After assessing the damage, the owners have a choice—either tear down the house or save it.
IS YOUR marriage at a similar juncture? Perhaps your spouse has betrayed your trust or recurring conflicts have sapped the joy from your relationship. If so, you might tell yourself, ‘We’ve fallen out of love’ or ‘We just aren’t meant for each other’ or ‘We didn’t know what we were doing when we got married.’ You could even be thinking, ‘Maybe we should divorce.’
Before making a hasty decision to end your marriage, think. Divorce does not always end life’s anxieties. On the contrary, often it merely exchanges one set of problems for another. In his book The Good Enough Teen, Dr. Brad Sachs warns: “Separating couples fantasize about the perfect divorce—the sudden and permanent passing of gray and stormy conflict, replaced by the cool, comforting breezes of serenity and congeniality. But such a state is just as eternally elusive as is the perfect marriage.” It is important, then, to be fully informed and to approach the question of divorce realistically.
The Bible and Divorce
The Bible does not treat divorce casually. It states that Jehovah God views as treacherous and hateful the frivolous putting away of one’s mate, perhaps with the motive of taking another spouse. (Malachi 2:13-16) Marriage is a permanent bond. (Matthew 19:6) Many marriages that broke up on trivial grounds could have been saved if partners had been more forgiving.—Matthew 18:21, 22.
At the same time, the Bible allows for divorce and remarriage on one ground—sexual relations outside the marriage. (Matthew 19:9) Therefore, if you learn that your mate has been unfaithful, you have the right to terminate the marriage. Others should not impose their views on you, and it is not the purpose of this article to tell you what to do. In the end, you are the one who will live with the consequences; therefore, you are the one who must decide.—Galatians 6:5.
Nevertheless, the Bible states: “The shrewd one considers his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15) Hence, even if you have Scriptural grounds for divorce, you would do well to give serious thought to what that step will entail. (1 Corinthians 6:12) “Some may think that they have to decide quickly,” says David, in Britain. “But having been through a divorce, I can say from experience that time is needed to think things through.”
Let us consider four important issues you need to think about. As we do, please note that none of the divorced individuals quoted say that they made a wrong decision. However, their comments highlight some of the challenges that often arise in the months and even years after ending a marriage.
1 The Problem of Finances
Daniella, in Italy, was married for 12 years when she found out that her husband had been having an affair with a colleague. “By the time I knew about it,” says Daniella, “the woman was six months pregnant.”
After a period of separation, Daniella decided to get a divorce. “I tried to save my marriage,” she says, “but my husband continued to be unfaithful.” Daniella feels that she made the right choice. Still, she relates: “As soon as we separated, my economic situation became disastrous. Sometimes I didn’t even have an evening meal. I would just drink a glass of milk.”
Maria, in Spain, suffered a similar setback. “My ex-husband doesn’t give us any financial support,” she says, “and I have to work very hard to pay off debts he had. I also had to move from a comfortable house to a small apartment in an unsafe area.”
As these experiences show, the breakup of a marriage often deals a devastating financial blow to women. In fact, a seven-year European study revealed that while the income of men increased by 11 percent after divorce, women’s income decreased by 17 percent. “It’s difficult for some women,” says Mieke Jansen, who headed the study, “because they have to care for the children, find a job as well as deal with the emotional trauma of divorce.” London’s Daily Telegraph noted that according to some attorneys, such factors are “forcing people to think twice about splitting up.”
What might happen: If you divorce, there may be a reduction in your income. You may also have to move. If you retain custody, it may be difficult to support yourself and adequately care for the needs of your children.—1 Timothy 5:8.
2 Parenting Issues
“My husband’s unfaithfulness came as a terrible shock,” says a woman in Britain named Jane. “Also, I was devastated to think that he actually chose to leave us.” Jane divorced her husband. She still believes that she made the right decision, but she admits: “One challenge I faced was having to be both mom and dad to the children. I had to make all the decisions myself.”
The situation was similar with Graciela, a divorced mother in Spain. “I was given full custody of my 16-year-old son,” she says. “But adolescence is a difficult time, and I was ill-prepared to raise my son alone. I spent days and nights sobbing. I felt like a failure as a mother.”
Those who share custody may face an additional problem—having to negotiate with the ex-spouse on such delicate issues as visitation arrangements, child support, and discipline. Christine, a divorced mother in the United States, says: “Creating a working relationship with your ex is not easy. There are so many emotions involved, and if you’re not careful, you could end up using your child as a tool to try to manipulate the situation.”
What might happen: The custody arrangements set forth in a court of law may not be what you would prefer. If you share custody, your ex-spouse may not be as reasonable as you would like regarding the aforementioned matters of visitation, financial support, and so on.
3 The Effect of Divorce on You
Mark, from Britain, was betrayed by his wife more than once. “The second time,” he says, “I couldn’t cope with the possibility that it could happen again.” Mark divorced his wife, but he found that his feelings for her lingered. “When people say negative things about her, they think they’re helping; but they’re not,” he says. “Love stays for a long time.”
David, quoted earlier, was similarly devastated when he found out that his wife was involved with another man. “I reacted with total disbelief,” he says. “I truly wanted to spend every day of my life with her and our children.” David chose to divorce, but the breakup has left him with doubts about his future. “I wonder if someone could really love me or whether this might happen again if I remarry,” he says. “My confidence has been shaken.”
If you are divorced, it is only to be expected that you will experience a wide range of emotions. On the one hand, you might still feel love for this person with whom you shared a one-flesh bond. (Genesis 2:24) On the other hand, you might feel resentful over what has occurred. “Even after several years,” says Graciela, quoted earlier, “you feel confused, humiliated, and helpless. Many happy moments from your marriage come to mind, and you think: ‘He used to tell me that he couldn’t live without me. Was he always lying? Why did this happen?’”
What might happen: You may have lingering feelings of anger and resentment over the ways in which your spouse mistreated you. At times, loneliness may be overwhelming.—Proverbs 14:29; 18:1.
4 The Effect of Divorce on Children
“It was devastating,” says José, a divorced father in Spain. “The worst moment was when I discovered that the other man was my sister’s husband. I just wanted to die.” José found that his two boys—ages two and four—were also affected by their mother’s course. “They could not come to terms with the situation,” he says. “They didn’t understand why their mother was living with their uncle and why I had taken them with me and moved in with my sister and my mother. If I had to go somewhere, they would ask, ‘When are you coming home?’ or they would say, ‘Daddy, don’t leave us!’”
Children are often the forgotten casualties on the divorce battlefield. But what if two parents just do not get along? In such a case, is divorce really “better for the children”? In recent years, that notion has come under attack—especially when marital problems are not extreme. The book The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce states: “Many adults who are trapped in very unhappy marriages would be surprised to learn that their children are relatively content. They don’t care if Mom and Dad sleep in different beds as long as the family is together.”
Admittedly, children are often aware of parental conflicts, and marital tension can take a toll on their young minds and hearts. However, to assume that a divorce will automatically be in their best interests could be a mistake. “The structure that marriage provides appears to help parents maintain the kind of consistent, moderate discipline to which children respond, even when the marriage is less than ideal,” write Linda J. Waite and Maggie Gallagher in their book The Case for Marriage.
What might happen: Divorce could have a devastating effect on your children, especially if you do not encourage them to have a healthy relationship with your ex-spouse.—See the box “Caught in the Middle.”
This article has discussed four factors that you would do well to consider if you are thinking about divorce. As mentioned earlier, if your spouse has been unfaithful, the decision is yours to make. Whichever course you choose, you need to be aware of the consequences. Know what challenges you will face, and be prepared to deal with them.
After considering the matter, you might feel that the better option is to work to improve your marriage. But is that really possible?
[Footnote]
Names in this article have been changed.
[Box on page 6]
“EVERY CHILD’S BIRTHRIGHT”
“When I was five years old, my father had a brief affair with his secretary, and my parents divorced. As far as taking care of me, they did everything ‘right’ according to the wisdom of the day. They reassured me that while they did not love each other anymore, they still loved me, and after my father departed to his bachelor apartment across town, both continued to care for my material needs.
“Two years later my mother remarried, and we moved out of the country. After that, I only saw my father every few years. I have seen him just once in the past nine years. He missed most of my growing up, and he does not know my three children—his grandchildren—except through what I’ve shared with him in letters and photos. They have missed knowing their grandfather.
“As a child of divorce, I grew up without any visible scars. But inside I battled monsters of rage, depression, and insecurity without knowing why. My trust in men was nonexistent. It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that a mature friend helped me to identify the roots of my hostility and I began to work at letting go of it.
“My parents’ divorce took away from me every child’s birthright—the feeling of being secure and protected. The world is a cold, scary place, but it seems to me that the family unit is a wall against it, where the child can come to feel nurtured and comforted. Shatter the family unit, and the protective wall crumbles too.”—Diane.
[Box on page 7]
“CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE”
“My parents divorced when I was 12 years old. In one way, I was relieved. Things got a lot more calm and peaceful around the house; I didn’t have to listen to all that fighting anymore. Still, I had mixed emotions.
“After the divorce, I wanted to get along with both of my parents, and I tried very hard to stay as neutral as possible. But no matter what I did, I always felt like I was caught in the middle. My dad told me that he thought my mom was going to turn me against him. So I had to reassure him constantly that my mom wasn’t trying to poison my mind. My mom was also very insecure. She said she was afraid that I was listening to negative things my dad told me about her. It got to the point that I didn’t feel like I could talk to either of my parents about what I was going through anymore because I didn’t want to hurt them. So, basically, from the age of 12 on, I kept my feelings about the divorce to myself.”—Sandra.



curled from Awake!

Heather has been seeing Mike for only two months, but she feels as if she’s known him forever. They text each other constantly, they talk for hours at a time on the phone, and they can even finish each other’s sentences! But now, as they sit in a parked car under the moonlight, Mike wants more than conversation.

During the past two months, Mike and Heather have done nothing more than hold hands and briefly kiss. Heather doesn’t want to go further. But she doesn’t want to lose Mike either. No one makes her feel so beautiful, so special. ‘Besides,’ she tells herself, ‘Mike and I are in love, . . . aren’t we?’

YOU can probably guess where this scenario is heading. But what you may not realize is how dramatically sex would change things for Mike and Heather—and not for the better.

Consider:
If you defy a physical law, such as the law of gravity, you suffer the consequences. The same is true if you defy a moral law, such as the one that states: “Abstain from fornication.” What are the consequences of disobeying that command?

See if you can list below three harmful effects that can come to those who engage in premarital sex.
1. …………………………
2. …………………………
3. …………………………

Now look at what you wrote. Did you include such things as sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy, or the loss of God’s favor?

Still, you might be tempted. ‘Nothing will happen to me,’ you could reason. After all, isn’t everyone having sex? Your peers at school brag about their escapades, and they don’t seem to be hurting. Perhaps, like Heather in the opening scenario, you even feel that sex will make you and your partner closer. Besides, who wants to be ridiculed for being a virgin? Isn’t it better to give in?

Not so fast! First of all, not everyone is doing it. True, you may read statistics indicating that an alarming number of youths are having sex. For example, a U.S. study revealed that by the time they finish high school, 2 out of 3 youths in that country are sexually active. But that also means that 1 out of 3—a sizable number—is not. Now, what about those who are? Researchers have found that many such youths experience one or more of the following rude awakenings.

Rude Awakening #1: DISTRESS. Most youths who have engaged in premarital sex say that they regretted it afterward.

Rude Awakening #2: DISTRUST. After having sex, each partner begins to wonder, ‘Who else has he/she had sex with?’

Rude Awakening #3: DISLOYALTY. After having sex, a boy is more likely to dump his girlfriend and move on to someone else.

Rude Awakening #4: DISILLUSIONMENT. Deep down, a girl would have preferred someone who would protect her, not use her.

In addition to the above, consider this: Many boys have said that they would never marry a girl they have had sex with. Why? Because they prefer someone who is more chaste!

Does that surprise you—perhaps even anger you? If so, whether you are a girl or a boy, remember this: The reality of premarital sex is far different from what is shown in movies and on TV.

The entertainment industry glamorizes teen sex and makes it look like true love. But don’t be naive! Those who would try to coax you into premarital sex are only looking out for their own interests. After all, would anyone who truly loves you endanger your physical and emotional well-being? And would anyone who truly cares for you tempt you to jeopardize your relationship with God?

The fact is, if you give in to premarital sex, you are degrading yourself by giving away something of precious value. No wonder so many feel empty and worthless afterward, as if they’ve carelessly allowed a precious part of themselves to be stolen! Don’t let that happen to you.

If someone tries to coax you into sex by saying, “If you loved me, you’d do this,” firmly reply, “If you loved me, you wouldn’t ask!”

Your body is far too valuable to give away. Show that you have the strength of character to obey God’s command to abstain from fornication. Then, if you do marry one day, you can have sex. And you’ll be able to enjoy it fully, without the worries, regrets, and insecurities that are so often the aftermath of premarital sex.




TO THINK ABOUT

● Although premarital sex may appeal to the imperfect flesh, why is it wrong for you?
● What will you do if someone asks you to have sex?


WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY
“Just saying no does not stop the person asking from trying again. It’s how you refuse. If you meekly say no but sound indecisive, it will be obvious. You need to be firm!”
“Just saying no doesn’t always work. Even explaining your beliefs may not work. I’ve known some who boast that they were able to ‘break’ a Christian. Sometimes you just have to walk away. It’s hard to do, but it works.”
“As a Christian, you have qualities that will make you attractive to others. So you have to be alert and back off when invited to do something immoral. Respect those qualities. Don’t sell out!”

BE HER HERO!
If you’re dating, do you really care for your girlfriend? Then show her that you have . . .
● the strength to uphold God’s laws
● the wisdom to avoid tempting circumstances
● the love to look out for her interests
If you do, likely your girlfriend’s feelings will be similar to those of the Shulammite, who said: “My dear one is mine and I am his.” (Song of Solomon 2:16) In short, you’ll be her hero!

SUGGESTION
When it comes to conduct with the opposite sex, a good rule to follow is this: If it’s something you wouldn’t want your parents to observe you doing, then you shouldn’t be doing it.

Engaging in premarital sex is an abuse of God’s gift. It’s like taking a beautiful painting that someone gave you and using it as a doormat




comments please............condemnation and commendation all welcome

Like any marketing medium, or any medium that can be used for marketing, Twitter offers you results commensurate with how thoughtfully you approach it and how wholeheartedly you engage in it.

Look past its non-traditional exterior to see Twitter’s real ability to connect people in ways that can transform your company a little bit at a time. The following are simple instructions to follow:

1. Remember that success on Twitter can build slowly, and that trying to hurry it by buying followers or using shady shortcuts doesn’t work. As SocialMediaToday points out in a case study of hardball marketing run amok, “There is no magic pill, magic ticket or free ride to success in social media and business.”

2. Be yourself: That means two things on Twitter. First, make your tweets sound like the cohesive voice of your business. If you’re small, capitalise on your identity as a one- or two-person business and equate your size with a focus on treating customers like individuals.

Second, even if you’re bigger than a sole proprietorship, assign one person who’s good at communicating your authentic value as a business to be your official and singular voice on the service. Keeping your participation real goes a long way toward attracting followers.

As Twitter itself suggests, “Share photos and behind the scenes info about your business. Even better, give a glimpse of developing projects and events. Users come to Twitter to get and share the latest, so give it to them!”

3. Balance overt attempts to attract customers with tweets that convey your company’s personality without making an obvious commercial pitch. When you post a discount offer or a special sales event, your followers pay greater attention to it because you’re not always explicitly soliciting their business.

4. Use your Twitter presence to gather more than customers. You can share insights with fellow business people, and even find opportunities to barter services, collaborate on a project with community implications, build a network of like-minded entrepreneurs or learn from veteran business owners.

Use mentions and following strategically to build a position of authority in your field. Twitter recommends that you “Reference articles and links about the bigger picture as it relates to your business.”

5. Think twice about following everyone who follows you. If you’re using your Twitter timeline as a place to rub elbows with customers and suppliers, trying to keep up with a long list of people you followed only as a thank you turns your tweet stream into a raging river of who-can-read-all-that.

If you do decide to follow back routinely, define whom you’ll follow and whom you won’t on the basis of attributes you can discern easily, then create original, non-automated thank-you responses in keeping with your focus on authenticity.

As Mashable points out in an essay on the American Express OPEN Forum, “If you do decide to follow everyone, authenticity is key. Your followers will be able to tell whether they’re talking to a robot or a person — and a real person is always more valuable on Twitter.”

6. Leverage your plans for charitable giving into your Twitter strategy. New Twitter followers of charitable sites trigger additional donations.

-Source: Twitter.com

we never fit fight our own finish.....

i agree with him

















but wait, who is Taribo?

...for this kind time wey unemployment no dey nigeria thats when my president is "sacking" people. Does he want them to start carrying CV around like us now?



Lol tinz ooo
www.laftaunlimited..com

.........guys theres no picture showing he actually buried the car, just a hole and a bentley beside it....

how will the car enter d hole? will he push it in?

will he drive it in? will he crane/forklift it in?

abegi, this na just NEWS tinzzz

...well not bad though but ur cover letter should be brief and must use bullet points

please see this link to learn more

http://canadian-resume-service.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Oilfield-Consultant-Cover-Letter.png

Hi guys,

i really need someone/anyone to help give a brief and pinpointed answer to the below questions;

1. Explain Nigeria's financial crisis.

2. What are the current events in the banking sector?

3. What is the greatest challenge faced by banks today?


thanks as u drop those "encouraging" comments.

thanks alot.

.....yeeeaaahhh

Am not a Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan fan, am a die hard Mourinho supporter but truly truly i tell u today this guy has NOTHING to offer chelsea.....,,,whats a stronger word for irritated...thats how i feel now

daamn

....singing and dancing Michael Jackson's taran taran taranataran, ".......u can be my baby it dont mata if ur Black or White........."

ur a beautiful couple boss

boss123: I have not seen white house down but sorry to say olympus has fallen is a useless movie...

whaaahh, are u serious ryt now!!!

Yea i remember the 300 guys name - Gerard Butler, might i also add one other hilarious scene with Morgan Freeman....when the president was seized in the bunker, and with other key men killed the power frll on Morgan,

after being briefed on d situation on ground and recommendations given all eyes and ears as well were keenly on Morgan to make a pronouncement, guess what he said: "would u please get me a cup of coffee......" and then he loosened his tie....lol, that got alot of persons cracking in the theatre

awesome mobie i tell u, awesome

Same story line YES, Channing Tatum is rily hard to resist but Olympus Has Fallen killed it, jeeeeezzz, the level of damage done to d white house made me feel like joining the armed forces (lol) to serve and protect what i strongly believe in, plus the President had a very strong personality and was also very emotional...

The phrases used in d film would also make for a good laff. For example, at that point when that 300 guy(dont no his name) was taking d presidents son through that chimney outside, and one of d terrorist almost stopped him, the guy had to eliminate him, wen d boy heard d noise and asked d guy "what was that", he said, "not to worry, false alarm"

again wen he was to get to d president and rescue him he had to talk to his wife, after a wyl he told his wife, "i got to go now honey, paperwork is piling up". Lol "paperwork"

the film is riveting, if u are a fan of heavy artillery THIS IS A MUST SEE!!!

Like if u agree

flolancracker:

guy i dont no who u are but i suddenly feel better already...very funny pictures.

Its all good

.....and suddenly we are all quiet. Guess we r all preparing 4 interview.

Make i begin do my own rehearsals too

Moladibanj: Will they give us topics to write on at d back of d form or u just choose any topics of your own?

no topic, ur to write on any topic of your choice

wow, just finished documentation minutes back. its just as anastacia had said.

90 minutes at most to fill the almost 10 pages form plus the last page which is to write a topic of your choice

maximum of 200 words thats what Eguono said oo, the guy in glasses.

Voter's ID card was accepted but 'temporarily', statement of result also accepted but 'reluctantly'

please make a copy of your ID card. many of us didnt make a copy of our ID. so please do that b4 goin in.

all the best to the rest of us yet to do this exercise.

fitzjerry: Tnx 4 d info @ anas...Is it compulsory tht we must b on suit?

yeah that reminds me. whats the dress code

it is well. thanks for the information annastacia.

may we also come back with such glad tidings tomorrow as well.

success in advance

koleefem05: All the best to myself and the rest of us having our documentation this week. Eeze,MissAde,Hadiza,Simple Samuel, Annastacia et_al. SUCCESS ALL THE WAY

all the best guys.

please dont forget to inform the house how it went .

Zona.com:
Had to laugh towards the end of your epistle. You are not doing bad as a comedian.
D strike no concern me sha, i dey I.T

u no one thing i loved about this joke? It had suspense in it. Nice one bro

fitzjerry: What i have is a voters I'd card o. i hope it'll b acceptable.

they should but i suggest u get a license sharp sharp, u can get a license 4 3k within 2days but i dunno if it can be done on monday and u get that same day...

NB: the real govt license is about 15k ooo, this one is just a makeshift license ooo

fitzjerry: What i have is a voters I'd card o. i hope it'll b acceptable.

they should but i suggest u get a license sharp sharp, u can get a license 4 3k within 2days but i dunno if it can be done on monday and u get that same day...

NB the rea govt license is about 15k ooo, this one is just a makeshift license ooo

ideecarbasa: Same wit me. Don't worry dear you re nt the only one that has the same issue... ♍Ÿ schl is yet to issue it out.

mine is 4 27th by 8am, wen is urs, lets know if we can meet on the day...

I pray we r not turned back based on this ooo

...guys please say something that would give me a glimmer of hope naa

what hopes do i have ooo, please i need input from u guys abeg ooo

same here people.

I bless God ooo.

But guys i dont have my University Certificate ooo, plus the strike affected my getting it as well.

should i be worried?

Cubeet: Go Bervely Osu, na you go win the money.....nothing for elikim, melvin and d rest

ryt....u have just given credence to the fact that sex sells...smh

,,,for those who missed this.....what is the difference between the BBA show and pornography

Whoeva wrote this article i love u so much, cos i rememba askin sum1 this question some weeks back. A supposed BBA die-hard fan

i am gonna spread this as far as i can...thanks again for this piece

YOU may have heard the saying, “You can’t cheat an honest man.” Like many sayings, that one is untrue. Every day honest people are the victims of fraud; honesty alone doesn't protect them. Some of the cleverest minds in the world are devising and carrying out schemes to separate people from their money. More than a hundred years ago, one writer noted: “There are some frauds so well conducted, that it would be stupidity not to be deceived by them.”
Deception has a long history, dating back to the garden of Eden. Old schemes have many variations, and new schemes are being concocted all the time. So how can you defend yourself? You need not try to learn all the ways in which criminals defraud people. A few basic precautions will go a long way in protecting you from becoming a victim.
Safeguard Personal Information
If a person steals your checkbook or credit cards, he can buy things with them. If he steals your bank account information, he may be able to order and write checks in your name. If he obtains enough personal information, he may assume your identity. Once your identity has been stolen, a criminal can withdraw money from your bank accounts, charge things to your credit card accounts, and obtain loans in your name.* You may even find yourself arrested for a crime you did not commit!
To protect yourself from this type of fraud, be careful with all personal documents, including your bank statements and checkbooks, driver’s license, and Social Security card or national identity card. Refuse to provide personal or financial information to others unless there is a legitimate reason why they should have it. This is especially so for credit card numbers and bank account information. The only time you should give anyone your credit card number is when you want to buy something with it.
Swindlers known as dumpster divers root through garbage in search of such information. Instead of simply throwing out paperwork that contains personal data, you are wise to burn or shred it. This includes used checks and bank and brokerage statements as well as old credit cards, driver’s licenses, and passports. It is also wise to destroy unsolicited credit card applications that you receive in the mail, since these contain information about you that someone else might misuse.
Use Common Sense
At the heart of many frauds is the promise of unrealistically high returns from investments. A common get-rich-quick scam is the pyramid scheme. Though there are many variations of this scam, the usual design is for investors to recruit other investors, for which the recruiters receive a commission.* Chain letters work in the same way by asking you to send money to people at the top of a list. The assurance is that you will receive thousands of dollars when your name reaches the top.
Pyramid schemes always collapse because it is impossible to keep on recruiting new members. Consider the math. If five people launch a pyramid and each one recruits five more, the number of new recruits becomes 25. If they, in turn, each recruit 5, that would mean 125 more. When recruitment reaches the ninth level, there will be close to two million people who would have to recruit more than nine million others! Promoters of pyramid schemes well know that there is a saturation point. When they suspect that point is near, they take the money and run. You will probably lose your money, and those whom you have recruited will now be trying to recover their lost money from you. Remember, for you to make money in a pyramid scheme, someone else has to lose money.
Is someone offering you easy money or huge profits in return for an investment? A cautionary warning is this: If an offer appears too good to be true, it usually is. Don’t be quick to believe advertising claims and testimonials, thinking, “This is different.” Keep in mind that people are not in business to give away money or to share secrets to make you rich. If someone claims to have special knowledge that will make you a fortune, ask yourself: ‘Why doesn't he use it to make himself wealthy? Why is he wasting time trying to sell it to me?’
What if you are told that you have won a contest or a prize? Don’t get excited—it may be a scam, one that has victimized many. For example, a woman in England received a letter from Canada telling her that she had won a prize but that she needed to send a $25 processing fee. After sending the money, she received a phone call from Canada telling her that she had won third prize in a drawing worth $245,000 but that she would have to pay a percentage of that amount as a further processing fee. She sent $2,450 and received nothing in return. If you have to pay for a “free gift” or a prize, it’s a scam. Ask yourself, ‘How likely is it that I have won a prize in a contest that I did not enter?’
Do Business Only With Reputable People
Do you believe that you can sense dishonesty in people? Be careful! Swindlers are called con, or confidence, artists because they know how to win the confidence of others. They are skilled at making their victims trust them. Sellers, both honest and dishonest, know that before you can sell a product, you have to sell yourself. Of course, this does not mean that you should mistrust everyone, but a healthy degree of suspicion is important in defending yourself from fraud. Rather than try to discern a person’s integrity by trusting your instincts, watch for two telltale signs that characterize many frauds: First, does an offer appear too good to be true, and second, is the seller trying to rush you into making a decision?
Too-good-to-be-true offers abound on the Internet. Though the Internet offers much of value, it also enables criminals to defraud victims quickly and anonymously. Do you have an E-mail account? If so, you may find yourself on the receiving end of spam—unsolicited commercial E-mail. Though spam offers an endless array of goods and services, many of these are fraudulent. If you respond to an unsolicited E-mail by sending money for some product or service, you will probably receive nothing in return. If you do receive something, it will almost certainly not be worth the money you have invested in it. The best advice is, Never buy anything from a spammer.
This applies equally to those who phone to sell you something. Although many telephone sales calls are made by legitimate businesses, telemarketing scams cheat people out of billions of dollars every year. There is no way to know whether a sales pitch is legitimate if you simply talk with someone who calls you on the phone. A swindler may even pose as a representative of a bank or a credit card protection agency. You have good reason to be suspicious if someone calls you claiming to be from a bank or a company with whom you have an account and asks for information that they should already have. If that happens, you might ask for the person’s phone number. Then call back after verifying that the number really is that of the bank or agency.
A good policy is not to give your credit card number or any other personal information to a stranger who calls you. If someone calls to sell you something that you do not want, you can politely say, “Sorry, I do not do business over the phone with people I do not know.” Then hang up. There is no reason for you to engage in an unwanted conversation with a stranger who may be trying to defraud you.
Deal only with reputable businesses and people. There are many legitimate companies with whom you can safely do business over the phone or on the Internet. If possible, check out the salesperson, the company, and the investment through some independent agency. Ask for information about the investment, and read it carefully to make sure that it is legitimate. Do not be rushed or pressured into making a quick decision.
Put It in Writing
Not all fraud starts out as fraud. An honest business can go sour. When that happens, those running it may panic and resort to fraudulent measures to recover their losses. Doubtless you have heard stories of business executives who lied about revenue and profits and then when the business collapsed ran away with what was left of the money.
To protect yourself from both fraud and misunderstandings, you should get the details in writing before making any major investment. Any contract that you sign should document all the terms of the investment and the promises made. Recognize, too, that no matter how sound an investment may appear, no one can guarantee that things will go as planned. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) After all, there is really no such thing as a risk-free investment. Thus, an agreement should specify in writing what the duties and responsibilities of each person will be should the business fail.
By being aware of and applying the basic principles we have briefly considered, you make yourself less vulnerable to being a victim of fraud. An ancient Bible proverb provides valuable advice. It states: “Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, but the shrewd one considers his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15)
A swindler chooses easy targets, those inclined to believe his every word. Sadly, there are many people who take no precautions against fraud.

sourcehttp://ezzybusinessideas..com/2013/08/how-to-protect-yourself-from-fraud.html

The formal union of a man and a woman by which they become husband and wife is known as marriage. It is a union that is made to last as long as they both shall live. To maintain the bond of marriage, several ingredients as it were, are needed. Communication is one of them. Good communication within marriage is like a stream that flows gently and peacefully through a garden. To keep the stream flowing, marriage mates must cultivate and display insight, love, deep respect and humility.

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Insight: The woman was made to be a complement of the man, not a copy of him. Her role is reflected in the way she communicates. Women like to talk about their feelings, people and relationships. They appreciate warm, intimate communication, for it reassures them that they are loved. On the other hand men are more likely to talk about activities, problems, and solutions. Thus having such insights will help a couple know what to say, when and how to say it. They must speak graciously, politely and in a mild tone - the how; aware that a well chosen word - the what; spoken at the right time - the when; is both appealing and appreciated.

Respect: It is commonly said that respect is reciprocal. In other words, if you want respect, you have to give respect. No matter what difference they may have, marriage mates should not allow such to drive a wedge between them, rather they should treat each other with dignity & respect. If a couple lack respect for each other, this usually becomes evident in their pattern of speech or tone of voice. If they do not address the undergoing problem, their marriage may be headed for tragedy.

Humility: Is the quickest route to resolve a difference with a mate because it moves you to say “I’m sorry”. And it’s been said severally that sometimes, the words “I am sorry” are more important than “I love you”. Saying sorry shows you are not a proud person,
because a proud person makes excuses. Rather than acknowledging a weakness, he points to faults in the other person. When hurt, instead of pursing peace, he takes offense perhaps retaliating with harsh words or cold silence, this can be lethal to marriage. It is much better to discuss matters right away with reconciliation as the goal.
Without a doubt everyone want their marriage to be truly happy and long lasting too, if so, they should have insight - being able to use proper discernment; cultivate true love - by thinking appreciatively about each other; treat your mate with respect, and finally develop humility - an endearing quality.

If you do these things it would make for good communication in your marriage thus strengthening the bond.

summarized by phill eze


original source http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2013364