How to Learn Multiplication Timestables in 21 Days

How to Learn Multiplication Timestables in 21 Days Lets face it, when you dont know your times tables, it slows down your progress in math. Some things you just have to know and committing the times tables to memory is one of them. Today, were in an information age, information is doubling faster than it ever used to and our math teachers no longer have the luxury of assisting us to learn the times tables. In case you havent noticed, the math curriculum is much larger than it ever was. Students and parents are now left with the task of helping to commit the times tables to memory. So lets get started: Step 1 First of all, you will need to be able to skip count or count by a certain number. For instance 2,4,6,8,10 or 5, 10, 15, 20, 25. Now you will need to use your fingers and  skip counting. Remember back in grade 1 when you used to use your fingers to count to 10? Now youll need them to skip-count. For example, use your fingers to count by 10. First finger or thumb is 10, second is 20, third is 30. Therefore 1 x 10 10, 2 x 10 20 and so on and so forth. Why use your fingers? Because its an effective strategy. Any strategy that improves speed with your tables is worth using! Step 2 How many skip counting patterns do you know? Probably the 2s, 5s and 10s. Practice tapping these out on your fingers. Step 3 Now youre ready for the doubles. Once you learn the doubles, you have the counting up strategy. For instance, if you know that 7 x 7 49, then youll count up 7 more to quickly determine that 7 x 8 56. Once again, effective strategies are almost as good as memorizing your facts. Remember, you already know the 2s, 5s and 10s. Now you need to concentrate on 3x3, 4x4, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8 and 9x9. Thats only committing 6 facts to memory! Youre three-quarters of the way there. If you memorize those doubles, youll have an effective strategy to quickly obtain most of the remaining facts! Step 4 Not counting the doubles, you have the 3s, 4s, 6s, 7s and 8s. Once you know what 6x7 is, youll also know what 7x6 is. For the remaining facts (and there arent many) you will want to learn by skip-counting, in fact, use a familiar tune while skip counting! Remember to tap your fingers (just as you did when  counting) each time you skip count, this enables you to know which fact youre on. When skip counting by 4s and when youve tapped on the fourth finger, youll know that its the 4x416 fact. Think of Mary Had A Little Lamb in your mind. Now apply 4,8, 12, 16, (Mary had a....)and continue on! Once youve learned to skip-count by 4s as easily as you can by 2s, youre ready for the next fact family. Dont worry if you forget the odd one, you will be able to fall back on your doubling strategy and counting up. Remember, being able to do math well means having great strategies. The above strategies will help you learn the times tables. However, you will need to commit daily time to these strategies to learn your tables in 21 days. Try some of the following: Each day when you wake up, skip count the fact family youre working on.Each time you walk through a doorway, skip count again (silently)Each time you use the washroom, skip count!Each time the phone rings, skip count!During every commercial when youre watching TV, skip count! When you go to bed each night, skip count for 5 minutes.If you stick it out, youll have your tables memorized in 21 days!Here are a few multiplication tricks to help you. Try these worksheets which are developed to correspond to the correct way of learning your multiplication tables.

Private SAT Testing Sites and Testing Closer to Home

Private SAT Testing Sites and Testing Closer to Home SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you trying to register for the SAT but can't find any testing centers close to where you live? What should you do? College Board, the corporation that develops and administers the SAT, offers a way for students to take the SAT at a location closer to them, called â€Å"testing closer to home.†Read on to learn more about this special accommodation, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to apply for it. What Is Private SAT Testing and Testing Closer to Home? Testing closer to home is a special accommodation offered by the College Board for students taking the SAT or SAT subject tests.It’s available for students who do not live close to an official SAT testing center. This accommodation is oftenused by international students because SAT testing centers are not as numerous in countries outside the US. However, American students living in rural areas or those living in a region affected by a natural disaster may not have an SAT testing center nearby and may also need to request testing closer to home. In order to request testing closer to home, yousubmit a request to the College Board, and if it is approved, the College Board will attempt to open a testing center closer to where you live.Your new testing center will be assigned to you; you do not get to choose where you’d like to take the SAT. This testing center will still have a proctor and follow the rules of regular SAT testing. If you need and are eligible for other special accommodations, such as extended time to complete the exam, you will have to visit the College Board’s Service for Students with Disabilities site to separatelyrequest additional accommodations. Your test will still be taken on one of the official SAT test days; testing closer to home does not allow you to change the date of your exam.The College Board will attempt to have multiple students take the test together, but there is a possibility that will you take the SAT alone, with just a proctor. Who Is Eligible for Testing Closer to Home? Students who live more than 75 miles (120 kilometers) from the nearest testing center are eligible to request that College Board try to open a new testing site near them. This accommodation is also available for test takers outside the US, however; it is not available in India or Pakistan. For students taking the test outside of the US, testing closer to home is only available for test dates from November to March (not the October or June test dates).Testing closer to home is not available for students registering late, either in the US or abroad. If there aren't any test centers near you, you may need to apply for testing closer to home How Do You Apply for Testing Closer to Home? If you meet the eligibility requirements and are interested in applying for testing closer to home, the first step is to fill out the paper registration form for the SAT. When you need to enter the code for your testing center on the registration form, fill in 02000 for the first choice, and leave the second choice blank.You also must attach a letter describing your situation and why you are requesting a closer testing center. This letter doesn’t need to be lengthy, just state where you are, where your closest testing center is, how far it is from you, and why it would be difficult or impossible for you to travel there to take the SAT. Then state that you’d like to be able to take the test at a location closer to where you live. Next,mail in the registration form and the letter to the mailing address listed on the registration form instructions.These documents must be mailed early!If you are taking the test in the US, the letter must be mailed by the postmark deadline date for regular registration, which occurs about a month before the test date. If you are taking the test in an international location, then the letter must be mailed early enough so that it will be received by the early registration deadline date.The early registration deadline is about five weeks before the test date, so you will want to mail your letter about two months before your desired SAT test date. Within several weeks, the College Board will notify you of whether or not your request has been approved.If approved, you will be mailed an Admission Ticket showing your test center assignment several weeks before you take the SAT. What Are the Benefits of Testing Closer to Home? Why would a student want to apply for testing closer to home? There are several benefits: Closer Testing Center This is obviously the biggest advantage. Applying to take the SAT closer to where you live can make it much easier to take the test or even make it possible for students who wouldn’t normally be able to get to a testing center because of the distance. Your Availabilityto Take the SAT may Increase If your closest regular testing center is far away, there may only be a certain testing date when you can travel there. This date may not coordinate well with your schedule, it may be too early for you to have done enough studying, or it may be too late to send the scores to some colleges.Having a testing center closer to you may give you more options for when to take the SAT. Keep in mind though that, even with testing closer to home, you will still only be able to take the SAT on official testing daysand that, for international students, this accommodation is only available from November to March. Can Reduce Anxiety Having a testing center closer to where you live can also reduce some of the stress and anxiety surrounding the SAT. You will likely be more familiar with the area where you will be taking the test and can worry less about traveling. Knowing where your test center is can help you be more confident for the SAT. Image Source: clipartzebraz What Are Potential Downsides to Testing Closer to Home? You Must Apply Early You will need to know when you’d like to take the SAT at least 1-2 months before the testing date in order to submit your request on time. Therefore, testing closer to home isn’t a good option for students trying to take the SAT on short notice. More Paperwork In order to apply for testing closer to home, you must submit the paper registrationform through the mail; you cannot submit the form online. You must also write a letter to the College Board explaining why you need a testing center closer to where you live. Applying for testing closer to home will take more time than registering for the SAT at an already designated testing center because filling out a paper version of the registration form often takes more time than filling it out online, and you must also write a letter explaining your situation and why you qualify for testing closer to home. Delayed Response Most of the time, when you register for the SAT, you will know pretty much immediately if you will be able to take the test on a certain date and where you will be taking it.When you apply for testing closer to home, you will have to wait several weeks to hear back from the College Board to learn if they accepted your request and, if so, where your testing center will be. This delay can be stressful, and it can also make planning other parts of your schedule difficult until you receive confirmation from the College Board. May Not Make Traveling to the Test Center Easier If they approve your request, the College Board will choose where your new testing center will be. This location will be closer to you, but that does not automatically mean it will be easier to get to. Even if it’s closer, your new testing center may be in an area without public transportation, suffer from bad traffic, or have other transportation difficulties.Closer does not automatically mean easier to get to! So, Should You Apply for Testing Closer to Home? As you now know, there are both positive and negative benefits to applying for the College Board’s testing closer to home accommodation. So how do you know if it’s right for you? Ask yourself the following questions to help you decide: Do You Meet the Eligibility Requirements? The first step in determining whether you should apply for testing closer to home is to make sure you are eligible.Is your closest testing center more than 75 miles/120 kilometers from where you live? Are you living in a country other than India or Pakistan? If taking the test internationally, are you applying for a test date between November and March? If you meet all these requirements, read on to help make your decision. Do You Have Enough Time to Apply? If taking the test in the United States, you will need to apply at least a month before the date you’d like to take the SAT.If taking the test abroad, you will need to apply at least two months in advance. Before you start applying for testing closer to home, make sure your request will arrive by the deadline. Do you have enough time to request testing closer to home? How Difficult Will It Be to Get to YourCurrent Test Center? This is the most important consideration.The testing closer to home accommodation requires additional time and effort to apply, and you want to make sure this extra work is worth it.Find where you closest current testing center would beand ask yourself: How far is this testing center from me? Do I know how to get there or know someone who does? Would I be able to get there on test day? How? Is carpooling an option? (Maybe you have a friend taking the SAT who can drive you) If you’re not sure how difficult it would be for you to get to the current closest test center, you can have a practice run where you pick a day to travel there and see how difficult and time-consuming it would be. How Do You Feel About Taking the Test With Fewer Students? There is no guarantee as to how many people you will take the SAT with if you apply for and are approved for testing closer to home. However, it will likely be fewer than if you were taking the test at a standard testing center, and there is also a chance that you will be the only test taker in the room. Some people think this is a benefit because they find the noises others make, like rustling papers or scuffing their feet, distracting.Others may feel uncomfortable or pressured if they are the only person in the room with a proctor for several hours.Consider how you would feel about this before applying. Final Decision If after analyzing your current options you feel that you either cannot travel to the closest testing center or getting there would require a lot of extra time, effort, or stress, and you meet the eligibility requirements, then you should apply for testing closer to home Summary Testing closer to home is a special accommodation offered by the College Board for SAT test takers who do not live close to an already established test center. It is available for people who live more than 75 miles/120 kilometers from a test center. Both domestic and international test takers can apply, but it is not available in India or Pakistan. You should apply for this accommodation if traveling to the current closest testing center is impossible or would require a great deal of time and effort. For more information and to apply, go to the College Board’s website on testing closer to home What's Next? Do you have other questions about registering for the SAT? Read our complete guide to SAT registration, with pictures. Make sure you know what to expect on test day, including how long the SAT takes and rules you must follow. Wondering about other SAT accommodations? Find all the information you need to know about them in our guide! Studying for the SAT? Check out our ultimate guide to SAT prep for all the information you need to get a great SAT score. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Financial analysis of Autonomy Corporation Essay

Financial analysis of Autonomy Corporation - Essay Example The present study would focus on the Autonomy Corporation is a global enterprise that has dual corporate headquarters in Cambridge, United Kingdom and San Francisco, USA. The company has a presence in four continents: North America, South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The firm has more than 400 major clients including Oracle, IBM, HP, and Novell which are users and supporters of the firm’s technological products. This paper will analyze the financial standing of the company based on the use of financial and ratio analysis. In fiscal year 2010 Autonomy Corporation generated $870.36 million in sales (Morningstar, 2010). The sales total of the company increased by 17.66% in comparison with the previous fiscal year. The average selling price of the company was $790,000 which is a stable metric in this industry. The firm achieved a net profit of $296.21 million in 2010. The profitability of the company in 2010 is outstanding due to the fact the net margin of the company was 34 %. The net margin of the company was very impressive considering the fact that the industry net margin in the software industry is a very low 1.7%. The net margin is a financial ratio that measures the absolute profitability of the business. The net margin of Autonomy Corporation in 2010 was 32.3% higher than the industry average. The gross margin of the company was an outstanding 87%. The gross margin is a broad measure of profitability. The stockholders of the company benefited from the great earnings of the company. The earnings per share of the firm in 2010 was $1.11. Earnings per share tend to have an effect on the market price per share, as reflected in the price earnings ratio (Garrison & Noreen, 2011). The common stocks of Autonomy Corporation are traded in the London Stock Exchange. The firm’s website claims that the stock symbol of the firm is AU.L. Upon further research at various financial websites it appears that Autonomy Corporation’s stock are being trad ed in the London Stock Exchange under the symbol 5053.L; the current stock price of Autonomy Corporation is $2,549 per share (Yahoo, 2011). The revenue per employee of the company in 2010 was $463,000 which is 5% better than in 2009. During 2010 one of the highest expense accounts of the company was its research and development expense. The company spent $114.75 million in R&D. During the last five years the company has more than double its R&D expenses. This is a good sign because investing in research and development allows companies to develop new products and technologies. Patents are born out of the efforts of the R&D team. Two additional financial ratios are the return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Return on assets measures how well assets have been employed by management, while return on equity when compared to return on assets measures the extent to which financial leverage is working for or against common stockholders (Garrison, et. al, 2003). The return on as sets of Autonomy Corporation in 2010 was 9.02%. The ROA of the company is better than the industry average of 6.9% (Dun & Bradstreet, 2011). The return on equity of Autonomy Corporation in 2010 was 14.33%. The ROE of the firm is 6.17% below the norm in the software industry. The current ratio measures a company’s ability to pay off its short term debt. The current ratio

The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq Personal Statement

The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq - Personal Statement Example Each of the wars had a level of analysis. These levels were individual state, and system. The levels of war analysis form a hierarchy. The responsibilities of the hierarchy rely on the scale and nature of the operation. The individual level of analysis in war includes a basic idea of how human traits cause many of the social outcomes in historical instances, including war and peace. There are variations of this idea as listed in a paper written by Wade L. Huntley, Ph.D. titled Causes of War and Paths to Peace written in May of 2004. Those variations include: basic human nature, varying features of human nature and both perception and misperception. His considerations behind this would include that in factoring basic human nature, people are basically aggressive, loving, greedy and fearful and so forth. People would be of all sorts of types, some aggressive, others peaceful, greedy or generous. Perception and misperception can result as bad decisions are made, especially in times of stress, which continually exemplifies the limits of human understanding of more than just human nature. Now, the question is, why does this series of considerations explain how war can manage coming about' According to t he text written by Wade L. Huntley, Ph.D. ... Wars or conflicts that would figure into this particular style of analysis would include, the Kurds, Bosnia, and Afghanistan in the grand scheme of war analysis because it would be individual conflicts of interest and security involved. The state level of war analysis includes a basic idea that the key factor is not necessarily based on human factors, but governmental ones in organization and such. The constraints that are created as a result of the basic infrastructure of the country can become a root cause of war. There are two variations to this idea. One is the state's nature; because each state wants certain things just because they would happen to be states and things like security and unity or nationalism would be inclusive within that. Also, included within this perspective is, like individuals, every state would be different. There would be differences that include purposeful, ideological and structural differences to consider. Much like the man vs. man consideration, this would be, in order revolutionary vs. status quo, capitalism vs. communism and democracy vs. totalitarianism. So, how can we understand such things, well we examine one of the wars on a state level. This would be, in essence, the Vietnam C onflict in which half the country believed strongly in democratic process and the other half would believe strongly in the communist construct. The same could be said for the Korean War. Understanding the underlying reasons would hardly gain knowledge as to how the individual level of war interpretations would inevitably cause war. Nor, would this actually explain the impetus of war in the fact that uncertainty of the human condition exists. In the State level of war, you have states that control the military, so

Double displacement reactions Essay Example for Free

Double displacement reactions Essay To gain a better understanding of the typical reaction of the addition of two binary compounds, and how the reaction of those two compounds can be predicted. III. Variables: ==Dependent Variable: Reagents given, hence the solutions we make from these reagents, and the standard solubility rules. ==Controlled Variables: The two reagents which we will react together at each trial. ==Independent Variable: Whether the reagents will create a precipitate or not, which depends on the reagents combined. IV. Hypothesis: If the compound is containing mettle and is added to a compound that is also containing mettle. The two mettles will change places and then something in the equation will precipitate out of the solution. The majority of the elements will not precipitate and none will have a whole solution of precipitant. All will have some form of ion solution that we are left over from the chemical reaction. V. Materials: o Compounds. Stirring rod VI. Procedure: 1. Prepare 1 molar solutions of given reagents: i. Calculate amounts to combine of given reagents. Complete the following for all 16 reagents: 1. As you need 5 ml of solution, begin with this amount 2. Multiply by the molar amount which you wish to use for the reactions. 3. Multiply by the molecular mass of the given compound. 4. This will give you the amount, in grams, of the molecule for which you are calculating. ii. Create 1 molar reagents. Complete the following for each reagent: 1. Mark 16 10 ml flasks with masking tape showing the content, showing each of the 16 reagents one for each flask. 2. Measure out the amount, which you calculated in the Part a, of the reagent. 3. Place this mass of the reagent into the flask which is marked with the reagent. 4. Measure out 5 ml of distilled water in the 10 ml graduated cylinder, and place this water in the flask with the reagent. 5. Stir the reagent so as to combine it completely. 2. Combine given reagents. i. Grid a transparency so that each reagent has a chance to react with every other reagent. Also make a data chart to write in the data which you will collect. ii. Complete the following for each solution: iii. Take one to two drops of the solution and place it in all the boxes which are marked on your grid transparency. iv. After all solutions have been combined, write in your data chart whether a precipitant has formed, and if so, describe the precipitant; describe the composition of the solution. 3. Evaluate results: i. Write the balanced equations for each of the reactions which occurred in this experiment. ii. Use solubility rules to determine if a precipitant has formed in each reaction. Conclusion and Evaluation: My hypothesis, If the compound is containing mettle and is added to a compound that is also containing mettle. The two mettles will change places and then something in the equation will precipitate out of the solution. The majority of the elements will not precipitate and none will have a whole solution of precipitant. All will have some form of ion solution that we are left over from the chemical reaction. Was correct. The statement that I made was correct but at the time of the hypothesis I could not comprehend the complexity and the knowledge that would come out of a few simple and harmless experiments, such as this. Thus looking back I feel that I could have written a more complex and informative hypothesis. When asked to classify the outcomes and pieces of the experiment as qualitative or quantitative I came up with this. The qualitative aspects of this lab have a wide range. The first would be the colors themselves. With each different in its own way it is possible to distinguish certain chemical reaction from other chemical reactions. The qualitative data for this lab would include the chemical formulas. It would also include the mathematical calculations of precipitants. There was also the mathematical calculation that was required to determine the correct ratio that needed to be combined to create the solutions. This math needed to be conducted with great precision and accuracy. One way in which this experiment could be improved would be to limit the sources of error that were present throughout the experiment. The first would be to use greater quantities of the solutions so the reaction could be better observed. Threw the use of a larger quantity of solution I could have mixed the elements in a flask thus producing a more observable and a more accurate observation. This type of experiment continuity is vital in order to derive any factual conclusions about the chemical bonding of different elements. Next time around some interesting paths to take from this experiment would be to expand the chemical testing to more elements such as some more exotic compounds. It would also be interesting to observe the nature of some things like pesticides such as acephate (C4H10NO3PS) and also the nature of the very versatile and commonly used element Hg. The experiment was quite informative of the chemical nature of simple elements and how it works. It also brought about a realization of how much work and chemistry really goes into the everyday chemical reactions.

Adolescent Computer Use :: Technology Internet Papers

Adolescent Computer Use The rising numbers of computers and the internet in American households over the past two decades have had many profound impacts for individuals and families. In 1997, the U.S. Department of Commerce estimated that half of Americans used computers, and about a third used the internet. By 2001, two thirds of Americans were using computers, and 54% were using the internet. For 9-17 year olds, internet use has doubled from 1997 to 2001 (from one third of Americans to two thirds) (NCES, 2004). These trends have significantly impacted interpersonal communication, as computer based forms of communication have become either dominant or complimentary for most adults and teens. While these computer advancements have had a positive impact for many American teens and adults, there are some growing concerns about increased computer activity becoming an integral part of individual’s lives. The Pew Research Center reported in 2004 that roughly 55% of parents think that the internet is a good thing for their kids to become acquainted with, and that it is essential for their kids’ world skills. However, 67% of those parents also expressed concern that the internet is keeping their children from important things, like schoolwork and reading, family time, etc. The statistics represent the growing paradox concerning child and adolescent increased computer use. So while the internet and skills associated with it are becoming increasingly important for young adults academically, many are speculating that the cost concerns the displacement of other valuable experiences characteristic of youth (Jeffery et. al, 2003). These concerns rest largely with possible associated decreases in physical activity/exercise and effects (still being investigated) involving social development (Levin, 2004). There is already a sizable literature concerning adolescents and younger children watching significantly more TV and health related effects of these trends. Children in the US, on average, watch 3-4 hours a day – where increased TV watching a playing video games is also associated with a lower quality diet (Levin, 2004). Subrahmanyam et al (2000) surmise that the overall increase in â€Å"screen time† (including TV, computer use, and video games) may be linked to obesity and loneliness – but they also suggest that further research is necessary to examine these relationships.

Master of Business Administration Essay

International business is a term used to collectively describe topics relating to the operations of firms with interests in several countries. Such firms are sometimes called multinational corporations (MNC’s)1. Points of discussion with this topic may include cultural considerations, which itself may include differences in law and legal system, language barriers, living standards, climate and more. These have to be overcome for a MNC to be successful in an overseas venture. A form of company in international business is an IBC. An IBC (international business corporation) is a form of offshore company. IBCs include banks, insurance companies, and trading firms. Well known examples of MNCs include fastfood companies McDonald’s and Yum Brands, vehicle manufacturers like General Motors and Toyota, consumer electronics companies like LG, Sony, Siemens A.G. and General Electric. MNCs generally have a subsidiary or an interest over a company in the country of venture. One of the results on the increasing success of International Business ventures is Globalization. The international environment is very important today. Globalisation, the process whereby businesses develop worldwide brands and products which they supply across the world, and in which they employ labour in many different countries, has transformed business relations. The international environment2 is the interaction between (1) the domestic environmental forces and the foreign environmental forces and (2) the foreign environmental forces of one country and those of another country. According to Porter, the international environment is characterized by the following trends: * Reduction in the differences among countries. The economic differences among developed and newly developed countries sees to be narrowing in areas like income, factor costs, energy costs, marketing practices, and distribution channels. * More aggressive industrial policies. Governments like Japan, South Korea, and West Germany are taking aggressive postures to stimulate industry in carefully selected sectors. This policy is giving firms in such countries the support to make bold moves into new markets. * National recognition and protecting distinctive assets. The proactive exploitation of such distinctive assets as natural resources (e.g., oil, copper, tin, rubber) by governments is a reflection of changing philosophy toward industrial policy. This trend has potentially fundamental implications for world competition. * Freer flow of technology. The increased flow of technology from country to country tends to promote more global competition. * Gradual emergence of new large-scale markets. China, Russia, and possibly India may ultimately emerge as huge markets in the future. Thus, gaining access to these markets may well become a crucial strategic variable in the future. * Competition from newly developing countries. Developing countries are increasingly well prepared to make major capital investments in large-scale facilities, aggressively to seek to buy or licence the latest technology, aggressively to take enormous risk. The net result of these changing currents has been to make the international arena a fiercely competitive marketplace in which the standards of competitive success have risen dramatically in the last few decades. There have been some cross-currents that have made the pattern of international competition very complex and different from earlier competitive strategies of the 1950s. These cross-currents are3: Slowing rates of economic growth. Eroding types of comparative advantage. New forms of protectionism. New types of government inducement Proliferating coalitions among firms from different countries. Rowing ability to tailor to local conditions Because of the currents and cross-currents, many more firms have become international in their strategies and operations. The recent strategies revolve around several themes described by Porter: There is no one pattern of international competition nor one type of global strategy. The globalization of competition has become the rule rather than the exception by 1986. The nature of international competition has changed markedly in the last two decades. Implementing a global approach to strategy requires a difficult organizational reorientation for many firms. The international environment consists of4: competitors the economic system the social system the monetary system the political/legal system the environmental system. Competitors’ actions affect the ability of the business to make profits, because competitors will continually seek to gain an advantage over each other, by differentiating their product and service, and by seeking to provide better value for money. The economic system is the organisation of the economy to allocate scarce resources. The economy tends to go through periods of faster and slower growth. Businesses prosper when the economy is booming and living standards are rising. The social system is the fabric of ideas, attitudes and behaviour patterns that are involved in human relationships. In particular businesses are influenced by consumer attitudes and behaviours which depend on such factors as the age structure of the population, and the nature of work and leisure. The monetary system facilitates business exchange. Monetary activity is based around earning, spending, saving and borrowing. Money has been likened to the oil that lubricates the wheels of commerce. Monetary activity involves businesses in a web of relationships involving financial institutions (e.g. banks and building societies), creditors, debtors, customers and suppliers. A key monetary influence for business is the interest rate. Higher interest rates increase business costs and act as a break on spending in the economy. The political/legal system creates the rules and frameworks within which business operates. Government policy supports and encourages some business activities e.g. enterprise, while discouraging others e.g the creation of pollution. The environmental system is the natural system in which life takes place. Increasingly businesses have become aware of the relationship between their economic activity i.e. making goods and services for profits and the effects that this has on the environmental system. International business differs from its domestic counterpart5 in that it involves three environments – domestic, foreign and international environments instead of one. While environmental forces can be similar in domestic and foreign environments their impact and values often differ creating ambiguity and making the impact of decisions difficult to assess. These environments create an additional layer of complexity requiring business leaders to have a solid understanding of business concepts and techniques used both in home and host countries in which they operate. Better understanding of the environmental forces in the host country in which a business operates will allow business leaders to decide if a concept or technique (1) can be transferred to another country as is, (2) must be adapted to local conditions, or (3) cannot be used altogether. Differences between international environment and domestic environment6 Today, business is acknowledged to be international and there is a general expectation that this will continue for the foreseeable future. International business may be defined simply as business transactions that take place across national borders. This broad definition includes the very small firm that exports (or imports) a small quantity to only one country, as well as the very large global firm with integrated operations and strategic alliances around the world. Within this broad array, distinctions are often made among different types of international firms, and these distinctions are helpful in understanding a firm’s strategy, organization,  and functional decisions (for example, its financial, administrative, marketing, human resource, or operations decisions). One distinction that can be helpful is the distinction between multi-domestic operations, with independent subsidiaries which act essentially as domestic firms, and global operations, with integrated subsidiaries which are closely related and interconnected. These may be thought of as the two ends of a continuum, with many possibilities in between. Firms are unlikely to be at one end of the continuum, though, as they often combining aspects of multi-domestic operations with aspects of global operations. Domestic and international enterprises, in both the public and private sectors, share the business objectives of functioning successfully to continue operations. Private enterprises seek to function profitably as well. Why, then, is international business different from domestic? The answer lies in the differences across borders. Nation-states generally have unique government systems, laws and regulations, currencies, taxes and duties, and so on, as well as different cultures and practices. An individual travelling from his home country to a foreign country needs to have the proper documents, to carry foreign currency, to be able to communicate in the foreign country, to be dressed appropriately, and so on. Doing business in a foreign country involves similar issues and is thus more complex than doing business at home. LITERATURE REVIEW A business does not function in a vacuum. It has to act and react to what happens outside the factory and office walls. These factors that happen outside the business are known as external factors or influences. These will affect the main internal functions of the business and possibly the objectives of the business and its strategies. Main Factors The main factor that affects most business is the degree of competition – how fiercely other businesses compete with the products that another business makes. The other factors that can affect the business are: Social – how consumers, households and communities behave and their beliefs. For instance, changes in attitude towards health, or a greater number of pensioners in a population. Legal – the way in which legislation in society affects the business. E.g. changes in employment laws on working hours. Economic – how the economy affects a business in terms of taxation, government spending, general demand, interest rates, exchange rates and European and global economic factors. Political – how changes in government policy might affect the business e.g. a decision to subsidise building new houses in an area could be good for a local brick works. Technological – how the rapid pace of change in production processes and product innovation affect a business. Ethical – what is regarded as morally right or wrong for a business to do. For instance should it trade with countries which have a poor record on human rights. Changing External Environment Markets are changing all the time. It does depend on the type of product the business produces, however a business needs to react or lose customers. Some of the main reasons why markets change rapidly: Customers develop new needs and wants. New competitors enter a market. New technologies mean that new products can be made. A world or countrywide event happens e.g. Gulf War or foot and mouth disease. Government introduces new legislation e.g. increases minimum wage. Business and Competition Though a business does not want competition from other businesses, inevitably most will face a degree of competition. The amount and type of competition depends on the market the business operates in: Many small rival businesses – e.g. a shopping mall or city centre arcade – close rivalry. A few large rival firms – e.g. washing powder or Coke and Pepsi. A rapidly changing market – e.g. where the technology is being developed very quickly – the mobile phone market. A business could react to an increase in competition (e.g. a launch of rival product) in the following ways: Cut prices (but can reduce profits) Improve quality (but increases costs) Spend more on promotion (e.g. do more advertising, increase brand loyalty; but costs money) Cut costs, e.g. use cheaper materials, make some workers redundant Political Environment Each country varies regarding international trade and relocation of foreign plants on its native soil. Some countries openly court foreign companies and encourage them to invest in their country by offering reduced taxes or some other investment incentives. Other countries impose strict regulations that can cause large companies to leave and open a plant in a country that provides more favorable operating conditions. When a company decides to conduct business in another country, it should also consider the political stability of the host country’s government. Unstable leadership can create significant problems in recouping profits if the government falls of the host country and/or changes its policy towards foreign trade and investment. Political instability is often caused by severe economic conditions that result in civil unrest. Another key aspect of international trade is paying for a product in a foreign currency. This practice can create potential problems for a company, since any currency is subject to price fluctuation. A company could lose money if the value of the foreign currency is reduced before it can be exchanged into the desired currency. Another issue regarding currency is that some nations do not have the necessary cash. Instead, they engage in counter trade, which involves the direct or indirect exchange of goods for other goods instead of for cash. Counter trade follows the same principles as bartering, a practice that stretches back into prehistory. A car company might trade new cars to a foreign government in exchange for high-quality steel that would be more costly to buy on the open market. The company can then use the steel to produce new cars for sale. In a more extreme case, some countries do not want to engage in free trade with other nations, a choice known as self-sufficiency. There are many reasons for this choice, but the most important is the existence of strong political beliefs. For example, the former Soviet Union and its communist allies traded only with each other because the Soviet Union feared that Western countries would attempt to control their governments through trade. Self-sufficiency allowed the Soviet Union and its allies to avoid that possibility. However, these self-imposed trade restrictions created a shortage of products that could not be produced among the group, making the  overall quality of life within the Soviet bloc substantially lower than in the West since consumer demand could not be met. When the Berlin Wall came down, trade with the West was resumed, and the shortage of products was reduced or eliminated. Social Environment and Responsibility Social change is when the people in the community adjust their attitudes to way they live. Businesses will need to adjust their products to meet these changes, e.g. taking sugar out of children’s drinks, because parents feel their children are having too much sugar in their diets. The business also needs to be aware of their social responsibilities. These are the way they act towards the different parts of society that they come into contact with. Legislation covers a number of the areas of responsibility that a business has with its customers, employees and other businesses. It is also important to consider the effects a business can have on the local community. These are known as the social benefits and social costs. A social benefit is where a business action leads to benefits above and beyond the direct benefits to the business and/or customer. For example, the building of an attractive new factory provides employment opportunities to the local community. A social cost is where the action has the reverse effect – there are costs imposed on the rest of society, for instance pollution. These extra benefits and costs are distinguished from the private benefits and costs directly attributable to the business. These extra cost and benefits are known as externalities – external costs and benefits. Governments encourage social benefits through the use of subsidies and grants (e.g. regional assistance for undeveloped areas). They also discourage social costs with fines, taxes and legislation. Political Environment Each country varies regarding international trade and relocation of foreign plants on its native soil. Some countries openly court foreign companies and encourage them to invest in their country by offering reduced taxes or some other investment incentives. Other countries impose strict regulations that can cause large companies to leave and open a plant in a country that provides more favorable operating conditions. When a company decides to conduct business in another country, it should also consider the political stability of the host country’s government. Unstable leadership can create  significant problems in recouping profits if the government falls of the host country and/or changes its policy towards foreign trade and investment. Political instability is often caused by severe economic conditions that result in civil unrest. Another key aspect of international trade is paying for a product in a foreign currency. This practice can create potential problems for a company, since any currency is subject to price fluctuation. A company could lose money if the value of the foreign currency is reduced before it can be exchanged into the desired currency. Another issue regarding currency is that some nations do not have the necessary cash. Instead, they engage in counter trade, which involves the direct or indirect exchange of goods for other goods instead of for cash. Counter trade follows the same principles as bartering, a practice that stretches back into prehistory. A car company might trade new cars to a foreign government in exchange for high-quality steel that would be more costly to buy on the open market. The company can then use the steel to produce new cars for sale. In a more extreme case, some countries do not want to engage in free trade with other nations, a choice known as self-sufficiency. There are many reasons for this choice, but the most important is the existence of strong political beliefs. For example, the former Soviet Union and its communist allies traded only with each other because the Soviet Union feared that Western countries would attempt to control their governments through trade. Self-sufficiency allowed the Soviet Union and its allies to avoid that possibility. However, these self-imposed trade restrictions created a shortage of products that could not be produced among the group, making the overall quality of life within the Soviet bloc substantially lower than in the West since consumer demand could not be met. When the Berlin Wall came down, trade with the West was resumed, and the shortage of products was reduced or eliminated. Economic Environment An important factor influencing international trade is taxes. Of the different taxes that can be applied to imported goods, the most common is a tariff, which is generally defined as an excise tax imposed on imported goods. A country can have several reasons for imposing a tariff. For example, a revenue tariff may be applied to an imported product that is also produced domestically. The primary reason for this type of tariff is to  generate revenue that can be used later by the government for a variety of purposes. This tariff is normally set at a low level and is usually not considered a threat to international trade. When domestic manufacturers in a particular industry are at a disadvantage, vis-à  -vis imports, the government can impose what is called a protective tariff. This type of tariff is designed to make foreign products more expensive than domestic products and, as a result, protect domestic companies. A protective tariff is normally very popular with the affected domestic companies and their workers because they benefit most directly from it. In retaliation, a country that is affected by a protective tariff will frequently enact a tariff of its own on a product from the original tariff enacting country. In 1930, for example, the U.S. Congress passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which provided the means for placing protective tariffs on imports. The United States imposed this protective tariff on a wide variety of products in an attempt to help protect domestic producers from foreign competition. This legislation was very popular in the United States, because the Great Depression had just begun, and the tariff was seen as helping U.S. workers. However, the tariff caused immediate retaliation by other countries, which immediately imposed protective tariffs of their own on U.S. products. As a result of these protective tariffs, world trade was severely reduced for nearly all countrie s, causing the wealth of each affected nation to drop, and increasing unemployment in most countries. Realizing that the 1930 tariffs were a mistake, Congress took corrective action by passing the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934, which empowered the president to reduce tariffs by 50 percent on goods from any other country that would agree to similar tariff reductions. The goal was to promote more international trade and help establish more cooperation among exporting countries. Another form of a trade barrier that a country can employ to protect domestic companies is an import quota, which strictly limits the amount of a particular product that a foreign country can export to the quota-enacting country. A government can also use a nontariff barrier to help protect domestic companies. A nontariff barrier usually refers to government requirements for licenses, permits, or significant amounts of paperwork in order to allow imports into its country. Cultural Environment Before a corporation begins exporting products to other countries, it must first examine the norms, taboos, and values of those countries. This information can be critical to the successful introduction of a product into a particular country and will influence how it is sold and/or marketed. Such information can prevent cultural blunders, such as the one General Motors committed when trying to sell its Chevy Nova in Spanish-speaking countries. Nova, in Spanish, means â€Å"doesn’t go†Ã¢â‚¬â€and few people would purchase a car named â€Å"doesn’t go.† This marketing error—resulting simply from ignorance of the Spanish language—cost General Motors millions in initial sales—as well as considerable embarrassment. Business professionals also need to be aware of foreign customs regarding standard business practices. For example, people from some countries like to sit or stand very close when conducting business. In contrast, people from other countries want to maintain a spatial distance between them and the people with whom they are conducting business. Thus, before business-people travel overseas, they must be given training on how to conduct business in the country to which they are traveling. Business professionals also run into another practice that occurs in some countries—bribery. The practice of bribery is common in several countries and is considered a normal business practice. If the bribe is not paid to a businessperson from a country where bribery is expected, a transaction is unlikely to occur. Laws in some countries prohibit businesspeople from paying or accepting bribes. As a result, navigating this legal and cultural thicket must be done very carefully in order to maintain full compliance with the law. Physical Environment Other factors that influence international trading activities are related to the physical environment. Natural physical features, such as mountains and rivers, and human-made structures, such as bridges and roads, can have an impact on international trading activities. For example, a large number of potential customers may live in a country where natural physical barriers, such as mountains and rivers, make getting the product to market nearly impossible. EXAMPLES Marks & Spencer9 As an organisation develops, it creates working practices within the business that reflect its way of doing things. These practices become embedded in decisions and operations. The way of doing things guides and influences employees as they carry out their work. However, when organisations develop a new business strategy this creates a process of change. This leads to different ways of working. Company background10 With more than 120 years of heritage, Marks & Spencer is one of the best-known British retailers. The company has more than 450 stores within the UK and employs more than 65,000 people. It also operates outside the UK where it has a developing business in places as far afield as Hong Kong. In recent years, the UK’s retailing industry has been characterised by intense competition. Customers are more aware of where and how they want to shop. They also know what sort of shopping experience they require. This has made it much more difficult for retailers to survive. Facing the challenges The result was that Marks & Spencer had to develop a new business strategy. This created a period of change for the whole organisation. The period of change involved refocusing the business upon the basics. This included the three business values of Quality, Value, and Service. Marks & Spencer developed a promotional campaign that emphasised ‘Your M&S’. This helped the company to connect customers with the heritage in the business. It also linked the business in the minds of customers with its two other values of Innovation and Trust. The process involved three key features: developing products that customers wanted  investing in the environment within stores  providing good customer service to look after customers.  These changes have created a business environment with more challenges for employees. Managers had to prepare employees for whatever role they would be asked to undertake in this new environment. The answer was to develop career paths for the employees. This case study looks at the processes of training and development at Marks & Spencer. It shows how this helped employees to cope with the challenges they faced and created a career path for them. Mc Donald’s11 McDonald’s is one of only a handful of brands that command instant recognition in virtually every country in the world. It has more than 30,000 restaurants in over 119 countries, serving around 50 million people every day. All businesses face challenges every day. One of the major challenges facing McDonald’s is managing stock. Stock management involves creating a balance between meeting customers’ needs whilst at the same time minimising waste. Waste is reduced by: 1. Accurate forecasting of demand so that products do not have to be thrown away as often. 2. Accurate stock control of the raw materials. Stock management involves creating a balance between meeting customers’ needs whilst at the same time minimising waste. This is an increasingly tough balancing act. As customer tastes change, McDonald’s needs to increase the range of new products it offers, so the challenge of reducing waste becomes even greater. Why change was needed12 In the past, stock ordering was the responsibility of individual restaurant managers. They ordered stock using their local knowledge, as well as data on what the store sold the previous day, week and month. For example, if last week’s sales figures showed they sold 100 units of coffee and net sales were rising at 10%, they would expect to sell 110 units this week. However, this was a simple method and involved no calculations to take account of factors such as national promotions or school holidays. It took up a lot of the Restaurant Manager’s time, leaving them less time to concentrate on delivering quality food, service and cleanliness in the restaurants. The new system In 2004, McDonald’s introduced a specialist central stock management function known as the Restaurant Supply Planning Department. This team communicates with restaurant managers on a regular basis to find out local events. The  team builds these factors into the new planning and forecasting system (called Manugistics) to forecast likely demand of finished menu items (e.g.Big Macs). This case study looks at how McDonald’s manages its stock through its management systems and what benefits this brings. Conclusion The world has a long history of international trade. In fact, trading among nations can be traced back to the earliest civilizations. Trading activities are directly related to an improved quality of life for the citizens of nations involved in international trade. It is safe to say that nearly every person on earth has benefited from international trading activities. International business grew substantially in the second half of the twentieth century, and this growth is likely to continue. The international environment is complex and it is very important for firms to understand this environment and make effective choices in this complex environment. In this assignment we examined the characteristics of an international environment, the differences between international environment and domestic environment and then the: constrains, difficulties, benefits and opportunities having in mind social cultural factors, political factors, and legal, environment. Finally we outlined the cases of famous firms. The topic of international business is itself complex, and this discussion serves only to introduce a few ideas on international business issues. BIBLIOGRAPHY Books: Buckley, P.J., ed. What is International Business? Basingstoke, Hampshire; New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Churchill, G., and Peter, P. (1995). Marketing: Creating Value for Customers. Austen Press Daniels, J.D., and L.H. Radebaugh International Business:. Environments and Operations. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1997. Hofstede, G. Culture’s Consequences: Individual Differnces in Work Related Values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1980. Internet Sites: Wikipedia. http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/company_list.php www.mcdonalds.com www.marksandspencer.com http://applications-of-strategic-management.24xls.com/en128 http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/genbus/walker www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Gr-Int/International-Business

1st and 2nd Timothy

INTRODUCTION The pastoral epistles are the letters that Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus in the New Testament. These books include 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. The title â€Å"Pastoral† comes from the instructional nature of the letters themselves. Timothy was an assistant to Paul during his ministry. He was taught the scriptures as a child by his mother who was named Eunice. Both Timothy and his mother were probably converted during Paul’s first missionary Journey. There is also evidence supporting that Paul led Timothy to the Lord because he calls Timothy his â€Å"son in the faith. [1] Timothy was highly recommended by the Christians in Lystra and Iconium at a young age. Titus was also a minister who accompanied Paul on at least one of his missionary trips. During Paul’s ministry in Crete, he raised new churches that Titus would have direct influence over. These letters are primarily instructions for the general functions within the church. Collectively they pro vide guidelines for all forms of leadership within the local church body. Paul touches on the subjects of women, elders, deacons, and overseers in relationship to authority and function.Before discussing the restrictions and responsibilities of each of these, I’ll briefly provide the historical setting for the pastoral epistles as well as the different views of Paul’s Authorship. Historical Setting These three letters were written after Paul was first imprisoned in Rome at the conclusion of Acts. The order and dates of Paul’s ministry between the release of his first imprisonment and his second imprisonment are not known. It is commonly accepted that he wrote the bulk of the pastoral epistles between A. D 60 and his death around A. D 67 to 68.Most believe that he began writing his first letter to Timothy within a year of being released from prison in Rome around A. D. 63. Paul informs Timothy that he left him in Ephesus so that he could go into Macedonia. Thereà ¢â‚¬â„¢s no evidence that he went anywhere else so he probably began writing the pastoral epistles there. Pauline Authorship Paul’s authorship of the pastoral epistles has been challenged by critics on four grounds. The first is the Historical Argument. This argues that the letters do not fit into the history of the book of Acts. The Second is the Ecclesiastical Argument.This claims that the organization of the local church as taught in these letters is to advanced for Paul’s lifetime. The the third argument is the Doctrinal Argument. This claims that the false teaching attacked in the letters is Gnostic heresy that took place during the second century. This argument also contends that the authors theological outlook is different than the outlook expressed by Paul in his other writings. The last argument is the Linguistic/stylistic Argument. This argues that the authors style, linguistics, and vocabulary differs from the writing in Paul’s other letters. Each of these arguments have recognizable flaws.Apart from those, the external evidence for Paul’s authorship is significant. Early church fathers such as Inatius, Polycarp, and Irenaeus concerned them as written by Paul. The evidence both internally and externally appears to supports the Pauline authorship of the Pastoral Epistles. NATURE OF LEADERSHIP IN SCRIPTURE Servant Leadership Jesus completely turned the table when there was no servant to wash feet as was custom. Under normal circumstances, a servant was expected to wash the dirty road-worn feet of guests. In John 13:1-17 Jesus provides his disciples with an excellent example of leadership.Jesus humbled himself to a position of servitude and washed his disciples feet. He says in 14-15, â€Å"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. † The most effective leaders are those people who are servants to others. Servant leadership is a leadership style that has g ained a large amount of popularity in recent years. [2] Jesus modeled it perfectly in this example. Jesus got on his knees and washed the dirt of His disciples feet even though this act of kindness was customarily views as custom fit only for servants.Philippians 2:5-11 says, â€Å"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. † Christ was the ultimate example of servanthood. In his book The Leadership Genius of Jesus, William Beausay says, Servant leadership was the core of Jesus’ style. We see it reflected in the actions of his followers. His disciples were not docile little robots. They often asked him for help.They needed guidance and clearly felt comfortable approaching him for personal support. † (Beausay 23)[3] Jesus He, being God, humbled himself to the point of death on a human-made cross and showed us a perfect example of want it means to be a servant leader. All the pain He endured was for our sake. Paul, the author of the pastor epistles, understood this importance in leadership and lived in a way that showed servant leadership qualities. Not only did Paul write to train and instruct the early church, but he preached the gospel boldly and was persecuted for his devotion.Ultimately, he was more than likely killed for his faithfulness to God. It is from this perspective that Paul instructs the early church leaders in the pastoral epistles. Responsibility To Teach Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 4:11-12 that God has directed some as evangelists, pastors, and teachers. He writes that the purpose of this is â€Å"for the building up of the body of Christ. † He also writes in 1 Timothy 4:13, â€Å"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. To devote oneself is to give up everything for that one cause. It doesn’t take much research to see that our society does not like responsibility nor do we tend to enjoy accepting blame for our mistakes. In many cases to accept responsibility and and accountability is considered foolish. Paul thought it important that our church leaders devote themselves to such things. I, for one, believe that all of us are called to the ministry of proclaiming the Gospel. It is our responsibility as Christ followers to share the truth about who Jesus is with those around us.Certainly the presence of God can be experienced through nature and other visual stimuli, but something can be missing without a clear representation of the truth. 4 Knowing the truth is simply irreplaceable. 5 Just as God expects us to put forth this effort, Paul expected Timothy and Titus to abide by this principle and to teach it to their local congregations. We should take seriously the responsibility to present truth in our teaching and witnessing. CHURCH L EADERSHIP Deacons Deacons provide a ministry in the church that is associated with service of some kind. This service varies among theological and denominational customs.The word â€Å"deacon comes from the Greek word diakonos, meaning â€Å"servant. † Other uses of the word are diakonia, which means â€Å"service† and diakoneo, which means â€Å"to serve. †6 Broadened, it has come to mean any kind of service. Specifically we can find in scripture where these phrases were used applied to general service and spiritual service. Paul addresses the qualifications of deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-13: Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,  but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. He says first that deacons must be men of dignity. This stresses the importance of deacons to be men worthy of respect.This does not mean that they lead with a strong hand and enforce others to respect them. Instead, they are to live lives that bring honor to God. Thus, gaining them respect from others. Paul also says that deacons are not to be double-tongued. This means that they are to be self-controlled in speech. Any form of Gossip or slander should not be a part of his nature. Instead, he should speak out for righteous causes while being slow to anger. They also must not be deceitful. Deacons should not be addicted to much wine nor should the enter the position for what they can get out of it.Paul may have written this because of the pagan influ ence in first century world. He knew that every single deacon would be under the careful watch of non-Christians. It would be possible for a deacon to hurt his family and lose his witness if he was bondage to different excesses. Next, Paul writes that these men should hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. This means that they should hold a certain reverence for the soul purpose of service and honoring God. The Christian faith truly is mysterious. Sometimes people have to walk into situations where there are no clear certainties.Deacons must be confident and do with a genuine character. 7 Those wishing to be deacons must also be tested to see if they are beyond reproach. Just as Athletes wishing to be on Olympic teams have to prove themselves as disciplined competitors, so Paul believed that a person must have proven a spiritual maturity before serving as a deacon. 8 Attaining any spiritual maturity only comes from seeking to be more like Christ. Next, Paul writes that deacons are to be husbands of one wife, and good managers of the children and households.Though this verse is one of the most controversial of deacon qualifications, at least three things are clear. First, he must acknowledge and embrace the biblical emphasis on marriage and view of the home. Second, the deacon is to be devoted to only one wife. Third, there is a theme behind the passage that should remind the deacon of the absolute rejection of divorce. 9 Overall, Paul’s experience with young and growing churches taught him that deacons must be people with a strong spiritual character. Elders and Overseers Elders and Overseers share many of the same qualifications as deacons.Paul also lists their qualifications in 1 Timothy 3: It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable,hospitable, able to teach, not ad dicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity. but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?   and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Though Elders and Overseers are two distinct words, they seem to be used for the same role throughout scripture (Acts 20:17,28). â€Å"Elder† may be reserved for someone who deserves the respect that someone of an older age would attain. â€Å"Overseer† may lean more towards the function of the person in that position.The qualifications that are mentioned here vary only slightly. Paul makes it a point to warn them to be free from the love of money. This may give evidence that elders were held responsible for financial matters within the church. In all matters they are to serve as unto the Lord. 10 Paul also says that elders and overseers are to be able to teach. This provides evidence that they were held responsible for teaching theology as well as doctrine in the church. Paul makes it a point to mention that elders and overseers are not to be new converts. New Christians can fall quickly to temptation and become prideful.They often hold on to their pride, while a more mature Christian has come to understand the importance of humility. Older leaders are more likely to have a servants mindset ingrained in their character. 11 These leaders have a unique role in that they oversee the affairs of the church body. One of these roles included protecting the church from false doctrine. Some of the false teaching during this time was sparked from gnosticism and Jewish speculation. There were a number of different variations to the gnostic doctrine, but the main emphasis claimed that gnostics acquired a knowledge normal believers did not have.Thus, Gnostics believed their faith was superior to others. It was the responsibility of all the church members to know the truth and speak out against it. That is why it is vitally important that elders spoke the truth against different forms of heresy. This type of leadership is a critical factor related to how well the church is doing in reaching the goal of spreading God’s word. 12 Women in leadership Paul makes it clear in the pastoral epistles that women play a key part in the church. They are vital in the raising and teaching of Children.He writes concerning them so that they will understand proper submission. He writes this in in the second chapter of 1 Timothy: Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. First, Paul informs the women of the church to present themselves in a modest fashion. Paul, again new that non-christian eyes would be on believers. He did not want women to cause offense to anyone outside the Christian community. 13 Women He says that it is important they make a claim to Godliness. He then says that they should receive instruction submissively.This stresses the importance of male leadership in the church. Paul clearly points out that women are not to have any type of authority over other men. He reminds Timothy that Adam was created first, and then Eve. Paul stresses that women keep silent because it give a concrete and essential reason for the submission of women that is grounded in the creation story. 14 There are three major views when it comes to the role of women in the church. The first is total silence. There are surprisingly a large number of churches who practice this view. Second, is that they not teach Doctrine in the Assembly.Third, They may teach anything allowed by male overseers. The third view is what most churches use today. 15 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE CHURCH TODAY? Church’s today should strictly follow the biblical qualifications for deacons, elders, overseers, and women in the church. In light of a church’s specific situation, each church must decide what leadership roles will be as they seek to live out the biblical conception of that role. 16 Church’s today should seek to find men who can serve well. Men should be chosen only if they are well qualified and have developed skills in witnessing and other types of ministry.The most important qualities are found in those men who â€Å"hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience,† and are committed to serving other people. 17 The ability to work well with others should also be a key quality desired by churches looking for deacons or elders to serve. In today’s world, much of the work by the deacon involves a great deal of patience and understanding. 18 Church’s want to be able to trust that their deacons, and elders will exercise sound judgement in all matters concerning the well being of the assembly. It is clear that women were highly important to Jesus as well as Paul.There is no argument to be made that women are inferior to men. Jesus severed social and religious customs to show his high regard for women. 19 Women should strive to be excellent examples of Godliness in our church’s today. This is a very important role within our church’s. While they are not to exercise authority of men, they play a key role in teaching our children what it means to live godly lives. CONCLUSION Paul has outlined specific qualifications for the office of deacon, elder, and overseer as well as restrictions for women in regards to leadership.It is our job to strive for obeying these qualifications and restrictions in our own churches. Paul writes this in the fourth chapter of Ephesians: Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,   being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.It is God’s desire that we be unifi ed. It his is intention for us to be moving as one unit towards one common goal. We need men who are faithful to serve in the role of deacon, elder and overseer to achieve this goal. BIBLIOGRAPHY Beausay, William II. The Leadership Genius of Jesus (Ancient Wisdom for Modern Business). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1197 Brindle, Wayne A. The Pastoral Epistles (Notes and Outlines). Liberty University School of Religion, 1996 Chartier, Jan. Developing Leadership in the Teaching Church. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press 1985 Dale, Robert D.Leadership for a Changing Church (Charting the Shape of the River). Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press 1998 Foshee, Howard B. The Ministry of the Deacon. Nashville, TN: Convention Press 1968 House, H. Wayne, The Role of Women in Ministry Today. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1990. Howe, E. Margaret. Women & Church Leadership. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1982. Naylor, Robert E. The Baptist Deacon. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1955. Samra, Jim. The Gift of Church. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan 2010. Stendahl, Krister. The Bible and the role of Women. Stockholm: Fortress Press, 1966. ———————– 1] Wayne A. Brindle, â€Å"The Pastoral Epistles Notes and Outlines,† (Liberty University school of religion, 1996) [2] William Beausay, â€Å"The Leadership Genius of Jesus,† (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1197) [3] Ibid 4 Jim Samra, â€Å"The Gift of Church,† (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan 2010) 5 Ibid 6 Howard B Foshee, â€Å"The Ministry of the Deacon,† (Nashville, TN: Convention Press 1968) 7 Ibid 8 Ibid 9 Ibid 10 Robert D. Dale, â€Å"Leadership For a Changing Church,† (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press 1998) 11 Ibid 12 Jan Charter, â€Å"Developing Leadership in the teaching church,† (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press 1985) 13 E.Margaret Howe, â€Å"Women & Church Leadership,† (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1982) 14 Krister Stendahl, â€Å"The Bible and the Role of Women,† (Stockholm: Fortress Press, 1966) 15 Wayne A. Brindle, â€Å"The Pastoral Epistles Notes and Outlines,† (Liberty University school of religion, 1996) 16 Robert E. Naylor, â€Å"The Baptist Deacon,† (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1955) 17 Howard B Foshee, â€Å"The Ministry of the Deacon,† (Nashville, TN: Convention Press 1968) 18 Ibid 19 H. Wayne House, â€Å"The Role of Women in Ministry Today,† (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1990)

Sumptuous

Sumptuous Sumptuous Sumptuous By Maeve Maddox In response to my post about the use of the word unctuous in the context of cooking, several readers suggested that speakers might be confusing unctuous with sumptuous. If they are, they must not know the meaning of sumptuous. English-speaking cooks who use unctuous to describe pork roasts are referring to taste, texture, and juiciness. The word sumptuous, although often used to describe a meal, has nothing to do with the taste of food. The word sumptuous derives from the Latin verb sÃ… «mÄ•re, â€Å"to take, consume, spend.† From the verb comes the Latin adjective sumptuosus, â€Å"costly, expensive.† At different periods of history, governments passed what were called â€Å"sumptuary laws,† laws that criminalized overspending by certain social classes. The expression â€Å"born to the purple,† meaning, â€Å"born into the royal family,† comes from sumptuary laws that restricted the use of an expensive dye called Tyrian purple. In ancient Rome, for example, only the emperor could wear a Tyrian purple cape trimmed in golden thread. Only senators were permitted to decorate their togas with a Tyrian purple stripe. European sumptuary laws were enacted throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and even found their way to the New World. The Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a sumptuary law to limit the wearing of lace, gold buttons, ruffles, capes, and other expensive items to citizens with a net worth of 200 pounds or more. A sumptuous meal is an expensive meal. It will have numerous courses made up of a wide variety of dishes and drinks. Here’s a description of a sumptuous dinner offered at the cost of $99,300 by a caterer to the rich and famous: The dinner includes ritzy ingredients such as duck eggs and truffles, as well as a dish of Wagyu beef touched with silver leaf that’s served on a bed of dry ice. Each dish in the eight-course meal is combined with a fine wine, such as the $27,680 bottle of La Romanee-Conti, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, 1990. The price tag also includes a harpist, a poet and doves, as well as chef Adam Simmonds, who earned a Michelin star in 2006.   One can probably assume that such an expensive and lavishly produced meal would include well prepared, tasty food, but not necessarily. It would be possible for a sumptuous meal to be lacking in palate-pleasing food. Another reader suggests that unctuous may be a mistake for scrumptious; an interesting thought, as scrumptious is a colloquial coinage thought to be an altered form of sumptuous. Initially, expensive or luxurious things were described as scrumptious, for example, â€Å"a scrumptious house.† Then, scrumptious became a general term of enthusiastic praise like wizard or smashing, for example, â€Å"That portrait of Thomas More is really scrumptious!† Finally, because it must have often been applied to food, scrumptious came to mean delicious. Another comment points to a possible explanation for the trending use of unctuous with English-speaking cooks: onctuex (feminine, onctueuse) is used by French cooks to describe food that is creamy. However, I can’t think that a word meaning creamy is exactly the right one to describe a pork roast. English has enough adjectives to describe things that taste good without resorting to unctuous or scrumptious. Here are a few: delicious delectable mouthwatering appetizing tasty flavorful toothsome palatable succulent luscious Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†At Your DisposalApostrophe with Plural Possessive Nouns

Race Relations and the Olympic Games

Race Relations and the Olympic Games Given that competitors from across the globe compete in the Olympic Games, it’s no surprise that racial tensions will flare on occasion. Athletes in the 2012 Olympic Games in London sparked controversy by making racial jabs about people of color online. Fans set off scandals as well by taking to Twitter to lob xenophobic insults at players from rival countries. And the International Olympic Committee itself was accused of anti-Semitism for not honoring the Israeli athletes killed by terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games with a moment of silence during opening ceremonies 40 years later. This roundup of racial controversies linked to the 2012 Olympics reveals the state of global race relations and how much progress the world needs to make in order for all people- athletes and otherwise- to be considered equals. No Moment of Silence for Victims of Munich Massacre During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, a Palestinian terrorist group called Black September killed 11 Israeli competitors after taking them hostage. The survivors of those killed asked the International Olympic Committee to have a moment of silence for the slain athletes during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Munich Massacre. The IOC refused, leading the family members of the victims to accuse Olympic officials of anti-Semitism. Ankie Spitzer, the wife of the late fencing coach Andre Spitzer, remarked, â€Å"Shame on the IOC because you have forsaken the 11 members of your Olympic family. You are discriminating against them because they are Israelis and Jews,† she said. Ilana Romano, widow of weightlifter Yossef Romano, agreed. She said that IOC president Jacques Rogge told her during a meeting that it was difficult to answer whether or not the IOC would have approved a moment of silence for the murdered athletes had they not been Israelis. â€Å"One could feel the discrimination in the air,† she said. European Athletes Make Racist Remarks on Twitter Before Greek triple jump athlete Paraskevi â€Å"Voula† Papahristou even had a chance to compete in the Olympics, she was kicked off her country’s team. Why? Papahristou sent out a tweet disparaging Africans in Greece. On July 22, she wrote in Greek, â€Å"With so many Africans in Greece, at least the mosquitoes of West Nile will eat homemade food.† Her message was re-tweeted more than 100 times and the 23-year-old quickly faced an angry backlash. After the scandal she apologized, â€Å"I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account,† she said. â€Å"I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights.† Papahristou wasn’t the only Olympic athlete penalized for being racially insensitive on Twitter. Soccer player Michel Morganella was booted off the Swiss team after he referred to South Koreans as a â€Å"bunch of Mongoloids† on the social networking site. He made the race-based jab after South Korea beat the Swiss team in soccer on July 29. Gian Gilli, head of the Swiss Olympic delegation, explained in a statement that Morganella was removed from the team for having â€Å"said something insulting and discriminatory† about his South Korean rivals. â€Å"We condemn these remarks,† Gilli stated. Was Monkey Gymnast Commercial a Swipe at Gabby Douglas? After 16-year-old Gabby Douglas became the first black gymnast to win the gold medal for the women’s all-around in the sport, NBC sportscaster Bob Costas remarked, â€Å"There are some African-American girls out there who tonight are saying to themselves: ‘Hey, I’d like to try that too.’† Shortly after Douglas’ image appeared during Costas’ commentary on NBC, the network that broadcast the Olympics in the U.S., a commercial for new sitcom â€Å"Animal Practice† featuring a monkey gymnast aired. Many viewers felt that the monkey gymnast was somehow a racial jab at Douglas, since she’s black and racists historically likened African Americans to monkeys and apes. The network apologized in light of a torrent of negative feedback from viewers. It said the commercial was simply a case of bad timing and that the â€Å"Animal Practice† advertisement didn’t aim to offend anyone. For the fourth time in a row, the U.S. women’s soccer team took home the gold medal. They surged to the top during the London Olympics by defeating the Japanese women’s soccer team. After their 2-1 victory, fans took to Twitter not simply to rejoice but also to make racially tinged remarks about the Japanese. â€Å"This ones for Pearl Harbor you Japs,† wrote one tweeter. Many others tweeted similar comments. Discussing the controversy, Brian Floyd of the website SB Nation begged such tweeters to stop posting racially insensitive comments. â€Å"That wasn’t for Pearl Harbor,† he wrote. â€Å"It was a†¦soccer game. Please, for the love of everything, stop doing this, guys. It doesn’t reflect well on any of us. Stop being awful.† â€Å"Exotic Beauty† Lolo Jones Dominates Track and Field Media Coverage Sprinter Lolo Jones wasn’t the top track and field star to represent the United States during the Olympic Games, prompting fellow American runners as well as New York Times writer Jere Longman to point out that Jones garnered a disproportionate amount of media coverage. Why was Jones reported on more than American runners such as Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells? Those women came in at second and third place, respectively, in the women’s 100 meter hurdle, while Jones came in fourth. Longman of the Times says that the biracial Jones has capitalized on her â€Å"exotic beauty† to compensate for her shortcomings as an athlete. Danielle Belton of Clutch magazine said that members of the mostly white and male news media gravitate toward Jones because, â€Å"What is of interest [to] them is a pretty girl, preferably white or as close as you can get to it, who can also do ‘sports.’† Colorism, Belton said, is why the media largely overlooked darker-skinne d runners Harper and Wells to cover Jones.

Music assignments Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Music assignments - Assignment Example The introductory part of the prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun has prominent parts of the harp and wind instruments. A unique feeling is created by the chromatic note sequence of the wind instrument heard in the initial stages of the Prelude. Derived harmonies and derived chords of namely 7ths, 9ths, augmented and diminished are heard creating a spectacular feeling of peace and anticipation at the same time. The feeling of the time of the day i.e., Afternoon is uniquely and clearly brought out. The song through unusual note sequence and mood changing notes introduced at the demarcation point of the stanzas of the musical piece creates a journey on its own. The undulating tone and progression and regression of notes introduce the feeling of being close to nature and natural cycles. The Afternoon of a Faun represents many feelings, peace, satisfaction, relief, fear, quest, confusion and relaxation. Quite unique and characteristic to Claude Debussy, his work is in this piece is characterised by unconventional rise and fall of tempo, intensity and notes. It involves the waxing and waning of the overall mood that the composition tries to convey. A rhythmic variation is also noticed towards the middle for the composition where stringed instruments dominant for most of the part. Claude Debussy’s unexpected harmony of strings and thought provoking combination of notes are seen in the background sequences that fill up the musical piece. The signature line of the musical piece shows Debussy’s ability to skilfully blend discordant notes into a mystical harmony and give it a life like affect. The signature line has the alternating major and minor chords playing. Debussy’s sight variation of the opening material is revealed toward the end with sharp clarinet sequences, differing in tempo, rhythm, timbre and overall texture. It is