House Passes Federal Retirement Reform BillThe House on April 1 passed H.R.1804, the Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009, which, among other things, would allow employees enrolled in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to count unused sickleave in the calculation of their retirement annuities.Currently, FERS employees often try to use up sick leave immediately prior to retirement because there is no incentive for them to save it up. Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) employees already receive credit for unused sick leave.The bill also contains a provision to allow FERS employees who leave the federal government to redeposit annuityfunds if they return to federal service. Currently, those employees either may cash out their annuity or roll it into a private account.But if they return to federal employment, they are not allowed to redeposit those funds—andthey lose credit for prior years for service for the purpose of determining annuity benefits.The bill lets returning FERS employees reinvest their full federal retirement annuity without losing credit for previous years of service.“We are encouraged that this bill not only provides FERS employees with a credit for unused sick leave, but thatit also places these employees on par with their CSRS counterparts,” said Federal Managers Association NationalPresident Darryl Perkinson. “This is a commonsense bill strengthening the civil service retirement system and I urge swift action by the Senate.”H.R. 1804 also contains provisions affecting the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Under the bill, all new federal employees would be enrolled in the TSP automatically when they begin employment. Additionally, the bill also establishes within the TSP a Roth IRA option for federal employees. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) President Margaret L. Baptiste praised the efforts of key lawmakers—including Reps. James Moran, D-Va., Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., chairman of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce—for their work on the FERS sick leave issue and other aspects of the bill. Baptiste also lauded the automatic TSP enrollment initiative, which she said will boost the percentage of feds who make use of the TSP to ensure they are better prepared their retirement. And the Roth IRA provision, she said, will provide federal employees with more of the same options available to private-sector workers in some 401 (k) plans.To see more, go to: www.fedmanagers.org/public/announcement.cfm?id=306 , or to www.narfe.org.
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Wearing the Whole Armor of God in Marriage(Being Fully Dressed and Armed for War)Marriages are under attack inundated by a spiritual battle perpetrated by the evil one himself, Satan, the father of lies and deception. In His Infinite Wisdom, God instructed us through the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians where he said, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Folks, there is a war going on- not the war in Afghanistan, not the war in Iraq, but the war against marriages. Since the garden, war has been declared against the institution and ministry of marriage. The enemy works hard daily in an effort to bring marriages to turmoil and strife, in hopes that we will be able to cause these sacred unions to an end. Many of the scriptures were provided to give us spiritual direction and insight from our Creator who foreknew the obstacles we would face with an enemy at large. Sure, we know who wins in the end, but while Satan is on the loose, he is wreaking havoc when ever and where ever He can find an open door, thus the warning: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, I Peter 5:8. Yes, there is a war going on, however, this war does not involve traditional weapons and tactics such as guided missiles, tanks, fighter jets, and the like. This is a spiritual warfare that is fought by unconventional means, more of a means to defend ourselves because the actual battle is the Lord's. We are further instructed: "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." When we put on the whole armor of God, we become clothed in two types of armor, one type that is defensive armor for our protection, the other type is to conquer or gain victory over. The whole armor makes us invulnerable and Victorians. When we are fully clothed in the armor of God, we are ready for battle. We are told "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth." So what is the truth? God was the Truth from the beginning because the Truth is the Word of God. We come under the Word of God when we have our loins girded about with truth. Under the obedience of the truth of God's Word, we will walk in light and not in darkness and it is a know fact that where light is present darkness has to flees. In addition we are told, "and hovering on the breastplate of righteousness," this armor protects the heart which represents the spirit of man, and also protects other vital organs, As a believer faithfully lives in obedience to and in and in communion with Jesus Christ, His righteousness produces in us the practical daily righteousness that becomes our spiritual breastplate, "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; "Our feet should be shod, or bound up, with the prepared foundation, which is Jesus Christ, who keeps the believer standing firm in the midst of spiritual warfare. The gospel of peace pertains to the Good News that through Christ, believers are at peace with God and we know that He is on our side. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, were with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." The shield of faith is a shield and a weapon. If and when you are at war, something is coming at you. We are not trying to take the enemy down; he's already down, he's already been defeated . In this war, all we have to do is endure to the end. We are to have faith in what we've heard (the Word of God). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, faith will protect us on this walk with God. "And take the helmet of salvation." The helmet of salvation shields our head from the fiery darts that come against us by way of the enemy. We will not be able to have good thoughts without the helmet of salvation in place. Taking on the helmet of salvation is taking on Christ Himself, "and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." As the sword was the soldiers only weapon, so is God's Word the only weapon needed which is more powerful then any of Satan's weapons. This is the only weapon used both defensively and offensively- Defensively to fend off the attacks of the enemy's strategies. The Sword of the Spirit is quick, living, and powerful. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Praying always is the frequency or how often to pray; all prayer and supplication focuses on the variety or pattern of prayer; in the Spirit focuses on the submission as we line up with the will of God; watching thereunto is the manner in which we pray; with all perseverance is the persistence of our prayer; for all saints is who we are to pray for. Prayer is the key part to this Divine armor. Prayer is the primary means by which we engage in the battle, the purpose for which we are armed. This armor of God is for battle. During the battle itself, praying God's Word becomes our chief offensive weapon deployed against Satan during our struggles. If there is one thing you should always remember when the devil plots ways to interject his devious ways into your marriage is the enormous differences in the attributes of God versus those of Satan. God said, "Behold I will do a new thing," but Satan is limited to his same old tricks through lies and deceptions and a purpose to steal, kill, and to destroy. God through Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10Keep your marriage secure and strong-Put on the whole armor of God and be fully dressed and armed for war. As the slogan for the American Express goes…Don't leave home without it!by Erroll & Glyniel GarnerAll scriptures referenced are from the KJV
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God loves His children and desires to bless us. He is our greatest cheerleader andchampion. I love Jesus’ prayer, On earth as it is in heaven. Jesus had such a heartfor His Heavenly Father that He only wanted to serve Him and do His will. He was wiseenough to choose the highest path that would result in the highest reward for Himself andothers. There is no greater strategy than the one God reveals. His ways are always purposed,positioning us higher than we can take ourselves alone. And sometimes they may seem unusual.Are you ready to go higher than you’ve ever gone? God is searching for a people who love Himenough to do extraordinary exploits. The rewards are so worth the journey. And our God isfaithful to deliver.Verses to Remember:"Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassion's never fail. They arenew every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23Point to Ponder:God is faithful...even when I am not.Prayer for the Day:"Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to me...please forgive me for my unfaithfulness to You."
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ONLY $10.00In honor of National Poetry Month, I am selling my new book of Poetry for only $10.00 through the month of April.Purchase your copy TODAY at www.mirrors-of-expression.com/books.html or www.amazon.com ($12.95 if purchased here).Visit www.jonidurham.com to read excerpts from my book!Thank you in advance for your support!IT'S POETRY MONTH! SO, WHY NOT ENJOY A BOOK OF WONDERFUL POETRY?BUY "STEPPING OUT OF THE SHADOWS: A POETIC JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE" BY JONI DURHAM
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When 2009 started I had some goals in mind and to date I'm right on track.Quarter 1 - Jan, Feb, Mar1st - Wanted to get my clientele up and that has been done through various advertising outlets on the www. - Done2nd - Buy a new car w/ good down payment - DoneQuarter 2....I would like to get certified in hair fusion as well as Micolink extensions. I might dabble into lace front application too.Finish my online hair course.Get a domain name as well as build a strong websiteI'll Let you know how it goes.
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Bishop's "Offline TWEET"~What Are You Doing? What's On Your Mind?"Sharing With Folks How I Make e-Books, MY WAY!"~ http://twurl.nl/witw7c"Then I Tell Them All About It!"~ http://twurl.nl/7mt0p7
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Ten Questions You Must Ask a Realtor Before You List or....You Could Lose Big!Most of us sell only a small number of homes in our lifetimes. With limited experience in real estate how are we to be capable of maximizing the profits from our home sale? Many home sellers make the critical mistake of thinking all Realtors are the same. They list with the first agent who comes along. Does it make good business sense to put the responsibility of selling your home with someone who has no plan or qualifications? This special report will educate you with valuable information that will help you make the best decision concerning: Which real estate agent should you list with?Start by doing a few hours of research. Ask around... get to know who has the most signs, ads and marketing material in your neighborhood. Who’s the most active agent? Compile a list of agent names and use these questions to help you determine which agent is.......the rest of the article is on my blog post athttp://shortsales-yllong.blogspot.com/GOD BLESS!
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YOU WILL NEED: *Patience *Cheer *Optimism"Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life." --- Burton HillsSometimes we find ourselves thinking "I'll be happy when I get married...when my child is old enough to go to school." The truth is, happiness doesn't arrieve as the result of a certain event. It comes when you decide to laugh more, take yourself less seriously, and focus on enjoying your journey instead of reaching your destination.SIMPLE STEPS*Make the everyday routine more enjoyable by adding something special to it --- put a silly note in your child's lunchbox, do your chores in a whimsical hat --- whatever might bring a smile to your face.*Break up your routine. Take a pen and mark a few "fun dates" on your calendar. Make the reservations now --- don't forget!
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ALIVE Magazine has been nominated as The Magazine of the Year by the 2009 AAMBC Literary Awards. Please visit www.aambcvoting.blogspot.com and vote for ALIVE. After voting send us an email to inquiries@alivemagonline.com letting us know you voted. Your name will be entered into the drawing.We thank you in advance for your support.The ALIVE Magazine TeamEmpower. Inspire. Connect.www.alivemagonline.com
Today was a great day. I was able to get some rest, find leads to illustrators for my childrens book, and also spend quality time with my babies, mom and hubby. I feel good knowing all I had to do was ask GOD and he is showing me favor. Believe......because he believes in you!
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Get FREE Advertisement!http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/newslinks.htmSubmit your inspirational writing today!http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/advertisemywritings.htmAdvertise with From A Writers POV!http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/advertisementinfo.htm-------------------------------------------New this Week!New Weekly Feature by Patricia Neely-DorseyNew Inspirational Writing by: Dominique WatsonNew Articles www.fromawriterspovarticles.webs.comNew Book Ad with Belinda HoodNew Writing Event "Spring Challenge" Check out this week's writer!Take our survey's http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/magazinesurvey.htmFrom A Writers POV has been transformed! Log in today to see the new magazine!------------------------*Don't forget to register your book!!! http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/registeryourbook.htm*Read our Monthly Articleshttp://fromawriterspovarticles.webs.com*Join our network! (National Poetry Month)www.fromawriterspov.ning.comWe look forward to hearing from you!Thanks,From A Writers POVwww.fromawriterspov.webs.com
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Visit Bigger Than Your Block's blog to read about scholarship scams, why check cashing places are the devil, and protecting our kids from identity theft.http://biggerthanyourblock.wordpress.com/
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Are You Building A List?Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 at 1:22 pmI remember when I first got started on this Internet Marketing Journey. I was jumping onto every website possible, in hopes of making mega money overnight. I held on to all of the promises that were being told to me. With intense focus, I was determined to dissect this industry to find out if it was really true that we could earn thousands of dollars online, and find out the specifics of what I needed to do to make it happen!After personally spending thousands of dollars on courses, e-books, programs, videos, software and the likes, I’ve come to learn one of the most important aspects of establishing true online wealth. You see, many people look at the internet as a place where people voluntarily give you their credit card for products that you “claim” are good. But that’s not really how it happens. If you want to know how it really works, then here it goes:1. You create a website that is focused on a specific “niche market”.2. You then begin to put valuable information on that website, sharing with those in your target market, valuable information that the feel they couldn’t find elsewhere.3. You then have an “opt-in” form on your website that allows visitors to receive “FREE” resources or e-book that they feel they have to have…when they opt-in, you then have their email information to stay in contact with them.4. You set up “auto-responder” messages, that automatically communicate with your list, to work for you, building a relationship with them along the way.5. After they’ve seen 5-7 messages from you that are of value, they begin to feel like they know you personally.6. As you build up your list, you then proceed to share valuable “affiliate programs” that allow you to “monetize” from your list. Because they’ve come to know and trust you, they buy from you and you start making money.7. Down the line, when your list gets big enough, people begin to approach you about doing “joint-ventures” because your list is so big, they will pay you to market their product….And that’s where the big bucks come in my friend!So if you have been excited about the fact that you have a website or have met many friends in your social media circle, my question for you today is “Are You Building A List”? IF not, click here to get started on building your list today!Filed under: Lead GenerationLike this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!Nicole S. Cooperhttp://www.ViralMarketingGeeks.comhttp://www.MyMLMCashCow.com
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- FROM BRANDING TO SUCCESS -Written by Janice JenkinsHaving your own brand is one of the most vital yet complicated processes in the whole marketing campaign. Making sure that you get remembered and recognized by your target clients through your brand is the ultimate goal of every business. Just ask Nike and Google and they will tell you the feeling of getting more response than they could ever imagine with a successful branding strategy.Developing your own brand is indeed hard work. In fact, it is the most challenging as you need to have something that not only provides your clients with who you are, but also something that can stand the test of time. Your postcard printing then should have a branding strategy that is effective in convincing your readers of its importance.Click here http://www.onyxsix.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77:from-branding-to-success&catid=23:entrepreneurship&Itemid=13 to read more.- SIGN UP FOR THE ONYX SIX NEWSLETTER -Sign up for our free newsletter to receive information on upcoming events, business advice and special offers from Onyx Six click here http://oi.vresp.com/?fid=ef70831112 to opt in.
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APRIL- National Poetry Month April is : NATIONAL POETRY MONTH Some ideas on how you might celebrate National Poetry Month* Try writing an original poem* Read poetry to your children* Recite some poetry at an open-mic/ spoken-word venue* Read a biography of a famous poet..see what made them tick*Send a poem to a friend or loved one*Support/Promote the work of a local poet*Buy a wonderful book of poetry (preferably Reflections of aMississippi Magnolia- A Life in Poems by Patricia Neely-Dorsey) (smile)HAPPY POETRY MONTH !!!POETRYMy daddy helped me to love poetry,He liked that kind of thing;On Sunday mornings we'd recite,"When Malindy Sings."I loved the rhythm and the rhyme,Each stanza and each verse;We'd just say it how we felt,With no need to rehearse.I like to write my own poems now,And let my own words flow;I find that there are things inside,I want other folks to know.It's such a wonderful feeling,To see my own words in print;Sometimes, I think the words I write,Are truly heaven sent.Wherever it all comes from,It's something I love to do;It's my hope ,in some small way,It's most enjoyable to you.Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorseypoem from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poemswww.patricianeelydorsey.webs.comMy book Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia offers a positive glimpse into the southern way of life.You can follow my Celebrate the South blog/book tour at
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The new 3D compensation plan exclusive to Traverus is now available, and is being heralded as the pay plan revolutionizing the network marketing industry.The pay plan design is a combination of the three strongest pay plans in the direct sales and network marketing industry.Traverus's CEO and President David Manning, a compensation plan design specialist, created the 3D comp plan with the new home based business owner, and the network marketing professional in mind.This outstanding 3D compensation model will generate generous weekly checks, as well as a phenomenal monthly residual income.How exactly does a 3D Compensation Plan Work?The 3D Compensation plan has 3 major components:A Front End Binary that pays to infinityPersonal Sales and Builder Bonuses that pay weekly to infinityA Back End Monthly Residual Bonus that pays every month, down to 9 levels.The beauty of the pay plan is in the ability to earn, in over 15 different ways, and the plan is designed to reward those who help their teams as well.The builder bonus pay outs are in place so that a team leader can ensure that each of their team members is trained, and knows how to successfully share the opportunity.In all, the compensation plan has created a tremendous buzz of excitement in the direct sales and network marketing industries. Many recognized and respected leaders in the network marketing industry have expressed interest, and have given very positive feedback to the lucrative 3D compensation plan.Want to learn more? Feel free to contact me at your leisure!Deirdre
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