Business

New Legislation Affecting the Residents of the Communities of Owners

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NEW LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES THAT HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS MUST COMPLY WITH INFRASTRUCTURE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

SB326 (Hill) establishes new requirements for associations to periodically inspect infrastructure, referred to as elevated structures such as balconies, decks, stairs, and railings. The law requires new construction builders to provide the association with a complete set of plans before the first escrow is closed with the first owner of the association. This would include “as built” plans.

The legislation requires that every nine years, associations carry out a visual inspection (by an architect or structural engineer) of a statistically significant sample of elevated structures such as balconies, terraces, stairs and railings. If evidence of water intrusion is found, the inspector must use his or her best professional judgment regarding any further investigation. The legislation does not define what is meant by “statistically significant sample”. Presumably this would have to be determined by the consultants carrying out the inspection.

The legislation requires the inspector to write a report that includes the current condition of the elevated structures, expected future life, anticipated performance, and any repair recommendations. The inspector is also required to notify the local code enforcement agency (city, county, etc.) of any imminent threat to personal safety.

The first inspection must be completed by January 1, 2025. The legislation states that the association’s board of directors will determine whether claims are filed against the builder or developer and that board members affiliated with the builder/developer may not participate in the decision.

NEW REGULATION THAT ALLOWS ACCESSORY HOUSES IN THE COMMUNITIES OF OWNERS

AB670 (Friedman) allows accessory dwelling units within associations, as well as cities, counties, and other jurisdictions. The legislation overrides any CC&R provision or rule that prohibits an accessory dwelling unit on a single-family lot. However, the legislation will allow reasonable restrictions as long as they do not effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict accessory dwelling units. What is considered a “reasonable restriction” is not defined in the statute. For example, would a provision restricting the number of people who could occupy an accessory dwelling unit be considered reasonable? This is undetermined at this time. An accessory dwelling unit is a second unit on a lot that is separate from or contained within the walls of the house on the lot and consists of up to 1,200 square feet, including a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. The legislation also makes reference to a “junior” accessory dwelling unit that can be up to 500 square feet, which must have an exterior entrance and cooking facilities, but may share a bathroom with the main house on the lot.

Associations have concerns related to noise, parking, and insurance related to accessory dwelling units.

Home Kitchen

The value of concrete countertops

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Personalization increases aesthetic appeal and real estate investment for homeowners

From high-value homes in the San Francisco Bay Area to sprawling mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discerning homeowners demand custom designs and finishes in their kitchens. In particular, they seek to express their individuality and distinct design preferences with the fast-growing design material of choice: concrete.

In fact, concrete countertops have become a kind of
status symbol for kitchens, rivaling granite and other
final countertop surface options. Consumer Reports Magazine
(August 2004) ranked concrete highest for “customization” and “uniqueness” among high-end kitchen countertops.

As a custom product, the amount of time and labor required to produce concrete countertops ranks them as the most expensive and labor-intensive of the top countertop materials.
However, concrete countertops are becoming more accessible to those on a modest budget. The latest do-it-yourself (DIY) trend to captivate homeowners and builders is building your own concrete countertop. This phenomenon has gained popularity in large part due to Cheng’s best-selling book Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary investment in making concrete countertops, but the creative gains from working with concrete are plentiful.

THE SHOW

Increasingly, homeowners are turning away from the drab, manufactured look of traditional countertop surfaces and choosing concrete for its timeless, earthy appeal. Plus, the options for customizing concrete countertops are endless: you can color, polish, stamp, and stain the concrete or embed personal items like stones, seashells, and fossils into the countertop surface, adding sentiment and character. Functional features such as drain boards, soap dishes, and trivets can also be incorporated to meet the needs and lifestyle of homeowners.

Concrete is slowly being demystified as characteristically cold and industrial. On the contrary, this ancient material is warm and surprisingly tactile; people can’t help but touch its smooth, polished surfaces. Realtor Joy Rasmussen, who recently sold her mountain home, a short-term investment property in Steamboat Springs, CO, recounts her visitors’ experiences with concrete: “When I had open houses, visitors they gravitated towards the concrete countertops – a lot of people around here have never seen them.”

Joy’s 2,265 sf. ft The mountain home was custom built by her husband, Ken Otterman, along with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Special Custom Homes. They built poured-in-place concrete countertops for the home’s kitchen and three bathrooms using Concrete Countertops as a guide. Sand-colored concrete countertops were polished smooth and then combined with natural slate in various colors, including charcoal, rust, and gold tones, which form the backsplashes in the kitchen and bathrooms. As a design accent, small rectangular slate tiles were added to
the edge of the bathroom sinks, which provided a unique detail to the custom vanities.

When Joy and Ken decided to sell their house, their investment in concrete countertops proved its worth. “We were able to list the house $20,000 above market value and had no problem selling it,” says Joy, as she surveys the long list of upgrades throughout the home, including solid knotty pine doors, natural slate accents on the hardwood walls and floors. “The concrete countertops were without a doubt the most unique and impressive of all the finishes. I think they were an important part in

adding value to the house. Around here, all you see in homes is granite countertops, and I really think home buyers are falling asleep to granite.”

“Concrete countertops are a unique offering for homebuyers who see the same finishes used in home after home they visit,” explains Joy, offering her insight as a seasoned realtor. “Having concrete countertops almost gives you bragging rights: You have something different from your neighbors.”

BREAK THE MOLD

Another advantage of concrete is its adaptability in modern or traditional environments, especially when combined with other materials such as various metals, wood or stone. “Concrete adds so many [possibilities] to stone, and the combination with slate, which is very popular here, gives the mountain houses an overall warm and natural feel,” says Joy.

Joy and Ken have since built a much larger home (4,000 square feet) that offers expansive views of Steamboat Ski Resort and is intended to serve as a long-term investment for the couple. They’ve also expanded their list of custom finishes, including hand-finished walls, sleek oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty pine doors that arch at the top, cabinets in a natural knotty alder, and their favorite: shabby-chic kitchen countertops. concrete.

Unlike his previous home, KJ and his specialized team poured charcoal-colored countertops using the precast method into the unfinished basement of the new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprinkled a number of semi-precious stones into the mold, including leopard skin, moonstone, mother of pearl, and turquoise. After lightly grinding and polishing the surface, the end result was a stunning color combination. “By far the mother-of-pearl was the most amazing,” says Joy.

The L-shaped concrete countertop has a rough, rustic stone look, complementing its rugged country setting. An integral drain board and trivets add functionality and added interest to the concrete countertop. Natural slate backsplashes, distinctive wall accents, and a butcher block countertop on the kitchen island resonate with the traditional warmth and earthiness of concrete countertops.

Joy and Ken’s respective backgrounds in real estate and custom home building, and as investment home buyers, have helped them realize that concrete countertops can add tremendous aesthetic and financial value to a home. Concrete’s “wow” appeal and customization is unlike any other countertop surface. Cheng is a proponent of emotional aesthetics and building houses that capture these emotions, as in the case of Joy and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes, “People really want differentiation, something personal, something personalized, and concrete can do that for them.”

For more information on concrete countertops, visit: http://www.ConcreteExchange.com/

Auto

Reasons to improve job prospects in the oil and gas industry

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When you hear about energy needs and resources in the United States, you might think that “alternative energy” sources like solar or wind power were the next big thing. Although these types of energy sources are gaining in popularity, they still represent a very small percentage of our total energy production compared to oil and natural gas. Due to the increasing need for energy sources, more and more jobs are becoming available.

In recent years, drillers have refined techniques for extracting oil and gas (this would be fracking) which has created greater opportunities for oil and gas companies to increase their production, as well as their need for qualified employees to carry out drilling, research and management of these operations. Jobs in the oil and gas industry are in high demand around the world and with the right background, training, and certification, you just might find your next job in the energy industry. Here are some reasons why energy demand will continue to grow, creating jobs for thousands of job seekers.

1) Increases in global demand for energy resources

With countries like China and India leapfrogging their respective economies with better-paying jobs and increases in living standards for millions of people, basic needs like electricity for homes and gasoline for cars and trucks are in high demand. . Add the demand from emerging countries to the needs of the US, Europe and other developed nations and you see that the energy industry is big business.

2) A resurgence of supply from the United States

Drilling operations in the US have incorporated fracking into their extraction processes for years and have now reached the point where this type of drilling technique in which water and other chemicals are injected into certain types of formations rocky has become economical and profitable. For decades, the US has known there is an abundant supply of oil and natural gas locked up in shale rock formations like the Rocky Mountains, but it has been too expensive to extract and still turn a profit. Not anymore… with improvements in fracking, operators are hiring additional workers to help with drilling sites and transportation infrastructure to take advantage of growing supplies, eliminating the need to import from the Middle East and other historical producers of Petroleum.

3) US energy independence

With an ever-increasing supply of natural gas available here in the US and historically low prices, power plants are converting to natural gas, delivery trucks and garbage trucks are being built to run on LNG. ) and there is talk that we may be in the early stages of an energy revolution, where the United States becomes less dependent on energy sources from countries like Saudi Arabia and is able to produce our own energy resources with cheaper oil and natural gas. . As demand increases, so will job opportunities.

4) Export of Liquefied Natural Gas

With natural gas trading at around $2.00 per unit in the US, it is extremely cheap compared to countries in Europe and Asia where the unit cost of LNG can be above $15 per unit. . Because of this price difference, companies in the US are working on exporting LNG from the US to these foreign countries, where they can sell supplies for multiple times the going rate here in the US. With these exports expected to increase significantly in the coming years, there will definitely be more jobs available for LNG suppliers and carriers.

Digital Marketing

How to promote affiliate products on social networks

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Affiliate marketing has been around for about 20 years. Countless e-commerce newcomers who are starting their own business have become successful affiliate marketers, earning commissions from major sites like Amazon and for helping sell their products.

Promotion of products through social media campaigns

Social media is an effective way to promote the products you want to sell because social media is free to use and you probably already have an account with the major ones like Facebook and Twitter.

The main issue is how often to promote product links. You can’t do it too often, because you’ll start to look like a spammer. But in general, you can present yourself as a helpful person who knows a certain topic, commonly known as a niche.

know your niche

Choosing to promote products based on a niche helps you avoid the “scattered” approach to marketing and really focus on what that particular target audience wants and needs.

Most people have “pain points” or problems in relation to a niche that they would like to solve. The affiliate products you promote could be the solution(s) they are looking for.

individual publications

Your posts can be conversational, discussing a common pain point and then suggesting an affiliate product that can help. You could also post a review. All social media channels are pushing video a lot these days, so a video review or demo video could get a lot of visibility and audience engagement. The more engagement you get, the more visible your content will be.

group participation

Look on Facebook and LinkedIn to see how many groups there are related to your niche and how active they are. If you see regular posts of content, it’s a lively group worth joining.

Once you join, be patient and just participate. Start building a reputation as a helpful and knowledgeable person. Gradually, you can get them to visit your site or blog, or make product recommendations directly. You can also start your own Facebook group if you want so you have an active and engaged audience interested in your content.

paid ads

Twitter and Facebook ads are inexpensive, but still highly targeted. You can drive traffic to your links or group page for just pennies per click.

Using free and paid methods, you should soon see stable affiliate sales.

Relationship

How to Get Into the Outdoor Billboard Industry With Little to No Capital

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The outdoor billboard industry offers the chance to earn a substantial monthly income as well as build huge capital on a billboard pool. Four of the Forbes 400 made the list from earnings in the billboard industry, including one billionaire: John Kluge. Even Ted Turner made his first fortune from it in the outdoor billboard industry. But how can the average person break into the billboard industry with little to no capital? Fortunately, there are several ways.

Flipping Billboard Leases

The real way to get into the “zero down” industry is to get land leases and permits to build billboards, and then sell them to other billboard companies. This has been standard industry practice for decades. A decent billboard land lease and permit will bring in between $15,000 and $30,000, with a lesser location worth around $5,000 and a fantastic location bringing in $100,000 or more.

There is only about $100 worth of tools needed to change billboard leases. The big investment is your time to learn how to do it. Courses are available online that can teach you the techniques and strategies needed to locate and negotiate advertising land leases.

Purchase of abandoned billboard structures

Many old wooden billboards lie abandoned along major highways and byways, mostly in areas outside of major cities. These signs were often built for certain restaurants or other chains that no longer exist, such as many Stuckey franchises. Although these signs are often not used, the permits are still in full force and effect. Many times, you can sign a new land lease with the property owner and purchase the abandoned structure from its former owner. In most cases, the sign needs few significant repairs to return to service. You can often buy these sign structures for $1,000 or so, and the profits are huge.

Construction of new wooden billboard structures.

There are opportunities in many markets to build old-fashioned wooden billboards on highways and main roads. These signs are inexpensive to build (between $4,000 and $8,000 total cost) and rent for about $2,000 per year per side. After expenses, they make about $3,000 a year. This is a return level of around 50% per year or more. While this may not seem significant right away, if you have twenty or thirty posters, earning $60,000 to $90,000 per year, it sure is. Keep in mind that these types of signs are rented annually, so you will only have to be involved in running the sign once a year.

conclusion

There are several different options for getting into the outdoor billboard business with little to no capital. The industry is not just steel and expensive monopoly structures. There are attack strategies to suit all budgets and the opportunities are limitless. Shouldn’t you check your options?

Health Fitness

Tips for preparing healthy foods for sources of vitamins and nutrients

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Cooking a healthy meal day after day, night after night is no easy feat. However, if you want to start eating healthy, you need to pay close attention to the food you buy and serve at the table. Keep in mind that eating healthy foods (and vitamins) means knowing the right foods and making a conscious effort to eat more of them.

* Potatoes are good, as long as they are eaten in moderate amounts.

* Ideally, no more than five ounces of meat, beans, and other protein sources (for example, peas, nuts, and fish) should be consumed per day to ensure your diet has adequate protein. Bake, grill, or broil meat instead of frying it.

* The ideal is to consume six ounces of grain a day. You can do this by eating 3 ounces of whole-grain bread, whole-grain cereal, rice, pasta, or crackers every day. A slice of bread and a cup of cereal each contain about an ounce of grain.

* A nutritious meal consists of healthy foods rich in vitamins and other nutrients, so it is important to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your meals. Eat more dark vegetables (eg, broccoli and spinach). Sweet potatoes and carrots are also rich sources of vitamins and nutrients, as are dried beans (eg, peas, kidney beans, and pinto beans). Instead of eating ice cream for dessert, try to eat fruit, at least two cups a day. Eat a variety of fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits.

* Fats are actually essential to our health. Fats negatively affect the body and our health if consumed in excessive amounts. Adverse effects include high cholesterol levels, weight gain, cancer, and heart disease. When cooking, avoid using solid fats (eg, butter, margarine, shortening, and lard). Use olive oil or canola oil instead. Learn to read food labels and check how much saturated and trans fat, as well as sodium, are in canned goods.

* Pay attention to portion sizes. Many people eat more than they really need. Avoid making the same mistake; eat according to your daily activities. For example, reduce your portion size on days when you are not doing any type of physical activity. You can increase your food portions when your schedule includes physical activity, as you will need the energy. Also keep in mind the particular needs of your family members when cooking a meal.

If you decide to follow the tips above, you will find that cooking healthy meals is, in fact, extremely easy. Here is an example of a healthy, well-balanced meal (one serving):

* grilled or roasted chicken breast (5 oz per person)

* 1/2 baked potato

* Mixed green salad

* fruit and frozen yogurt for dessert

With a little willpower, consuming the healthy foods, vitamins, and minerals your body requires won’t be too difficult.

Legal Law

So can I really get a divorce for $399? How to select a profitable matrimonial lawyer

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Today advertising proliferates promising a $399 divorce. Is such a thing even remotely possible? Probably not. For starters, in New York State alone, court costs will exceed $300. However, you can obtain the necessary forms to process a mutual consent divorce from your local County Clerk’s Office or even more easily from the New York State Office of Court Administration website. So, if you don’t have controversial issues in your divorce, a helpful spouse, and a willingness to do the paperwork, your total costs probably won’t exceed $400 (including round-trip subway or bus fare).

This article is for those of you who will need to hire a lawyer, either because you have

disputed matters, complex assets or child custody matters that require the expertise of a family law specialist, or you simply want someone to do the legwork for you. And, if this is your situation, it shouldn’t surprise you that you don’t get much in the way of personalized service or representation for $399.

The good news is that if you’re wise and sensible (and have a spouse who will be too), it’s possible to secure a divorce without spending a fortune. By that I mean it could get the job done in the range of $1,500 (in the simplest, most “undisputed”) to $10,000 (in a more complex situation). I can’t stress too much though, keeping your costs in this range will only be possible if neither you nor your spouse is uncompromising or blood seeking.

What follows is a list of pros and cons designed to get you there:

(1) Carefully select your attorney.

Make sure it’s someone whose personality and demeanor match yours, and who has the legal knowledge and insight to tailor their recommendations to your needs. A lawyer may surprise you with his or her personality, legal knowledge, rhetorical skills, or promises in an initial consultation, but if he or she can’t or refuses to listen to you, you’ll likely pay the price later.

(2) Maintain civil, even better, cordial communications with your ex-spouse.

Sometimes the only way to contain legal costs in a multi-issue divorce is to negotiate a deal directly with your spouse and then have the attorneys draft an agreement. In any event, establishing a postmarital civil relationship with your spouse as soon as possible, particularly when children are involved, can help ease commitment, reduce hard feelings, allay anxieties, and most importantly, mitigate legal costs.

(3) Be prepared to compromise.

The parties often lament their spouse’s inability to be reasonable, but just as often they are unprepared to compromise. If you are convinced that your settlement offer is so reasonable that no one could refuse it, you have either made an overly generous first offer or are currently unable to weigh the actions evenly. It’s probably the last.

(4) Be aware of what is most important to your spouse.

This does not mean that you have to grant exactly what he or she wants. But accept the fact that an agreement will only be possible if you are flexible enough to be able to compromise on one or more issues that are critical to your spouse. At the same time, it is equally unrealistic to expect to prevail on all the issues that you feel are critical to you.

(5) Avoid at all costs the practice of contradictory motion.

In certain cases, it may be impossible to resolve a temporary issue that requires immediate attention without filing a motion, for example issues such as temporary child support or a spousal refusal to disclose critical financial information. In that case, you will have no choice but to file a motion with the court. However, if you must take this course, be prepared to incur legal fees that are likely to end up in excess of $10,000 (the cost of filing a single motion can be as much or more). And furthermore, be aware that if you start down this path, you may take your case to such an adversarial pitch that the costs literally multiply.

(6) Never tell yourself that you’d rather pay your lawyer than your spouse.

You may end up paying both. It’s a tactic that only makes sense when your spouse’s expectations are very high and unlikely to come to fruition any time soon. In addition, the court may ultimately see you as the unrealistic party, in which case you may even be ordered to pay your spouse’s legal fees.

(7) Help your attorney do your job for you whenever possible.

Most of today’s legal clients are educated consumers, who need not be told that it is wise to help your attorney work more efficiently for you. But, if you’re someone who’s allergic to paperwork, pathologically disorganized, or just doesn’t want such direct involvement in a painful ordeal, you’ll pay a premium. Virtually all divorce attorneys charge by the hour, and many areas of divorce practice are inherently slow. On the other hand, if you spend hours explaining something to your attorney that he or she could have discerned from the documents, you will accomplish the opposite of your goals.

(8) Evaluate costs realistically with your attorney on an ongoing basis.

To do this effectively, you will need to know both the scope and underlying rationale for the steps your attorney proposes to take. It is not enough to know that your attorney plans to start by preparing a Summons and Complaint. You need to know what that means and whether it will require a few hours or a few days of legal work.

(9) Do not litigate matters related to children.

If you cannot mutually resolve custody and visitation of your child(ren) with your spouse, you will have no chance of avoiding substantial legal costs. This means that, as long as your children are not in danger, if you want or need to control costs, you will have to compromise on scheduling and custody labels. This is not always easy advice to follow. Oftentimes, one or both parties mistakenly view parenting as a battlefield to secure control or financial advantage over their spouse. If this is the case, you will find it very difficult to avoid costly litigation.

conclusion

If you can avoid these nine pitfalls, you’ll have a good chance of avoiding burying yourself in legal costs, even if it doesn’t mean a $399 divorce.

Lifestyle Fashion

How to Cope With Heartbreak: Can Sleeping Around Help Heartbreak?

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Agonizing over how to deal with the wrenching pain can cause you to collapse on the couch with tears in your eyes. Then your memory sparks an old saying, “the best way to get over your ex is to put yourself under someone else’s.” The essence is to sleep with or “cheat” on your ex to get over the breakup. That thought can trigger your sensitivity. Hmm… sage advice or just pointless dodge painting an illusion that makes the pain magically disappear?

It IS hard to know what the heck is good and what isn’t when it comes to love and relationships. It’s best to throw a little cold water on this notion. Take a more honest look before you venture down that road.

RUPTURE IS GRIEF

Think of your “after breakup” as a grieving process…because it IS. Your heart hurts. You sit in this dark hole, numb and begging “when does this heartache end?” The dilemma is how to deal with the anguish and bury this pain soon!

But… there are stages in grieving for lost love. Naturally, many of us prefer to skip some. Getting over your ex is hard! Hell hard. why No avoid the difficult parts. Like maybe escaping into someone else’s arms to let go of the pain of the past. Sleeping with someone can temporarily fill the void. Beware! It’s a short-acting prescription for breakout pain.

CONCERNED BUT NOT RATIONAL

Surely longing is compelling enough to quickly erase your pain. Still, a knee-jerk reaction is not the way to deal with heartbreak in a healthy way. All your restless thoughts feed restless feelings… and distort your reasoning. Not thinking clearly, these erratic emotions push you to act impulsively.

Instead of getting over heartbreak hell, a sexual adventure ends in a detour that prolongs it! The complete opposite of what you want. It is your shield against facing the relationship ended. Seriously, think about it… how many people have you met who actually healed their pain by sleeping with someone else? And by the way, quell any thoughts about your ex being jealous over this.

GET AN AGENDA TO HELP NO ARRESTS OVERCOME HEART

Taking more constructive steps to address how to deal with heartbreak rips you out of the clutches of pain without sabotaging your sanity. Essential to coping with loss, romantic or otherwise, is regaining hope! Yes, it sounds corny. No, that won’t get me on talk shows. You need what works, not something catchy.

How is that job? Let the past be the past. You can’t change how you’ve been hurt in the past. Learn what you can from him and let him go. Hold on to the past, and it stays your accommodation of your future.

Here is the cold spot of the stone. Your healing will take a walk until you make peace with the past. Romance Will meet you again only when you free yourself from your past. Say him goodbye. Let it go! Then fix your gaze forward, not back. This is your ‘fork in the road’. Withdraw from that… and you’ll be stuck in an emotional free fall.

Once you’ve kissed the past goodbye, forgive yourself, the relationship is over! Relations are fragile and can fail. Learning to deal with heartbreak means releasing all those hurt feelings inside. Keeping everything bottled up is not healthy for healing or sanity. Let the sadness flow out of you. Then your heart will have room for romance… when you’re ready again.

Pets

Principles of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ – Eternal Judgment – Determining Your Eternal Destiny

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When I was young I liked to drive fast. I ran everywhere. I had a major problem. Highway patrolmen do not encourage people to drive over the speed limit. In fact, they disapprove of people who drive over the speed limit. I was issued warnings the first few times I was detained. The patrolmen were polite but very firm in their insistence that he stop speeding.

The fourth time I was pulled over I got a speeding ticket. The ticket cost me $90, which was pretty expensive in the 1960s. The ticket didn’t stop me. I kept speeding up. Over the next sixty days I received seven tickets, all for speeding.

I got a letter from the State of Kansas saying I had to appear in court. It appears that the state of Kansas does not allow violating drivers to continue their illegal driving activities indefinitely. He had already paid more than $700 in speeding tickets, but they thought further action was warranted. I appeared before a judge and he asked me if he thought he was above the law.

“No, I said. ‘Yes, you do,’ he replied, ‘or you wouldn’t break the law with such impunity.’ The judge fined me a hefty $500 and revoked my driver’s license for six months. If I showed up to him for speeding, I would lose my license for three years and could spend up to a year in jail. The judge was not smiling or friendly. I believed him. I repent of my sin and stop speeding. No I have had another speeding ticket to this day.

Most of us treat the laws of God as I treated the speeding laws of Kansas. God sends people to warn us of the imminent danger caused by our sin. Many of us ignore the consequences of our actions until something forces us to take a hard look at them.

The Bible is very clear that the only way to eternal life is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. No man can obtain eternal life without repenting of his sin and accepting Jesus Christ as his savior. No matter what others say, only Jesus can give eternal life.

The Bible is also very clear that anyone who does not repent of their sin and accept Jesus as their savior will spend eternity in the lake of fire. There will be no consolation, there will be no good. There will only be anguish and eternal damnation.

Each person is going to be judged according to their actions and inactions in this life. There is no one exempt. The Bible is very clear in stating that those who reject Christ will not be written in the book of life. They will be thrown forever into a lake of fire with the devil, the beast, and the false prophet. (See Revelation 20:10-15).

Why is everyone going to be judged?

All men have sinned against Holy God. God, who is holy, must punish sin. None of us can claim that we are holy enough to please God by our own righteousness. We are not even worthy to open the book of life. (See Revelation 5:4) It is evident from the Scriptures that all people are under God’s condemnation, and rightly so, because we have sinned against Holy God.

If man’s condition stopped here there would be no hope, but praise God there is hope! God has provided a way for mankind to avoid his wrath and obtain eternal life! Jesus Christ has secured eternal life for all who come to him. Millions of believers who accept Christ’s great deliverance through the gospel will live to praise him in heaven. (See Revelation 5:5-14)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God came to reconcile us with God by offering his body as a sacrifice for the sin of all men. John 3: 16-21, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.”

It breaks my heart to say that many people will reject God’s grace and choose God’s wrath because of their love for sin. They will be tormented forever in the lake of fire without hope. Because those of us who accept the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead will be forever blessed by God. Romans 4:6-8, “…Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

One last word.

Let us who have accepted Christ as our Lord redouble our efforts to spread the saving message of Jesus Christ. Let’s not sit back and watch others perish without sharing God’s love. II Corinthians 5:10-11, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…”

No other options. There is eternal salvation through Christ or eternal damnation for rejecting his great salvation. Those who reject God’s goodness through Christ will have called God a liar and will reject Christ’s sacrifice for them. It is my prayer that the Christians who read these words will share the love of Christ with a lost world. It is also my prayer that those who do not know Christ will repent of their sin and accept Christ’s sacrifice for their sin so that they will not have to pay the consequences of their sins before the judge of all the earth.

Copyright 2010 J-me

Real Estate

What to look for in a commercial construction contractor

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The overall outcome of any building structure rests on one very important decision: choosing the right commercial building contractor. A poorly selected commercial construction contractor is likely to build a shoddy commercial building that will end up costing more than budgeted and may not be what was originally intended. Therefore, there are a number of important attributes that people should look for in any potential commercial construction contractor.

A good commercial construction contractor should always present themselves and operate their construction business with an entrepreneurial attitude. A good contractor will respect the business owner’s schedule and will always show up on time and ready to do whatever needs to be done that day. They will be competent, organized and able to deal directly with any questions or concerns the business owner may have. They will create a sense of trust because they will not break any promises. People should see how a contractor treats them before signing the contract. It will say a lot about how that individual expects to be treated throughout the duration of the project.

Communication is a key attribute in any commercial construction contractor. Construction is considered a “people business.” A good contractor is also a good listener and communicator. They will translate the individual’s ideas and goals into a very actionable plan and then provide information on what to expect. They will create a solid foundation for a good working relationship and build a positive relationship. If a person doesn’t feel like they are communicating with a contractor effectively during the interview process, they are likely to continue through the project.

Commercial construction is a complex task. The contractor must demonstrate the experience and skills necessary to perform the work. They need to have years of experience before they can manage a big project. There are different types of projects and it is important to find a contractor who is experienced in that type of commercial construction work. If they do, ask them to provide proof in the form of references and recommendations.

A good, well-established commercial construction contractor will have a professional reputation. This can be determined by using benchmarks. Ask the contractor to provide references. Ask them to include references not only to themselves, but also to any other companies they may work with, including material suppliers. It is important to know that all the companies involved have a professional reputation.

Finally, discuss the business practices of the commercial construction contractor. Request a certificate of insurance to make sure they have the necessary coverage, including liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Call the insurance company to make sure the coverage hasn’t expired. Also check their licenses and call the state licensing board to see if the license has ever been suspended or if there are any claims against the commercial construction contractor. Make sure they can get all the necessary building permits and follow all zoning laws.