Seven Sins Common in America, and Why the Bible Teaches That God Hates Them

There is a confusion in the world that teaches that the Law (Torah) is void in this dispensation of time, and has no affect upon the Christian believer. This is a lie, it is confusion, and according to the degree that such a thought pattern is accepted by a believer is the degree of evil affect that it produces in that person's life.

First, lets establish that in the same manner that Yahweh is Love, He is also Law. We know that John, an apostle of the first century Church coined the phrase which is found in the Scripture: "God is Love." (1 John 4:16) From this love springs the mercy and grace that supplies salvation to all who believe, and in that belief call upon the name of Jesus whom God has appointed the Savior of the world. But just as a coin has two faces and neither of its faces are any more real or lasting then the other you many say that the character of God is not only love, but also law.

What is the character of law? It is that aspect of Yahweh that is just, and judges sin. It is that aspect of Him that is holy, that is completely separate from sin and sinner. It is that part of Him that says in a completely uncompromising way, "This is the way walk in it"....or "Thus saith the Lord", and then the commandment is given. It is the part of Him that says, "Thou shalt, and thou shalt not", and every disobedience to these commands demanding punishment. For He is holy, and an unclean thing can not abide in His presence.

He is truth as is indicated by the words of Jesus in John 8:14, "...I am the way the truth and the life....",and when connected with the wisdom of the psalmist one finds that God's law is referred to as truth. (Ps. 119:142 NKJV) Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth. (Ps. 119:151NKJV) You are near oh Lord, and all Your commandments are truth. So the conclusion is simple. To put God's law on the self and consider it void, or to consider it with out purpose is to put God Himself on a shelf and consider Him void and without purpose.

Some take the Apostle's Paul's remark in the Colossians 2:13-14 as proof, or indication that Christ did away with the Law at the Cross. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (NKJV) I say to you that it is impossible for Christ to have done away with the law, "nailing it to the tree". For to do that He would have had to have taken Yahweh Himself and nailed Him to the cross for the interpretation of this scripture to be that God's law was taken away and nailed to the cross. I suggest, what was nailed to the cross was our offenses, or violations of God's laws, (our sin) not the Law itself. Further, we see in Romans 3:31 that Paul communicates openly that the purpose of the Christian faith is not to make the law of God void, but to establish it. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary we establish the law. (NKJV)

There you have it! In clear and certain terms the proof that God's law is not void, but is in place, and that God Himself is law. So what did the Apostle Paul mean when he said that we are not under the law but under grace? I believe he meant that the grace of God which is found in Christ, serves as a filter that stands between a holy God, (whose absolute righteousness demands complete and unmerciful judgment of sin), and all sinners. This grace is a loving God's way of dealing with a very imperfect creation. Allowing us time and empowerment to respond to Him and put on Christ, which means that those who are in Christ choose to learn His ways and flesh them out. Thus righteousness is produced in the actions of our lives. This process is summed up in this equation which is seen in John 1:17, For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (NKJV) Law + grace = truth in the believer's life. Truth being the right and lawful expression of life that is meant by God for the believer to live. The lifestyle that reflects the person of the Lord Jesus, who is the embodiment of law, and grace,(and its accompanying mercy) and truth.

Having said these things I wish now to list a set of commandments and speak of the meaning of these commandments. For they have meaning behind them. There is a "why" behind each. For a wise God never gives a commandment without a reason. Like unto a parent who will commanded his child to either do, or not do any given thing. The parent may or may not give an explanation as to the reasoning behind the commandment, but there is one there. In like manner the eternal and wise Creator has reason behind all of His law. But to start off, lets first consider an extremely common posting of law that is found in the world. That of a stop sign.

When one pulls up to a stop sign what is it that is being communicated to the person? Undoubtedly the obvious communication is that the person must stop. But why? Nothing is said on the sign as to why the person must stop. This is taken as a thing that is understood by the driver, or if the driver is unable to understand the reasoning behind the command to stop then that driver is not supposed to be driving. The reason for the command is for the driver to stop in order that he can look both ways and thus respond to the traffic that may or may not be present on the road that day. Thus the actual commandment only has value because it allows for the more important reasoning behind it, which is to slow down sufficiently to consider the traffic on the road way, and then act accordingly.

God's laws are like this. The value of them is in the reasoning behind them, and this reasoning goes beyond the immediate sphere of men. Each of these laws have not only an earthly need for fulfillment, meaning they are needed to properly direct the affairs of man on the earth for his immediate good and protection, but also they represent heavenly and eternal realities at the same time. The following are a listing of various commandments of God and brief explanation of the heavenly realities that they reflect. Therein, offering the most extreme reason for obedience to them. For to violate them is to directly slander, or stand in rebellion toward the One who designed the commandments, to not only conduct the actions of men's lives for their immediate good, but to bring forth the true testimony of Heavenly and eternal realities.

Divorce:

In that Yahweh created the man as a living mortal illustration of Himself, and the woman as a living mortal illustration of the Church, and caused that they would come together in marriage, the act of divorce has far greater ramifications then the effects of the dissolutionment of the marriage and family, as extremely horrible as that it. For divorce is a horrendous thing, which often brings extreme damage and pain to the family members involved. Yet the slanderous testimony of heavenly things that is brought forth is the chief reason divorce is hated of God.

Marriage was created by God to represent His relationship to the believer. (1 Cor. 6:17) When one comes to the salvation of Jesus, God becomes the husband of their spirit. In that the man and the woman were created to illustrate in their person, both God and the Church, the act of unlawful divorce gives the signal that God will, or may, divorce believers, or that the believer is permitted to divorce the Lord. Our God is completely faithful and He will never divorce any soul of man until that soul has been proven unfaithful to him and will not turn from that unfaithfulness, (in other words such a one has thrown away his faith) and any soul of man that divorces the Lord will find themselves without a savior, and henceforth be destined to the Lake of Fire.

Adultery:

Again, the Creator designed and created mankind, both male and female, both man and woman to illustrate heavenly realities. The relationship of marriage was designed and the laws pertaining to it are to insure that the obedient will be able to live the fullest, happiest, and safest life possible while in this present life. However, more importantly these same laws are designed so that through obedience to them the full and proper testimony of Heavenly realties are brought forth. When the man, who is a living mortal illustration of God commits adultery with a woman, who is the living illustration of the Church or individual believer, this act is giving the picture that God will be untrue to the relationship of trust and commitment to a soul of man who has become a marriage partner (for again, every soul of man that experiences the salvation of Jesus receives the Lord as the husband of their spirit) The woman who commits adultery by her actions gives the picture of a believer leaving the Lord to enact intimacy with another god. This is idolatry. These pictures are completely untrue. They are slanderous testimonies of the Lord and His dealings with a redeemed soul, and the proper dealing of a redeemed soul with the Savior.

Fornication:

This act is similar to that of adultery. When a man and a woman fornicate it means that they participate in the act of marriage without entering into the covenant of marriage. Thus they by their action are testifying (again, in that they were created as representations of both the Lord and the believer) that God and a soul of man will enjoy the intimacy of marriage without first entering a covenant relationship. In other words, that an unconverted soul who has not experienced the regeneration of the Holy spirit, who is not born again can share intimacy with the Lord. This is an impossibility! Such action is a lie against the truth! The Holy Spirit will not enter and abide with any soul of of man and share communion with that person until that soul has been brought under the blood of Christ and has experienced regeneration. God will not dwell in an unholy place. So the heavenly illustration that fornication brings forth is that of God being married to (sharing intimacy with) a soul of man who is not His, and the woman's part illustrates a soul of man sharing intimacy with God without entering a covenant relationship, without being born again. These pictures are impossible and are altogether slanderous to the truth.

Child Rebellion:

Going beyond marriage is the obvious eventuality of parenthood. For just as the intimacy of the Lord to the Church will bring forth new believers, so it is that the intimacy of marriage, (the act of marriage) will bring forth children. So the relationship, and the laws that govern the relationship between parents and children are illustrative of the relationship that the Heavenly Father has to His own. The Father of every soul made perfect is God Himself, the mother is the Church. The seed of God (His word) sown into the Church (by means of evangelism of the unconverted) brings forth new children to God. When a child acts in disobedience or rebellion to his or her parents it is giving the picture of a child of God acting in disobedience and rebellion to the Lord Himself, and to the Church. Therefore any act or spirit of disobedience of a child to his parent is slanderous to the greater truth that marriage and family are to illustrate in the world. This is why in the Law a rebellious child who will not turn from his rebellion is commanded to be brought forth and stoned to death. For such rebellion can contaminate a society with its poison, and beyond that it is absolute slanderous picture of what the true relationship of Believer to the Lord is to be.

Sabbath Breaking:

The keeping of the Sabbath through much confusion and undoubtedly certain rebellion is by many in this generation neglected. This law was designed by God to cause the seventh day to represent Heavenly and eternal things. The Sabbath day is a banner if you will, that is to be "waved" every seventh day that testifies that God is both the creator and the redeemer of men. And if He is the creator of men, then He is henceforth the master of men. And if He is the redeemer of men, then it is in His name alone that salvation can be preached. The name of Jesus. So to not practice the Sabbath is to give the testimony that you do not believe that Yahweh is the Creator and the redeemer of men. This testimony is a lie. It is a slanderous testimony concerning God our Creator.

Cross Dressing:

The law of God commands that the sexes be adorned distinctively different, the one from the other. This law is found in Deuteronomy 22:5. It is said in this same reading that any man who dresses like a woman, or any woman who dresses like a man is an abomination to the Lord. I myself in blindness and unbelief lived in violation of this commandment until I was 42 years of age. That means I was a Christian with an active testimony for 28 years before the Holy One brought me to the place where I could see His law and be convicted of my sin. The spirit of what is called feminism, which is the disruption or deterioration of Divine Order, (the order of authority:God-Christ-Man-woman) is extremely prevalent in the world and I might add in the church. Satan wishing to corrupt the truth of God has sown much confusion into the world, teaching men that in reference to headship the woman is equal to the man, thus denying and corrupting God's order.

Again remember that the Creator created the human person illustrative of both Himself and His the chief object of His love: the church or individual Believer. The man represents God Himself, the woman represents the Church or individual Believer. Therefore when a woman dresses like a man she is saying by her practice that she is the same as, or equal to a man, which is saying that a believer is the same as, or equal to the Lord. This testimony is slanderous and therefore detestable to God. Therefore cross dressing, or the mixing of adornment is slanderous to God, and therefore an abomination. For remember that clothes have three basic purposes: 1--To protect from the elements. 2--To protect modesty, for all human persons are sexually oriented, therefore the covering of the body is of absolute necessity. 3-Clothes are illustrative. They by their nature are designed to give illustration pertaining to the one that wears them. Even as a police office is known by his uniform, or a soldier by his, or a white color worker by his. In like manner a woman's adornment much signal that she is NOT a male, but female.

Feminism or The Disruption Of Divine Order:

The laws of God that demand the keeping of Divine Order have already been mentioned, but the extreme necessity of the understanding and the obedience to these bears out that they have their own listing and discussion. God's law demands that authority be exercised in this order: God-Christ-Man-Woman. Not only is this the only order that works among men and that can bring forth life and happiness, but it is the only order that reflects Heavenly realities properly. God is the creator and henceforth the master of all things. He has chosen the man Christ Jesus, who is His physical son to be heir over all things, hence Christ is second in the line of authority.

Yahweh made the male person who grows to manhood to be the first representation of Himself, man was made in God's image, henceforth, man is next in authority. The woman was created from the rib of the man and henceforth made after the image of the man, and in that process became the very glory of the man, and henceforth is after the man in reference to authority. These things are of God, and to reverse the order of authority between the man and the woman is not only to disrupt life among men on this earth but it is also to bring forth a slanderous testimony of Heavenly and eternal realities. The which action will come under very severe judgment from Yahweh who created our lives to testify of His truth.

The word America is repent! For you have become a nation steeped in the wisdom of men, but very confused and negligent in regards to God's laws. Flush the worthless and confused preachers and educators that teach for doctrine the wisdom (man's misguided intelligence that refuses to acknowledge Yahweh and His laws) of men. He made man as the highest of all his creation, to live in the honor of knowing Him and His ways, thus by their lifestyle reflecting His truth in the world. He did not create man to wallow in the mire of the immorality that springs forth from the supposed wisdom of men. For the wisdom of men without the fear of God is at best foolishness.

A Watchman

Consider: Genesis 2:1-25, Malachi 2:16, Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19: 3-12, Mark 10: 2-12, 1 Corinthians 6:17, Ephesians 5: 22-33, Exodus 20:14, Exodus 20:14, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, Jude, verse 7,

Gregory DeHart is a Bible teacher who sometimes writes under the pen name of Watchman. Gregory is the sponsor of http://AnAmericanWatchman.blogspot.com, a site dedicated to examining social issues and the preaching of righteousness, and http://MarriageRevelations.blogspot.com, a site dedicated to the practical unfolding of the mystery revealed from the Bible of how marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church. For a Bible based life perspective please feel welcome to visit our sites, saving them as favorites, and please feel free to contact us, or post a comment. To the end that men everywhere would acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As a people of faith come forth in these last days and in spite of the progression of sin, (for it will progress) to bring forth a generation where "...many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee..." (Zechariah 2:11), and ...The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelations 11:15), and for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14).

Seven Easy Steps to Planning Your Dream Holiday

There is so much to do in planning a dream holiday; it sometimes feels very overwhelming, especially if you have been thinking about choosing a completely new destination. And now with the internet, so much information is available to us, how can we sift through the overload? Here are seven easy steps that will make planning your next dream holiday much easier. Follow these, and you'll be enjoying that first celebratory drink on arrival before you know it.

1. We start the countdown at twelve weeks before departure with initial research. You have holidays coming up in December and you want celebrate a hard year's work with something special; the latest you should start dreaming about what to do is September. There are several resources to look at to choose a destination:

Government travel advisories - these are usually found from your government's foreign affairs department website.

Research specific activities you may want to do and where those are offered. For example, if you are interested in engaging with communities or volunteering, you might check out local NGOs who are looking for assistance or tour operators that facilitate community visits.

Set your own personal goals for the holiday. What's your dream? Do you want to photograph wildlife? Do you want to learn about a specific culture? Do you simply want to relax and reconnect with your family after a stressful work year?

2. This research will narrow down your options so that around ten weeks before departure, you are ready to make specific enquiries and request information. Who do you ask?

Contact tour operators for itinerary suggestions
Determine your preferred travel style - basic, mid-range or luxury
Travel forums are an excellent source of information. Try Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree, Fodors, and Trip Advisor to start with, there are plenty more though!

3. Eight weeks before departure is recognised as the optimal time to book flights. There's a few ways to do this:

Online flight search engines give you a selection of airlines and prices. My suggestion is to use the search engine to find the most suitable flight (according to your preferences for price, less transfers, etc) and then book directly through the airline's website. Examples are Kayak, Expedia, SkyScanner, Wotif, etc.

Go to your travel agent to book flights. You could take the fares you found on the search engines and ask the agent to match it or beat it.

Your passport should have six months validity from the end of your holiday and at least one blank page for every country you will visit. Your government passport office can offer assistance in applying for or renewing your passport.

4. Six weeks before departure is when you should be ensuring your traveldocuments are in order.

Fully comprehensive travel insurance should be taken out, covering emergency medical treatment and repatriation as well as lost luggage and cancellation fees. iSelect in Australia compares insurance policies to help you decide what is best for you

Check specific visa requirements for the countries you will visit and your nationality. Do not rely on a travel agent or tour operator, check with the embassy yourself to ensure you have the correct information for the nationality of passport you hold. Some visas need to be obtained before travel and you should allow sufficient processing time for this.

Visit the travel health clinic to find out what vaccinations you need for your destination.

5. Four weeks before departure, your dream itinerary should be finalised.

Complete booking or client information forms as required by your tour operator
Pay deposit and/or final balance as required by your tour operator
Start to learn a bit of the local language

6. Two weeks before departure and we are getting excited now! It's time to pack.

Check climate information through guide books and weather bureau websites
Arrange pet care
There's an online tool called the Universal Packing List, which allows you to enter your trip information and it will produce a tailored packing list.

7. The final countdown! Just a few last minute checks before getting on that flight.

Pack some small gifts or souvenirs from your homeland to give to people you meet in your travels.

Check your luggage allowance for your airline and ensure your luggage is not overweight. If it is under weight, consider topping it up with some clothing or stationery supplies to donate to a community project.

Finalise transport arrangements, both to get to the airport in plenty of time for checking in and passport control, and also the arrangements for a pick up when you arrive at your destination.

Now you are set to go. By following these seven easy steps your holiday should be well-organised and fulfill your travel dreams. Bon Voyage! Safari Njema!

Tracey is the owner of Overland Travel Adventures, a philanthropic tour company based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has travelled to over 50 countries and led tours in most of those. Overland Travel Adventures is running a 20 day safari from Nairobi, Kenya to Kigali, Rwanda through Uganda in November. It includes game viewing in Amboseli and Masai Mara Parks in Kenya, trekking the mountain gorillas in Uganda and some time Kigali to soak up the Rwandan vibe. Check the website http://www.ota-responsibletravel.com for more information, or email tracey@ota-responsibletravel.com

Seven Steps in Selling Your Insurance Agency

Most agency owners have put their time, energy and heart in building their business. The business is a part of their life. The sale of one's business is usually a one-time event. It therefore makes sense to take the time and get it right the first time.

Just like building a business, there is no exact cookie cutter approach in selling the business. However, there are general guidelines to follow.

The following seven steps outline the overall approach one should take in selling their business.

Step One - Planning to Sell

You wake up one day and realize it would be great to spend more time you're your spouse, grandchildren or even playing golf. Perhaps, some client or underwriter gave you a hard time and you figure that was the straw that broke the camel's back. You lost a key market and don't have the energy or time to remarket your accounts.

It may seem funny, but situations like these are usually the trigger point for many owners to actually do something about selling their business.

When deciding to sell the business, an owner needs to check inside to see what the real expectations are. Selling a business is not like selling stock in GM. The agency is part of the owner's life and it is not a simple commodity to trade.

Snap decisions to sell usually result in long drawn out negotiations or other complications. When an owner spends some time planning the sale of the business, many common problems are minimized or avoided.

The first step is to work on a plan to sell the business. Theoretically, this plan should be started the day one becomes an owner. More practically speaking, planning to sell the business should start at about five years out.

Planning should include a review and initial analysis of the areas covered in the next six steps in the process.

Step Two - Who To Sell To

The thought process on who to sell to is basically a decision tree. First, should the sale be internal (to someone in the agency) or external (to another agency or outside party).

If the sale is to be internal, who are the candidates? Will new talent need to be brought in to help with the sale?

If the sale is to be eternal, will it be to a local agency, large regional agency versus, a publicly traded national broker or even a bank. It is a seller's market - finding a buyer is not a problem. Finding the right buyer is what it is all about.

Regardless of who the buyer is, it is important to do a thorough compatibility analysis. The goal is to match up the expectations and philosophy of the buyer to the seller. This will lead to the next step.

Step Three - Hire Professionals

Should the owner of a business research, analyze and buy insurance without an agent or broker? Most of the readers of this article would say "no." Agents and brokers provide a value added service through their experience and training. Likewise, there are professionals that can greatly assist with the sale of a business.

The merger and acquisition consultant should be brought in early, to help out in the planning process. A good consultant will advise on when to sell, who to sell to and what to expect. Consulting firms, like Oak & Associates, that specialize in insurance agencies will work with sellers and buyers to determine the best fit so that any sale or acquisition is a win-win deal. The work of a qualified consultant should develop the framework for the deal, which will be refined by the CPA and the attorney.

The CPA is needed to review the terms of the deal to see the tax implications. In most cases, taxes are the main driver in the structure of the terms of a transaction. Attorneys should review the sale of any business. Often, the buyer is the party that drafts all the legal documents. The seller's attorney is the final advocate for the seller in making sure that all is fair.

Step Four - Agency Value

Many agency owners describe the value of an agency in terms of a multiple of revenue or commission. While this rule of thumb is useful, its limitations need to be understood as well.

The astute buyer will determine value as a multiple of profit - after reasonable income and expenses are established. The multiple of earnings typically ranges between 4.5 and 7.5 based on the perceived strengths and weakness of the agency or book of business.

Agency owners should always be conscious of how business decisions impact the value of the business. Owners should always strive to run the agency in a way to maximize value. This concept should be a fundamental part of the business perpetuation planning process.

It is important to keep in mind that value, price and net proceeds from a sale can all be different. Think of value as a theoretical benchmark. Price is the number of dollars agreed to between the buyer and seller, as what it will take to transfer ownership. Net proceeds from the sale are the actual dollars the seller can put in his or her pocket - after taxes, and after other expenses.

Step Five - What to Sell

The question is: "should the owner sell the stock or the assets?" If the business is an "S" corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or a LLC this step is usually straightforward - just sell the assets. For "C" corporations, that is another story.

A buyer will want to buy just the "assets" of the firm, which is just the good will of the book of business - sometimes called the expiration list. This is because it helps limit liability and the cost can be amortorized over 15 years. Buying stock does not allow either of these goals.

Sellers want to sell the stock in a "C" corporation to receive only capital gains treatment and avoid the double tax (corporate and personal). Thus the taxman has set up the conflict between the buyer and the seller. If the buyer is willing to buy the stock of a "C" corporation, the seller should be willing to negotiate on price since the tax treatment is more favorable to them.

There are creative ways to structure a deal to minimize tax impact for both the buyer and the seller. Assigning value to consulting agreements and non-compete agreements is commonplace. Both are ordinary income to the seller and can be written off by the buyer. Some deals assign up to 50% of the value to these agreements.

In some cases assigning value to personal goodwill can be used. Personal Goodwill is not owned by the business, but by the individual. Thus any gains from the sale of personal goodwill can be taxed under capital gains only - avoiding the corporate tax from the sale.

Also, the use of a deferred compensation plan could lower the value of the stock and thus lower the double tax. The buyer, however, is still obliged to pay the seller the deferred compensation, which is now an expense to the buyer that can be written off for tax purposes and just ordinary income to the seller.

Consult with a knowledgeable CPA to determine the best approach and the tax implications on the allocation.

If the business is a "C" corporation run, don't walk to convert to an "S" corporation. Keep in mind there is still a ten-year transition period per IRS regulation before the owner can receive full "S" corporation tax treatment.

Step Six - Determine the Terms

As a seller the goal is to get a fixed price with as much paid in cash as possible. As a buyer the goal is to put very little down and pay over several years a percentage of commissions as they renew. In other words, the buyer and the seller usually have opposite goals.

Most deals today tend to be asset deals based on retention of the business. Retention can be limited in scope to just the riskier parts of the book of business. Terms typically include a down payment of 10% to 30% with the balance paid out over three to seven years. The seller typically finances the sale of his or her own business. Keep in mind EVERYTHING is negotiable.

There are many other terms that need to be negotiated and the list will vary. Most important, is the seller staying on? Sellers that remain on for a period of time after the sale will need to have a clearly defined role defined and compensation plan for that role. There is no "typical" situation, but it is not uncommon to have the former owner help with the transition of the business for three to five years.

Step Seven - Close the Deal

Once the terms are agreed to a Letter of Intent should be drafted. This is a semi formal document written in plain English that outlines the key components of the deal. Typically the M&A consultant will draft it and then both parties will sign it.

The Letter of Intent is the blueprint that the CPA and attorney will use to finalize all the documents. A word of caution, the Letter of Intent is intended to save time and money. It is the starting point for the CPA and Attorney. Don't let the CPA or attorney start all over again and renegotiate the deal.

As mentioned earlier, the buyer typically prepares all the necessary documents. The main document is the Purchase Agreement, but there could also be employment agreements, producer agreements, consulting agreements, separate non-compete agreements, personal guarantees, etc. The seller's attorney needs to review these documents and ensure that they meet the goals of the Letter of Intent and are in the best interest of the seller.

A Final Thought

Know up front, there will be bumps in the road. Despite all the planning, there is a good chance some unforeseen situation will pop up. These glitches should be handled using a professional systematic approach. Remember, it is not personal, its just business.

When it is all in place, sit back and relax. Enjoy the fruit of your labor.

Bill Schoeffler is a business consultant and coach with 20 years of experience working with small business owners and individuals. Bill's unique background includes engineering, financial analysis, and inter-personal skills.

He can be reached at (707) 324-5531 or bill@chrysalisfinancial.net. You can find out more at http://www.chrysalisfinancial.net

Seven Travel Tips to Consider Regarding The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is one of the popularly visited islands in the Caribbean coast. Its capital city is called Santo Domingo and it is a center for governmental, financial, educational and other functions of the economy. The main language spoken by the natives is Spanish. As you search for Dominican Republic vacation packages, you need to educate yourself. The seven most important travel tips you need to consider include the following.

a) The currency - The biggest challenge a tourist could have while touring a foreign nation is the money. The DR money is called Peso and it is symbolized by RD$. A sure way to prepare in advance is using an online currency converter or calculator. Compare the peso against your country's currency to find out the precise value. Look for articles that describe the monetary units for this country as well.

b) How to access money through credit cards - The MasterCard and Visa cards are widely accepted in the country. Even so, you should find out the major ATMs that accept foreign cards in the city you intend to visit.

c) How to shop with your credit cards - Shopping is always an inevitable activity during a trip to a foreign land. You need to know the shopping places that accept payments via cards and how much they charge.

d) Communication - As mentioned above, Dominican Republic's national language is Spanish. Before travelling, you may consider learning the language. If you want to get there as soon as possible, a translator is a good option.

e) Visas - As soon as many guests enter the country, a visa is processed for them in exchange for ten dollars. These cards are available for tourists that come from almost all continents. You should consult your travel agent before travelling.

f) Travel insurance - Tourists who travel to this destination need travel insurance. There are risks of items being stolen from a hotel room. Besides, there are other dangers that could arise in the course of the trip. If you want to travel to this side of the Caribbean you should buy a travel insurance policy or make sure that yours is in order.

g) Entering the country - Sea cruise ships provide a method of entering the country but this is not an option for all worldwide guests. Visitors who want to enter the country by bus have to come from Haiti and pass through one of the three borders. They have to produce passports and travel cards. The easiest and quickest way to enter this country is by plane. Even so, you need to find out more information about flights to Dominican Republic in your country.

Most planes land at the Aeropuerto Internacional Las Americas, the largest and busiest airport in the country. There are also airports that are designed to receive guests from certain regions only. The Aeropuerto Internacional Cibao receives all international flights and it is good to buy tickets from the airlines that use it. Air transportation is the major one because it serves the entire world.

To read other exciting articles on Dominican Republic vacation packages and more travel information, feel free to visit us today.