Posted on May 27th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
The Pentecostal or Charismatic movement has as one of it central beliefs, that men and women speak in tongues today as they did in the New Testament. This “speaking in tongues” is a supposed manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the individual’s life. As some of my charismatic friends tell me, it is evidence (or proof) that the individual has been baptized with the Holy Spirit. It is a supposed gift of the Spirit. The conclusion is, then, that the one who “speaks in tongues” is a true Christian, and all others are suspect!
Does the Bible really teach this? Let’s take a thorough look at this subject to see what the Bible actually teaches on the subject of speaking in tongues.
(For the purposes of this article, when it is given as - speaking in tongues -, I am referring to the Biblical meaning; and - “speaking in tongues” -I am referring to the Pentecostal/Charismatic meaning.)
I think that it is unfortunate that when the Bible was originally translated into English that the Greek word which really means “languages” was translated “tongues.” However, we who live today have enough information available to us to determine the difference. No serious Bible scholar would deny that this word really means languages. The apostles were given the ability to speak in unknown (unknown to them) languages. This ability was given to them for specific purposes. Let’s examine the purposes for the apostles to be able to speak in tongues.
God gave the apostles the ability to speak in tongues for the following purposes:
Signs - as credentials from God, “A man approved of God.”
Wonders - the effect on the witnesses, “They were amazed.”
Powerful miracles - the energy manifested, “He healed them.”
Gifts of the Spirit - The source of the energy.
They established the authority of the sign worker. Speaking in tongues, as well as the other gifts - healing etc., were given so that the people being taught about Christ would know that the men spoke with authority. Think for a moment how much we today are caught up in the recognition of authority. When someone does something that we do not think they should be doing, our common reaction is, “Who gave you the authority to do that?” If someone was to come to your home today and start teaching you a different doctrine (or gospel), you may ask, “By what authority do you teach these things?” In other words, who sent you, and why should I listen to you? The same is true back in the New Testament days. People were naturally skeptical. There were many people professing to be the Christ at that time. God wanted the people to know, beyond a doubt, that these men spoke with authority - His authority! “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” (2 Corinthians 12:12)
It confirmed the Word of the Lord. Not only did these gifts prove that the apostles spoke with authority, but they confirmed that Jesus was speaking the truth. Because the apostles (with the exception of Paul) had been with Jesus during His earthly ministry, and were taught by Him, they (the apostles) taught others the truths that Jesus had taught to them. These truths then, were confirmed to be such by the miracles - including speaking in tongues - that the apostles performed. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Hebrews 2:3,4)
Thus we see that these signs, wonders, and miracles were for the expressed purpose of showing by what authority - the authority of God -the apostles spoke; and to confirm that the teachings of Christ - through the apostles - were truly the Word of God.
The authority of the apostles being established, and the Word of God being confirmed, the New Testament writers have given us a written record of these events and teachings. This written record has been preserved by God and passed down from generation to generation so that we may have it today. Therefore, is it necessary for God to confirm again the authenticity of His word? Is it impossible for us who are living today to accept by faith that the Bible is the Word of God? Is anyone who “speaks in tongues” today denying that the Bible is the Word of God? If not, then why must they feel compelled to confirm it again to us?
Let’s look at the sign of tongues specifically to see how it confirmed the Word of God.
“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:20) This passage is the last verse of the book of Mark, and is really a summation of what the apostles did after Jesus ascended into heaven. It plainly - and truthfully - states that the signs performed by the apostles confirmed the Word of God.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4) “And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.” (Acts 2:6) “And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born.” (Acts 2:8) “… we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful words of God.” (Acts 2:11) (To save space we have selected just these passages. Please read Acts 2:1-13) This ability - to speak in languages unknown to the speaker - was fulfillment of the promise which was made in Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” In other words, in Acts 1:8 Jesus promised the apostles that they would receive power to witness of and for Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. This power is given to them in Acts 2 in the form of being able to speak in languages and dialects that they - the apostles - had never been trained or schooled in.
We see then that the speaking in tongues was functional - it had a purpose. It made it possible for the apostles to be able to speak the Word of God to the people assembled in Jerusalem from all over the world in their - the people’s - own language. The benefit was that all those assembled heard the word of God; “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” (Acts 2:41) Can those who “speak in tongues” today claim any such benefit?
“While Peter was still speaking these words,, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak in tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’” (Acts 10:44-47)
Those in the Charismatic movement claim that the above passage proves that “speaking in tongues” is for today. However, please note what is said in verse 45: “And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished…” In other words, “those of the circumcision who believed” (or Jewish Christians) were astonished that this event had happened. Why? Because it was only natural for the Jews to accept that Gentiles were not part of the Christian kingdom just as they had not been fully accepted by the Jews. This event made it very clear that God considered the Gentiles just as much eligible to be sons of God through Jesus Christ as the Jews were. This event prompted Peter to say, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Again, the speaking in tongues was functional - it had a purpose! Can those of the Charismatic movement today claim any such benefit for “speaking in tongues” today? No! Why? Because we today fully accept that the Gospel is for anyone who believes.
Briefly, there are two other events of speaking in tongues which we need to address. First in Acts 19:1-7 we see some disciples of John the Baptist speaking in tongues. Again, speaking in tongues had a specific purpose. It was necessary for these followers of John the Baptist to see that Jesus Christ was the one that John the Baptist spoke of. These twelve would then be able to witness to the other followers of John the Baptist that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In 1 Corinthians 12-14 we have a long treatise about the gifts of the Spirit, including speaking in tongues. This treatise was given for the purpose of confirming the apostleship of Paul so that the people would know that Paul spoke with authority. “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” (Acts 14:37)
Once again, we see in both of these cases that the ability to speak in tongues was given for specific purposes. In every case of speaking in tongues - as well as the other signs, gifts, etc. - that we find in the New Testament, the purpose was to confirm the Word of God, and/or to establish the authority of the apostle. Can those in the Charismatic movement today genuinely show that their “speaking in tongues” has the same purpose or benefits that the speaking in tongues of the New Testament had. If they can, then their “speaking in tongues” is genuine; if they cannot, then their “speaking in tongues” is not Scriptural and therefore subject to perversion.
I am sure that there are many people in the Charismatic movement who really believe that “speaking in tongues” is a sign from God. I do not doubt the sincerity of the vast majority of those people. (I do doubt the sincerity of many of their leaders because they are supposed to be Bible scholars, and as such should know better.) I do not write this article to offend them or belittle them. If they are truly trying to live a Christian life and do the will of God, then I love them as a brother or sister in Christ. However, I feel that they should be careful and examine the Scriptures to see what the Bible really teaches on this subject. If any church leader can be this incorrect in Bible teaching, then that same leader can be wrong on other subjects. If one is teaching incorrect doctrine as it relates to salvation, then that person is keeping people who follow their teaching from realizing salvation through Christ. The Bible does not give points for being sincere! One receives salvation through obedience to the Gospel, period!
Part 1 of this subject has dealt with the Scriptural aspects of why I don’t “speak in tongues.” In part 2, I will give some personal reasons - apart from the Scriptures - that I do not “speak in tongues.”
All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of The Home Bible Study Institute.
Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org
Permission to use is granted if attributed to author and his website.
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Posted on May 27th, 2008 — in The Healthy Way
That is why Susan had to pay for them out-of-pocket. Susan asked the hospital to pay for contraceptives, because it covered other prescription drugs and preventative care. When the hospital refused, she got in touch with the National Women’s Law Center, Washington, D.C. NWLC attorneys immediately informed the hospital administration that these actions were illegal under Federal and state laws against sex discrimination in employment. As a result Lenox Hill authorities gave up.
Apart from the Federal and state laws against sex discrimination in the workplace, 20 other states have introduced legislation forcing insurance companies to pay for prescription contraceptives if they do so with other prescription drugs. NWLC has issued the guide, “Contraceptive Equity Laws in Your State: Know Your Rights-Use Your Rights” to make it easier for women to use these insurance laws to get coverage for prescription contraceptives.
The guide provides a summary of the crucial clauses concerning the contraceptive equity laws, procedures for filing a complaint if your insurance company does not cover Birth control, contact information for state insurance departments, and complaint forms. “Access to contraception is a central part of women’s health care. It’s absolutely essential for women to know that there are new laws to help them get insurance coverage for prescription contraceptives-and that we are here to help them understand and exercise their rights,” claims Judith C. Applebaum, NWLC vice president and legal director.
Paul Douglas - PharmacyCenter.org
COPYRIGHT 2005
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Posted on May 27th, 2008 — in Hall Of Publishing
Why to write article? Article Directories are the best source
of publishing and generating traffic to your web-site. Several
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box. When these websites publishes your article, you
automatically get a link back to your site. 5. Write to
establish credibility: Through writing good and original, you
not only give your site exposure, but you also create a good
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it is good to write your own article, but before begin to write
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Writing article itself is the most significant part of the
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time on writing and editing the actual article than on the
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Posted on May 26th, 2008 — in Cash Advance Resources, Credit Strategies, Finance Resources
Be sure to use the minikrediet comparison tool at 10 minute minikrediet to compare rates. However, for lengthier journeys you are better to use a method of transport that specialises in long distances such as a train or plane, gsm minikrediet are certainly a short-term special. As with all dutch minikrediet it is best to take a complete search of the market before you apply for a payday loan for aount 437 euro so you can compare interest rates and make sure you are getting the best deal for your needs. The premise behind fast minikrediet is simple whatever you need 254 euro for, you can take out a loan (usually ranging from 344 euro but sometimes up to 1,000 depending on the provider) that is repayable on your next payday, whether it is 23 weeks away or less.
However, it is not necessary to use the loan for this purpose and effectively the cash can be used at your discretion as long as it is paid back with interest during the short loan term. For many it simply can’t arrive soon enough as we attempt to juggle bills and expenses, as well as trying to have a little fun in life. This is where a online minikrediet comes in, offering a suitable sum of money to help you get by. If you apply for an 10 minute minikrediet for 226 euro you will usually have to fill out an online form and attach copies of your documentation in an email, or by fax.
However, this does vary with some providers charging 35 interest and so on. A gsm minikrediet is a way to solve a short-term cash issue for amounts like 472 euro.
In the majority of instances for every 165 euro you borrow you have to pay back 176 euro, meaning 21 interest. Unexpected costs can hit even those who keep a tight grip on their finances if something goes wrong in the home, a family member needs support or you receive a larger than expected bill you might require cash to help you get by until your next wage slip.
You must however, be able to satisfy the 10 minute minikrediet provider that you will have enough cash available to cover the advance repayment they will look at how much you can afford to pay back on an individual basis between 70 euro. The charge you need to observe is how much you pay back on the amount you borrow - this is a fixed sum dependent on the individual provider. Almost all of us count down the days until payday? It’s easy to compare minikrediet with us and hopefully you’ll soon have the cash you need to get by without worrying how far away your next payday may be.
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Posted on May 25th, 2008 — in Music
Many musicians complain about the lack of gigs they have, but
when I ask them to look closely at the type of venue they are
searching, the repeated pattern seems to be clubs, stadiums,
concert halls and pubs. What I would like to share with you is
this… keep a look out and be totally aware of the possible gig
locations so that you’re not limiting yourself. How about
restaurants, parks, malls or my favourite, the local coffee
shops? Coffee shops are the next link in the chain of great
gigs. Depending on the venue, you can drop in several times and
build links with staff and get a feel for the type of customers
that come there. Make it your second residence!
Depending on the type of music, coffee shops represent the
perfect venue for musicians to meet with their perfect audience,
and if they are your right audience, what must your audiences be
doing if they’re not watching you? Drinking coffee 
Coffee shops are great places for people who want a break from
both work and home. It’s like the middle space, or the third
space. I personally like these places because it’s nice and
cosy, allowing you to build deeper relationships with the
crowds.
Something that works day in, day out is the power of repetition.
If people see your name several times, they remember it, and
create a link in their mind. By placing several posters in the
coffee shops where the same people go everytime between home and
work, it becomes something they cannot miss, and they will
definitely remember it. You can guarantee most of them will be
at your event.
So how do you get booked?
Pay attention to the peak and off-peak times at the coffee shop
as you can use this to your advantage really easily. If you play
in the morning when it’s peak time and attract many customers
for the shop, you’ll notice that the lunch area may be very low
in customers, so pitched correctly, you could ask the shop
management if you could play in the afternoon, and attract the
customers that way.
Don’t expect to be paid by the coffee shop management, but one
way to grow your audience is to collect mailing list signups.
This way you can inform them by post or e-mail where you are
performing next because there will definitely want to be a part
of your music.
The most important thing is that you have already built up great
relationships so that you can emphasise how you will bring more
people to their place.
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Posted on May 24th, 2008 — in Security Tips + More, Writing Content
Many people ask the question of whether cookies are harmful for their computers. The answer is generally no, but it is not nearly as straightforward as it sounds. While cookies are often stored in text files, only used to track information that is already provided to various websites, and are set to expire in short periods of time, they can be used for malicious purposes in certain instances. You will need to work with cookies - however, if you know when to delete them and when not to, you can still enjoy the conveniences they provide. Anti-spyware that is bundled or integrated will be the favored choice for an entrepreneur or SMB you won’t have several licenses to deal with and the software will update the whole rather than parts.
Cyber criminals are online waiting for you and will take advantage of you and your unawareness of them. Don’t be a victim. Find and use the information that you have as a resource to stop criminals from taking your security blanket away from you. Find the right malware now and if you are having issues doing this then I have some quick and easy listed information below for you to find what you need. Data loggers, key loggers are just a few programs which harvest info from your computer. Winclear is the only program created specially to auto remove such spywares. The person logged into your email account and retrieved the pin accessed your e-gold account and made an unauthorized spend from the account. That is why every computer owner needs winclear.
Protect With Winclear :How To Internet Exlorer History
If you really want close monitoring, you need to buy computer spy software that will offer you maximum protection and utmost data gathering capabilities. A computer monitoring program that has been featured and recommended by several news agencies across the country is PC Pandora. This spy software records keystrokes, chats, emails, screen content, programs used, and website revisited. Winclear is the only software which is capable of removing keylogger programs. Cookies are necessary to run an Internet browser. Winclear has been the industry leader in fighting keyloggers for the last 8 years.
Winclear:
Yes the seemingly endless onslaught of cyber crime continues this time via the innocent e-card - that which once was a nice surprise in the Inbox has become a gate to identity theft. That is the reason why you need Winclear installed onto your computer. Now no computer is safe any more as people got lulled into thinking that older computers were forgotten. Protect your computer security by using Winclear! More about Winclear here: Winclear.
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Posted on May 24th, 2008 — in Promoting Stuff
1. Negotiate
Have you noticed that some people seem to always get the best deals? Yeah, you pay full price and think you did OK until they show up with the same thing, only they paid several hundred dollars less. It really get your goat! How do they do it? They’re not afraid to ask for an extra discount.
Yep, don’t sell yourself short because you didn’t ASK the next time your advertising rep makes an appearance! Even if you’re already getting a discount, ask for a bigger one. You have not…because you ask not.
2. Trim
Bigger is always better…or is it? When it comes to advertising, don’t be surprised if some of your short ads meet with more success than larger more expensive ads. Trimming down on the size and cost of advertising doesn’t mean you’ll be trimming the results!
3. Exploit the Freebies
What’s the difference between advertising and publicity? …who’s doing the talking. Yeah, when you sell yourself, it’s advertising. When someone else is selling you, it’s publicity…and it generates credibility and interest that you don’t want to miss out on.
Think about the different ways you can get your business in the spotlight. Do you have some news… write a press release? Write some “how to” articles with a short byline at the end and release them to ezines, magazines, newspapers, and other publishers. Why not promote the product of a non-competitor in return for them promoting yours…think of the totally different market they affect!
Yep, there are a lot of ways out there to get free advertisement that will benefit your business. Of course you won’t be able to rely solely on the freebies, but hey, you can get a little extra for nothing!
4. Improve Your Offer
Is your deal too good to pass up? If not, you need to improve it. Hey, I’m not talking about cutting prices even more…you’ve still got to make a profit. You can make the deal sweeter just by increasing the readers knowledge of the value of the product, or adding bonuses that are perceived as valuable, but cost you little.
Motivate buyers with expirations. Yeah, an open ended offer encourages procrastination…which leads …yep, nowhere. When the customer knows he has until Saturday to purchase an item he’ll pay more for on Sunday, he’ll make it a priority to head for your shop.
Advertising doesn’t have to wipe out your bank account to be effective. When you learn to negotiate, know when smaller ads are as effective as large ads, ask for discounts, and create an irresistible offer, you’re on your way to skyrocketing profit margins!
Allyn has spent over 24 years helping businesses like yours find new customers and increase sales to current customers. Allyn is a marketing and sales fanatic, providing measurable marketing solutions that drive huge results for small-to mid-size business clients. Allyn is the owner of AllynCutts.com and works personally with clients to design and deliver off-line and on-line direct marketing strategies that focus on measurable results.
Submitted with Article Distributor.
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Posted on May 24th, 2008 — in Top Entertainment
Mp3 players are everywhere you look now, and it seems like
everyone’s got one. People on tv, in movies, at school, on the
bus, or even walking or running down the street. And the
selections are endless. But with so many options it’s almost
impossible to find the right mp3 player to suit your needs,
especially if you don’t know what you’re needs are!
Do you know what kind of mp3 player you want?
This is where choosing the best mp3 player starts. You have to
know what you’ll be using this mp3 player for. Do you want to
workout with it at the gym? Use it for running laps? Do you want
to be able to put your whole music collection on it? Maybe you
want to use it to hook up to your stereo and play all your
music. Do you need something for your work commute? Is something
that can display pictures or play video files important? Do you
want one of the best mp3 players on the market? Or is price a
factor in your purchase?
As you can see, there are a lot of factors that weigh into your
decision to purchase an mp3 player. I’ll try to go over some of
the basic ones here.
Flash vs. Hard Drive
Most mp3 players can be split into two categories. Flash mp3
players or hard drive mp3 players. Flash mp3 players tend to be
smaller, lighter, and cheaper. They also store less music, but
make up for it by being able to handle more activity. Running,
biking over rough terrain…and things of that sort. Flash mp3
players are most useful while working out or when buying an mp3
player on a budget. Flash mp3 players are also upgradeable. You
can swap out the memory card for a larger one to store more
music. Hard drive mp3 players are mostly known as “jukeboxes”.
Hard drive mp3 players are good for storing large music
collections or as backup drives to store larger files(or with
recent technological advancements…displaying pictures or
playing videos). Hard drive players are great for taking away on
extended trips or vacations. But hard drive mp3 players are
pricey, and the more features they have, the more expensive they
are.
Features
Mp3 players have a variety of different features. From
sound/audio options, to various play options. Things like
battery life and included accessories may be important to you.
All mp3 players will also have different included software for
downloading and managing music files, with some software
packages being better than others. Some mp3 players will even
allow you to rip CDs directly from an audio player to your mp3
player, no computer required. Players will also have different
navigation types. Some using buttons, others using touch pads or
click wheels. Some mp3 players come standard with an FM tuner,
as well as digital voice and FM recording. Then there are
players made specifically for sports use that come with lap
timers and stopwatches and things of that nature. If any
particular feature is important to you, make sure the mp3 player
you want has it(or can at least be bought as an accessory for
it).
Price
If you’re looking to purchase an mp3 player for under $100 or
so, flash mp3 players are going to be your best bet. Very few
hard drive or larger file capacity mp3 players are available at
that kind of price. But there is good news. With competition the
way it is in the mp3 player market, older model mp3 players are
always being made available at huge discounted prices, allowing
you to save anywhere from $20 to $70 on some of the best mp3
players out there.
Brands
There are a lot of competing companies out there making mp3
players. Weeding out the top quality ones from the lesser ones
isn’t always easy. Some of my favorites are Apple, Creative
labs, Sandisk, Rio, iRiver and Archos. There are others, such as
Nike or iAudio, but these are the main contenders. The Apple
iPod is by far the most popular, most pervasive, coolest, and
most expensive mp3 player brand out there. Whether the price of
the iPod is worth it, is your choice. Just make sure you get a
good sense of what other mp3 player brands are out there, and what
each of them are like.
Conclusion
Finding the right mp3 player can be difficult sometimes. Knowing
the answers to many of the questions asked in this article will
make that search, and subsequent decision, easier for you. But
don’t despair if this intro to mp3 players wasn’t enough for
you. There are sites out there dedicated to helping you choose the right mp3 player. Happy hunting!
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Posted on May 23rd, 2008 — in Mathematics Hall
Let’s say you’re the type of person who’s constantly in debt, and what’s worse, you find it difficult to repay those debts. Or perhaps you’ve declared personal bankruptcy once too often. Or maybe you’ve been a victim of credit card fraud and found that your credit report has been adversely affected because of this. You’re at your wit’s end and are uncertain about what you should do. Can a credit repair company fix all these problems?
Sadly, the answer seems to be a big and resounding no. The majority of financial experts all seem to agree that one would be better off doing the legwork in attempting to repair his or her credit rather than paying a third party to do the fixing for him or her. Despite what most of them claim, a credit repair company can’t just wave a wand and make all your credit problems disappear like magic. If, however, there are inaccurate statements in your credit report, a credit repair company can help you. For a fee, representatives of the company will contact your creditors on your behalf to get errors in your credit report fixed. But then, this is something you can always do by easily yourself, so it isn’t advisable to spend money that you could use to repay part of the debts you have.
What you should be wary of are credit repair companies that promise to remove any and all blemishes in your credit report; even if these blemishes are verifiable, accurate, and not obsolete. If you really do have bad credit, not even the most popular credit repair companies can do anything about it. If any such company promises to fix your credit no matter how bad it may be and especially if the information in your credit report is correct, stay away from them. Most likely, they will use unsavory or downright illegal methods to accomplish this and your personal credit will be ruined.
One tactic they use is this: they will contact your creditors or credit bureaus and claim that the data in your credit report is inaccurate. Your creditors will naturally investigate these claims and while they are doing so, they will remove the “bad” information from your credit report. Meanwhile, you mistakenly believe that all bad credit information is removed from your report and are happy with the way things are going. True, if credit reporting agencies cannot verify the truth of an entry within 60 days, the offending data may be deleted from your report. But after your creditors finish their investigation and find the information to be accurate after all, the unfavorable data will be returned to your credit report - leaving you in the same boat you were in before, or even worse.
Take for instance two such companies: ICR Services Inc. and National Credit Education and Review. They were charged with fraud by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2003 for promising the impossible to consumers; they falsely claimed that they had a computer disk that could free a person’s credit report from notations of late payments, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and the like. Of course, such a disk did not even exist. These two companies did not admit to any guilt, but settled their case for $1.15 million.
So if a person needs to fix his or her credit status and wants to avail of the services of credit repair companies, what should he or she do? Well, you surely wouldn’t be helping the state of your personal credit any if you just go by the seat of your pants and hire the first credit repair firm you find on the Internet. First, you should make sure of your rights as a consumer under the Credit Repair Organizations Act by reading the booklet “Consumer Credit File Rights under State and Federal Law.” Find a reputable credit repair organization by contacting the Better Business Bureau and make sure that the organization you’re planning to hire clearly sets out in print the services they will be providing, the length of time it will take to accomplish what you’re hiring them to do, and a justification of the fees they’ll be charging.
Using a credit repair company to improve your credit rating is not your best bet; it’s not even a good bet at all, according to the experts. Remember that erase information in your credit report if that information is true and not out-of-date. Hiring one for that purpose would just be a waste of money.
Credit-reparation.com provides you with information on credit related issues like credit repair company, annual credit report, credit scores and free credit report info. Take a look at http://www.credit-reparation.com.
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Posted on May 23rd, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
The sun-baked Costa Blanca is a 170 mile stretch of white sandy blue flagged beaches, bright blue skies, the sparkling Mediterranean on Spain’s east coast, centred on Alicante and running from Denia in the north to Mazarrn in the south. It’s a wonderful place for a holiday.
There’s plenty to do throughout the Costa Blanca
If a fantastic Mediterranean environment was all the Costa Blanca had to offer, it would be enough for most people. But in fact there’s plenty more to attract you. For a start, the high-rise town of Benidorm has its own attractions if you are seeking entertainment on a large scale, but it isn’t typical of the Costa Blanca.
Up and down the coast there’s a huge variety of water sports on offer, from dinghy sailing to kite-surfing. If that’s not enough to keep the family amused, there are plenty of other choices, from go-karting, quad bikes, golf, mountain climbing to the massive and thrilling Terra Mitica water theme park.
Fantastic walking - and fascinating villages to explore by car
If your tastes incline more towards the countryside, you will soon discover the other side to the Costa Blanca. Those limestone hills and cliffs pretty soon turn into mountains as you head inland. They provide fantastic walking country, with well-marked paths. One example is a circular route in and literally through the Siena de Bernia, because part of the path is a narrow, low natural tunnel pierced through the actual mountain ridge.
Even if you don’t want to go walking, it’s well worthwhile exploring inland by car. Some of the villages are well known the unique Guadalest with its cliff hanging buildings, as well as Castel de Casrels. On an inland drive, you’re guaranteed amazing views and beautiful countryside. And one nice aspect of this part of Spain is that you’re never far from a restaurant, often offering a memorable lunch on a shady terrace with stunning views.
Try the ‘Lemon Train’
Not that you necessarily need a car to enjoy the Costa Blanca. There’s a charming narrow gauge Railway called the ‘Lemon Train’ that sways and rattles all the way from Alicante to Denia, with stations at all the main towns, simply a must to experience.
It’s worthwhile as an experience in itself because it gives a quite different view of the countryside, away from the main roads, and can be quite exciting as it plunges through tunnels and over bridges. But it’s also worth taking the train into Alicante for a city awayday it’s an impressive, vibrant city with an attractive waterfront and great shopping and restaurants.
Choose a charming town with its own character
Which Costa Blanca town should you choose for your holiday - Javea, Moraira, Denia, Calpe or Altea? They all have their individual charms.
Javea is split between the old town and the newer Arinal beaches. The town spreads up the slopes of Montgo, the mountain that dominates the view inland. Javea is a very pleasant town with nice beaches, good restaurants and an historic old centre and port.
Moraira is smaller and doesn’t have so much of an old centre, having grown from a small fishing village. The growth has been very well controlled, with no high rise building. Moraira is very friendly and stylish, with a feeling of exclusivity to it. The small El Portet beach - perfect for young children or watching the sun go down- is backed by a small fringe of restaurants which are great for lunch. Spectacular scenery abounds and a most wonderful meal can be had at the Belgian-owned Dolphin Restaurant in the rocks.
Denia is another town with a castle, great beach and an attractive tree-lined centre. It has a large marina, a port for embarking to some of the Balearic Islands and a super fish market on the front, where opposite there are very good quality inexpensive family restaurants, including pizza and pasta. Inland lie small towns like Orba and Pedreguer, as well as the Jaln Valley, where the almond blossom is quite stunning in February and March. Restaurants with inexpensive, yet good quality food abound in these very peaceful inland areas, so it’s well worth a trip to explore.
Calpe is an interestingly different town. It has two huge and several smaller beaches and long traffic-free promenades that wind behind them. Walk far enough along the town beach promenade and you reach the thriving fishing harbour. The Peon de Ifach (huge rock) is a bird sanctuary that soars 1,000 feet vertically from the sea is a must to walk around. Also towering over Calpe, but dwarfed by the Peon, are high-rise apartment blocks. They’re not to everyone’s taste, but many provide superb views and are closer to the sea than any villa. Anyway, to compensate, there’s a painstakingly restored old town.
Altea is a charming town with a particularly fine hilltop old centre with a large central blue tiled roof church of some distinction and can be seen from a great distance. Small select good restaurants run along the promenade and up into the old town. This town - like the others - has a weekly market, which is well frequented.
And, no matter which town you choose, they are all easily reachable in a very short time.
Try a villa holiday in the unspoilt Costa Blanca
Despite the non-stop building of the last 30 years or so, the Costa Blanca doesn’t, for the most part, feel over-developed or spoilt. Each of the towns and country areas has its own character and its own fans. If you don’t know the Costa Blanca, get out there now, hire a villa and car and prepare to explore and enjoy yourself. Sports, entertainment, heritage, food or just relaxation - it’s all here on the Costa Blanca.
Bruce Gibson is owner of Villaspain - http://www.villaspain.co.uk a long established, though modern, friendly local Spanish villa rental agency. The company fully manages villa rentals on behalf of private villa owners along the Costa Blanca, covering the areas of Altea, Calpe, Moraira, Javea and Denia.
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