear.List the things that are important in your church and score them in order of importance 1 to 10. Example: Growth - 3 Service - 8 Pastoral - 7 Evangelism -3 Events - 2 Social Work - 2 Facilities - 1 Finances - 4 Compare what you feel is important with the values you have selected for your church. Are you being truthful in what you say your values are and what you place importance on. For example if you place growth as a value and you are not growing, then growth is not a value. In the example above, do you think that these are true values with the low importance placed on some of the items? About the Author: Hubert Crowell, Cave Explorer I have started writing as a hobby and plan to write about my life, work, hobbies, religion and many other things of interest to me and maybe others will enjoy also. For more information on caving, improving your service department and many other subjects, Please visit my web site at: http://hubertcrowell.name/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hubert_Crowell http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Your-Church-in-Alignment?&id=501796 generic viagra 3a caverta cialis cheap buy viagra in spain 5 money order sildenafil citrate 64 find viagra online

By Nicole Munoz Computers have become a common and needed part of life in todays society, making computer education imperative for children. Young children will typically begin to show an interest in the home PC by their toddler years. While it is may be a good idea to begin introducing your toddler to the computer in very short sessions, most children can began to learn and understand a computers functionality by preschool age. Preschool age children can learn to turn the computer on by themselves and will quickly learn to operate the mouse. Simple games that teach and reinforce basic school readiness skills are great for this age. Computer education for preschool age children should be limited to short sessions of about 30 minutes a few times a week. Many childcare facilities offer computer time as part of their weekly curriculum for preschoolers. Structured games and activities give young children an opportunity to explore the way a computer works. Games that require dragging objects across the screen are excellent for building mouse skills in beginner users. Chose age-appropriate software and websites that involve alphabet and color recognition, shapes, counting, or short stories that are read aloud. Activities that feature music are also enjoyable for a preschoolers computer time. Kindergartners are normally still exploring the basics of computer use and will probably do best with activities that reinforce simple skills. As children become more comfortable with the computer, more complex games and activities can be introduced. Computer education for kindergartners typically consists of short sessions of no more than an hour, playing games that correlate with their classroom learning material. By first grade, children have usually gained a good understanding of how to use a mouse and they are learning to use keyboard letters to type. Games like Typing Instructor for Kids can help young children become fast and efficient computer users. Early elementary age children are ready to move beyond simple reinforcement and skill drill activities to the many different functions of a computer. First through third graders should use the computer as a supplement for their classroom work. A student studying about stars and planets can use the internet to search for pictures and information about constellations. An assignment about Africa can include a search for videos of African animals. Allow your child to work on his own, but stay close by to prevent access to inappropriate content and to answer any questions. Software programs that allow children to create, like an art or publishing suite designed specifically for kids, can boost creativity along with providing exposure to technology. Grade level skills can also be practiced and enhanced with math, reading, and spelling computer games. There are a number of kid-friendly websites that provide search engines, games, and interaction opportunities. Computer education for children should also include writing and creative writing activities. First graders are beginning to familiarize themselves with the keyboard and can write short letters or emails. By second and third grade, children can use word processor programs or writing software designed for children to write and publish their own short stories and poems, as well as use email to write to relatives. For more tips and information about educational toys, check out www.thekidstoystore.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Munoz http://EzineArticles.com/?Computer-Education-For-Kids&id=558642 buy xanax without a prescription or membership xanax prescriptions buy-xanax-online-pay-by-check overnight no prescription xanax