Podcasts about question will

Question: Will we know each other in heaven? Jason Hunter We worshipped at the Farm yesterday. If you missed it, we missed YOU! Take a look and plan to join us next time! Our Worship Service is ready for you to view!

Question: Will our pets be in Heaven?

Please consider supporting my work by making a purchase using these links at one of my affiliates: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/foursigmatic, https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/paleovalley, https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/seekinghealth, https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/ancestralsupplements, https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/magicspoon, https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/lmnt  Plenty more at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/support! Question: Will lowering my PTH with calcium reverse my atherosclerosis? And so you will definitely be removing a major source of calcification risk if you suppress your PTH down into the bottom half of the reference range. And generally, I don't know exactly where the point of maximal suppression is, and I suspect that it's different between different people. So what I would do is, however you're approaching that with vitamin D, calcium, et cetera. Try something, re-measure it, try tweaking the dose upwards and see if it keeps going down and find the point of maximal suppression. And if you do that it's hard to say where the difference is between not getting worse and reversing. But I think that will certainly... To the degree that you can reverse it I think that would be, definitely be an important thing to do in order to get reversal, and so I would hope so. And I think there's good reason to hope for that. If you would like to be part of the next live Ask Me Anything About Nutrition, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass, which includes access to these live Zoom sessions, premium features on all my content, and hundreds of dollars of exclusive discounts. You can sign up with a 10% lifetime discount here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/q&a DISCLAIMER: I have a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and my expertise is in performing and evaluating nutritional research. I am not a medical doctor and nothing herein is medical advice.

Episode 58 -This week, Danielle joins us once again! Jake's back! A new co-operative Control game has been confirmed along with a sequel. Ghost of Tsushima is getting more content and the internet is trying to cancel Hideo Kojima. Question: Will the HBO Last of Us TV show come out before the Last of Us factions? Twitter: (@emergencypizza_)(@fatal_microwave)(@lonercast1) Twitch.tv/lonercast Twitch.tv/mischievousvixen

To learn more and apply to work one-on-one with Rachel, visit her website: https://www.metflexlife.com/ Join Rachel’s weekly newsletter: https://www.metflexlife.com/newsletter  In this episode, Rachel gives a detailed update on her current fat loss phase and answers listener questions on topics including calorie cycling, diet breaks and refeeds, hunger and craving tips, muscle preservation, reverse dieting, nutritional periodization and more! “There’s no magic in the way you go about setting up your weekly calorie intake. The magic is in the adherence." Rachel Gregory Today's Questions: How long should a cut last? How long is your cut and are you using refeeds/diet breaks? How often? What's your calorie intake? What % deficit are you following? How quickly do you drop calories? And how low do you think you'll go in calories? Do you have any tricks during the first few days of a cut to avoid sugar cravings? Have you lost muscle while cutting? Will you reverse diet after the cut is over or stay at NEW maintenance for a while? Can you talk about how your cut fits into your overall plan/goals for the next year? Top Takeaways: A general timeline for a fat loss phase How to increase movement without incorporating more exercise Tips and tricks on how to overcome cravings  How to set your meal timing up for success The number one component to prioritize during a fat loss phase How to practice being in a maintenance phase   Show Notes: [0:00] Welcome back to MetFlex and Chill! Today’s Q&A is a deep dive into Rachel’s current fat loss phase and answering all your related questions! [0:30] If you're enjoying the show, please share it out by screenshotting an episode and tagging @rachelgregory.cns or leave a review on iTunes to help grow the show! [2:00] A brief overview of Rachel’s building phase before heading into the cut [2:00] Episode 104: 8-Month Building Phase Results & Plan For Next Cut [4:30] Episode 66: Fasting & Muscle Breakdown, Strategic ‘Cheat’ Meals, Protein & Longevity, and More! [12:00] The scale is NOT the end all be all… it is just one metric [15:30] Movement for fat loss and why it’s important [18:00] Question: How long should a cut last? [20:30] Episode 76: MINI CUTS: What, Why, When, & How? [22:00] Episode 26: Understanding Fat Loss Plateaus, Diet Breaks and Refeeds, Targeted Keto, and More! [26:30] Episode 10: Shifting Your Goals and Mindset, Optimizing At-Home Workouts, and Implementing Refeeds/Diet Breaks [27:00] Episode 45: The Science of Body Recomposition with Dr. Bill Campbell [27:30] Question: What's your calorie intake? [28:30] Question: What percentage deficit are you following? [30:30] Overall movement…NEAT… not exercise is underrated during a fat loss phase [31:30] Sign up for The Friday Flex: www.metflexlife.com/newsletter [33:30] Question: How quickly do you drop calories? And how low do you think you'll go in calories? [38:00] Question: Do you have any tricks during the first few days of a cut to avoid sugar cravings? [42:00] [FREE GUIDE] The Ultimate Hunger Hacks! [43:00] Question: Have you lost muscle while cutting? [45:00] Episode 111: How To Optimize Protein Intake & Distribution Across Your Day To Maximize Gains [47:00] Episode 107: Fasting & Muscle Preservation, Early Morning Training, How To Build Your Pre & Post-Workout Meals [50:00] Being strategic with your cardio..to maintain muscle mass and avoid burnout [51:30] Episode 56: Clearing Up The Cardio Confusion: Implementing Cardio for Fat Loss, Performance, and Overall Health [51:30] Question: Will you reverse diet after the cut is over or stay at NEW maintenance for a while? [55:00] Episode 82: Reverse Dieting, The Restrict & Binge Cycle, and Finding ‘Good’ Research Papers [55:30] Question: Can you talk about how your cut fits into your overall plan or goals for next year? [56:00] Episode 106: Metabolic Rehabilitation, Busting Fat Loss Plateaus, Nutritional Periodization, and More! [59:00] How to practice being in a maintenance phase  [1:00:00] If you're enjoying the show, please share it out by screenshotting an episode and tagging @rachelgregory.cns or leave a review on iTunes to help grow the show! [1:00:30] www.metflexlife.com/podcasts [1:01:00] You can sign up for The Friday Flex at www.metflexlife.com/newsletter   THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 104: 8-Month Building Phase Results & Plan For Next Cut Episode 66: Fasting & Muscle Breakdown, Strategic ‘Cheat’ Meals, Protein & Longevity, and More! Episode 76: MINI CUTS: What, Why, When, & How? Episode 26: Understanding Fat Loss Plateaus, Diet Breaks and Refeeds, Targeted Keto, and More! Episode 10: Shifting Your Goals and Mindset, Optimizing At-Home Workouts, and Implementing Refeeds/Diet Breaks Episode 45: The Science of Body Recomposition with Dr. Bill Campbell Fat Loss: The Hierarchy Of Importance Sign up for The Friday Flex: www.metflexlife.com/newsletter [FREE GUIDE] The Ultimate Hunger Hacks! Episode 111: How To Optimize Protein Intake & Distribution Across Your Day To Maximize Gains Episode 107: Fasting & Muscle Preservation, Early Morning Training, How To Build Your Pre & Post-Workout Meals Episode 56: Clearing Up The Cardio Confusion: Implementing Cardio for Fat Loss, Performance, and Overall Health Episode 82: Reverse Dieting, The Restrict & Binge Cycle, and Finding ‘Good’ Research Papers Episode 106: Metabolic Rehabilitation, Busting Fat Loss Plateaus, Nutritional Periodization, and More!

In this Q&A, I tackle some of my patron’s most burning questions about how we getting stronger, takeaways from my experiments with nutrition and intermittent fasting, dealing with injuries, favorite training playlists and climbing books, life on the road, patterns I’ve noticed among high performers, dream guests, recommendations for first-time trainers, and much more.Support on Patreon:  patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing Learn more about Q&As:thenuggetclimbing.com/bonus-contentShow Notes:  thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/qa-1Nuggets:00:00 – Q&A introduction, Patreon tiers, and format06:53 – Nico’s Question: Tactics for mini-projects/quick ticks?12:47 – Tony’s Question: Least favorite climbing shoe?14:15 – Tony’s Question: If you could do an episode with one deceased person, who would it be?14:49 – Tony’s Question: Favorite climbing-related book?15:50 – Tony’s Question: Worst climbing bodily function story? 17:00 – Emma’s Question: How does training work, and what is happening in our body when we get stronger?27:16 – Emma’s Question: Recommendations for training with a knee injury?30:34 – Emma’s Question: Should I train my good leg while my other leg is injured?31:44 – Katie’s Question: What inspires you the most aside from climbing?33:34 – Adrian’s Question: Why did you stop intermittent fasting?35:39 – Ted’s Question: Will carbs help me get stronger faster coming from a keto diet? And what changes have you made to your diet that have made a difference?41:16 – Jasna’s Question: How do you mentally deal with injuries? How do you redirect your psych when dealing with a climbing injury?50:35 – Darren’s Question: When are you going to tell us about anorexic Steven? And was it worth it?51:32 – Jimmy’s Question: 3-week or 5-week training cycles: have you tried both? Which do you prefer?54:58 – Jimmy’s Question: Favorite training playlist?56:07 – Adriel’s Question: Advice on working through mental blocks, like fear of falling?  1:00:23 – Adriel’s Question: How much can you train a month sustainably?1:03:24 – Adriel’s Question: Tips for hard finger cracks? (5.11 and up)1:06:07 – Heather’s Question: Advice for someone who is interesting in training for the first time?1:12:57 – Heather’s Question: What have you learned about yourself living in the van? And is this lifestyle sustainable for you?1:17:01 – Heather’s Questions: What are some of your biggest climbing takeaways? Where would you be without climbing, and what has made you the climber you are today?1:22:01 – Casey’s Question: Do you train on the road? If so, how?1:23:19 – Casey’s Question: How are you structuring your Hueco trip? 1:26:47 – Casey’s Question: Why does everyone say your van smells good even if they are vegan? Is it because everyone needs beef? (just kidding… kind of)1:27:32 – Casey’s Question: Bouldering diet vs. sport climbing diet? 1:28:35 – Casey’s Question: Favorite other podcasts?1:31:00 – Casey’s Question: Thoughts on flexibility?1:32:21 – Casey’s Question: Thoughts on warming up?1:34:20 – Casey’s Question: If you could press a button and go anywhere, where would you go each day of the week?1:37:11 – Steve’s Question: What patterns have you seen emerge among the high performers you’ve interviewed?1:40:04 – Steve’s Question: Living on the road full time, do you ever get sick of it and just want to settle somewhere for a year?1:41:13 – Jeffrey’s Question: Top 3 dream guests to interview?1:43:45 – Jeffrey’s Question: What’s the most common weakness you see among top climbers?1:45:40 – Ilkka’s Question: What about the ethical side of eating meat?1:49:08 – Wrap up

READ: Luke 18:35 and 40-43 NLT As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too. Jesus knows that he is heading to Jerusalem where he will be killed. But even so, amazingly, he has time for people and when he hears a blind man call out he stops and gives him his full attention. From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry he had declared that he had come to bring sight to the blind, in fulfilment of Isaiah 61. But that didn’t mean that he had come to impose his healing. He came to offer healing and that’s what he does when he meets this blind beggar in Jericho. Jesus never barges into our lives telling us what’s best for us and imposing his will on us. He simply offers himself. On the face of it, it seems strange that Jesus would ask a blind man what he wanted him to do for him because it was so obvious. We know nothing of the circumstances of this man but we might well presume that his blindness was connected to his begging. He lived a life of complete vulnerability and so it was obvious that he needed to receive his sight. But even so Jesus respects him as an individual and lets him make the decision. All of us need the loving touch of Jesus on our lives. We need his forgiveness, his peace, his love and his joy. We are all in desperate need of him, but even so he refuses to impose himself upon us. Today as Jesus knocks at the door of our lives he leaves it to us to make the decision whether we will open it or not. QUESTION: Will you open the door to Jesus today? PRAYER: Loving Lord Jesus, thank you that you offer me your life today. I welcome you and invite me to fill me with your Spirit. Amen.

How rotational athletes can fool you and your measures Sports such as golf, baseball, tennis, and more involve TONS of rotation, yet are certain athletes better predisposed to rotate well based on ribcage structure? Can tests be thrown off because of particular sport adaptations? We dive into these questions today. Here, you'll learn: Which infrasternal angle presentation has easier rotational capabilities If ribcage structure predisposes someone to be “GREAT” at their craft What shoulder external rotation really means in this population Be prepared, folks, to better help your supreme rotational clientele. Check out Movement Debrief Episode 146 below to learn more! Watch the video here for your viewing pleasure. If you want to watch these live, add me on Instagram. t Show notes Check out Human Matrix promo video here. Here are some testimonials for the class. Want to sign up? Click on the following locations below: April 10th-11th, 2021, Warren, OH (Early bird ends March 14th at 11:55 pm) May 29th-30th, 2021 Boston, MA (Early bird ends April 25th at 11:55 pm!) August 14th-15th, 2021, Ann Arbor, MI (Early bird ends July 18th at 11:55 pm!) September 25th-26th, 2021, Wyckoff, NJ (Early bird ends August 22nd at 11:55 pm) October 23rd-24th, Philadelphia, PA (Early bird ends September 26th at 11:55pm) November 6th-7th, 2021, Charlotte, NC (Early bird ends October 3rd at 11:55 pm) Montreal, Canada (POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19) [6 CEUs approved for Athletic Therapists by CATA!] Or check out this little teaser for Human Matrix home study. Best part is if you attend the live course you'll get this bad boy for free! (Release date not known yet :( Here's a signup for my newsletter to get nearly 5 hours and 50 pages of content, access to my free breathing and body mechanics course, a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies.   Bill Hartman - Daddy-O Pops himself. He is THE GUY for all things biomechanics Authentic Movements - One of the best Yoga Teacher Training systems out there, and the one I choose to teach through. Steph Gongora - An excellent yoga instructor and biomechanical BOSS. The torso integration hypothesis revisited in Homo sapiens: Contributions to the understanding of hominin body shape evolution - One of the best articles that goes into ribcage shape and more! Which infrasternal angle is better for rotation? Question: I have noticed that roughly 75-80% of my baseball players are narrow infrasternal angles (ISA). Do you feel this is representative of a normal population? I'm wondering if this is a case of selection bias where narrow ISA's, being more eccentrically oriented, have an easier time rotating, and therefore would be more likely to advance in a rotational sport like baseball or golf. Whereas a more concentrically oriented wide ISA may have a more difficult time and as a result would more bias towards sports requiring less rotation. Watch the answer here. Answer: Terry, you are spot on in the differences between narrow and wide infrasternal angles and the subsequent ability to rotate within the lower thorax. Leverage in the lower thorax is the name of the game, and the obliques are the major players (folks, don't hate the playa tho). Your obliques are some of the largest rotators within the lower thorax. The better these puppies have leverage, the more your rotational chops will be on point. Now the next question should be which obliques have more leverage with each respective infrasternal angle (ISA). AND YOU KNOW I'M GLAD YOU ASKED, FAM! According to this study, drawing a lot from Shirley Sahrmann concepts: the internal oblique has more leverage with wide infrasternal angles. The external oblique has more leverage with narrow infrasternal angles. Now, you need both obliques to perform rotation, so rotational function alone doesn't tell the whole story. What does tell a larger portion of the story is the compressive action on the abdomen. If you compare the attachment points of the external and internal obliques, the external oblique lies more superficial to the ribcage in comparison to the internal oblique. [caption id="attachment_13522" align="aligncenter" width="399"] The big dog, external oblique itself! (Photo credit: Gray's Anatomy)[/caption] External oblique proximal attachment: Outer surface of ribs 5-12 [caption id="attachment_13521" align="aligncenter" width="403"] The good ole' internal oblique (photo credit: Gray's Anatomy)[/caption] Internal oblique proximal attachment:  Deep layer of thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, ASIS (peep this anatomy textbook to learn more) These anatomical differences allow the external oblique to generate greater compressive forces in the lower ribcage, contributing to the narrowness of the infrasternal angle. When this muscle contracts, it assists in pushing the viscera downward. If we assume, based on compensatory mechanics, that the infrapubic angle is also in a narrow orientation (and likely structural), the pelvic floor will be eccentrically oriented. This position will allow the viscera to migrate downward, allowing for rotation to occur! The simple reason why narrow ISAs can better rotate: The guts can get out of the way.  Contrast this to the wide ISA folks. The internal obliques have worse leverage to compress the ribcage and push the guts downward. Moreover, the wider infrapubic angle begets a concentric pelvic floor, which pushes the viscera upward. There simply becomes too much visceral interference in the ability to rotate. Wide ISAs can't get guts out of the way. Does this difference mean that there will never be elite wide ISAs in rotational sports? FALSE! In fact, many of the top golfers that I work with at Elevate have a wide ISA presentations. How in the hell does that happen? Structural bias alone doesn't determine success in sport. One thing to consider is the when looking at infrasternal angles, we have only concerned ourselves with rotation at the lower thorax. HOWEVER, rotation occurs throughout the whole body. In sports such as baseball and golf, you have to be able to rotate in the upper thorax, pelvis, axial skeleton, basically everywhere. Each ISA presentation can have restrictions in the ability to rotate in these other areas, contributing to success or lack thereof in the ability to rotate. Moreover, we cannot ignore the skill component needed in these sports. Again, many of our top golfers are hella stiff wide ISAs. It blows my mind how well these guys do at their craft. Some people are so skilled that they find a way to work within their body structure to achieve the desired output. Lastly, considering the heavy narrow ISA bias within the population that Terry helps, I wonder what position many of his athletes play. Someone who has to move a lot within the game, such as an outfielder or shortstop, may be more biased to be narrow. Heavy hitters, first basemen, and catchers? Not so much, as playstyle changes for them, as wider ribcage have greater force production capabilities due to concentric bias within the pelvis. [caption id="attachment_13520" align="alignnone" width="810"] Yeah, definitely not narrow, flaxseed oil aside (photo credit: Kevin Rushforth)[/caption] None of the greats in the steroid era of baseball were narrow ISAs. Pelvis movement during rotational sports Question: What are the Ilial and sacral movements during rotational movements like a golf or baseball swing? Watch the answer here. Answer: The mechanics during a swing are no different than what we see in gait. There is an initial contact, midstance, and propulsive phase in both gait and the swing: Backswing = initial contact Impact = midstance Follow-through = propulsion With these parallels, we can see what is going on with the pelvis at each component: Backswing: Counternutation and sacral rotation toward the back swing. Impact: Backswing-side sacrum begins nutating and rotating away from the back swing. Follow-through: Counternutation and full sacral rotation away from the backswing. Single-arm and leg exercises instead of shifting? Question: Are single-arm and single-leg exercises good forms of shifting without using resets to accomplish this? Watch the answer here. Answer: Short answer: YASSSS. Single-extremity moves are essentially a cheat code to drive anteroposterior expansion, as these movements rotate the axial skeleton. Plus, they are WAYYY easier to coach than most shifting-based work. Let's look at left rotation as an example. You can see how if I turn to the left, I can drive expansion into the left posterior and right anterior aspect of the thorax. These rules also apply to the pelvis regarding expansion. The above action happens when you reach with your right arm OR have your right leg forward ASSUMING that you can maintain the stack. Stacking sets the foundation for rotational actions to occur. If you can't stack and you attempt to rotate, problems and a subsequent compensatory rotation could occur. In the thorax, you may see the following compensations: Crunching, which downs the pump handle and limits rotation Anterior thorax migration, which restricts the posterior thorax At the pelvis, you'll see an anterior pelvic tilt/orientation, which limits rotational capabilities in the pelvis. What skills do each infrasternal angle excel at? Question: What are some skills narrow infrasternal angles would be better at than wides and vice versa? Watch the answer here. Answer: The infrasternal angle changes the relative contractile bias of the ventral cavity. This has to do with how the pelvic floor orientation that each type possesses. Narrow ISA: eccentric bias Wide ISA: concentric bias Because of this, narrows generally have greater eccentric/flexibility capabilities in comparison to wides. Also, because narrower ribcages have a larger surface area in relationship to the volume of abdominal contents, they are generally better at heat dissipation, which can help with endurance activities. Wides, on the other hand, have a greater concentric bias, which is useful in terms of force production. To summarize, here is what each could potentially be biased towards doing well with, with obvious exceptions to the rule (as there are many other influences to movement competency): Narrow ISA: Flexibility-based activities, endurance sports Wide ISA: Power and strength activities Relative motion between femurs and pelvis Question: Will there be a relative motion between the femurs and the whole pelvis or do we lock the hip joint as a whole and only work relatively within the pelvis? What actions would be happening? Watch the answer here. Answer: Given that there is more relative motion available within the hip joint in comparison to the pelvis, the hips are most certainly going to move. The movement that the hips perform depending on what direction my legs need to move. For example, let's say I want to keep my femurs pointing straight forward in a golf swing. If we use the sequencing above in pelvic rotation portion of the debrief, you'd have the following motions occurring. Suppose we are swinging right to left: Backswing: Right hip external rotation, left hip internal rotation Impact: Right hip begins to internally rotate, left hip begins to externally rotate Follow-through: Right hip internally rotates, left hip externally rotates Excessive shoulder external rotation? Question: I work with 99% baseball players. You've talked about using shoulder external rotation at 90 degrees as a proxy for determining a need for expansion in the posterior lower thorax. The majority of my guys are hypermobile in that measurement. However, I still believe there could still be potential restrictions in the lower posterior thorax. Is there another way to assess this? Additionally, is an increase in external rotation for a baseball player still indicative of a posteriorly oriented thorax? Again, thank you for your time and the work you have done! Watch the answer here. Answer: As I have mentioned previously, shoulder external rotation can act as a proxy measure for the ability to expand the ribcage along T6-8 level. In some individuals, the thorax can tilt/orient posteriorly as a unit to compensate for a loss of posterior expansion. [caption id="attachment_12963" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Like this joker[/caption] When the thorax orients posteriorly, the scapula will also externally rotate, retroverting the glenoid and subsequently the humerus. Due to this orientation, someone may be able to pick up shoulder external rotation beyond physiological normal (aka 90°). This change would actually coincide with the humeral retrotorsion often seen in baseball players. (If you want to check out a blog that goes into shoulder motion in baseball players, this one is awesome!). So okay Zac. We know that a baseball player should have a LOT more external rotation available. How do we know if this is a structural issue that we should let chill or if the we need more posterior thorax dynamics. The short answer: Shoulder flexion. If you look at the mechanics of shoulder flexion, you'll note the following ought to be present: Tons of humeral external rotation as I progress through the flexion arc (Yay for baseball players) The scapula progressively upwardly rotates (yeesh!) If I have a posteriorly orientated thorax, concentric bias of the posterior musculature is going to give the scapula a helluva time realizing full upward rotation. Thus, shoulder flexion will be limited in a posteriorly oriented thorax.  Some folks may have enough eccentric bias in the anteroinferior shoulder capsule to give the appearance of full shoulder flexion. You could check lower cervical rotation as well to ensure you are actually getting posterior thorax expansion, as cervical rotation can cross-reference the T2-4 expansion that is also needed in maximal shoulder flexion. If you are limited in shoulder flexion, starting with cross-connect variations can drive expansion in the lower regions of the thorax. Progress this to armbar activities, and NO ONE should mess with you. Sum up Narrow ISAs have better rotational leverage than wide ISAs due to ability to move the viscera. Lower ribcage structure is only one component of rotational success. One must consider the ability to rotate in other areas of the body and sports skill. The pelvis rotates through the swing as it does in gait: counternutation, nutating, then counternutation. Single-arm and leg exercises can drive rotation, which acts as a cheat code to increase anteroposterior expansion in a given area. Narrow ISAs are better at eccentric strategies; wide ISAs are better at concentric strategies. The femurs rotate during the swing. Posterior thorax orientation can give the appearance of humeral external rotation beyond 90 degrees. Shoulder flexion and lower cervical rotation can be used as a test in these individuals, as they are often limited. Image by Keith Johnston from Pixabay

Question: Will you be happy with the person your are today in 5 or even 10 years time?Our potential is just that OURS.. We must tap into our fullness and explore all that we have to offer.Listen in as we have a chat about some actionable steps.Great NEW's my New book 'What's Stopping you? Make that hard decision today!" is now available. Check it out on Amazon and my site click hereAlso look me up would love to connect with you all @selinacdavis

To learn more and apply to work one-on-one with Rachel, visit her website: https://www.metflexlife.com/ Join Rachel’s weekly newsletter: https://www.metflexlife.com/newsletter  In this episode, Rachel dives into her building phase progress, benefits of mini cuts, when it might be time to incorporate a mini cut, how to set macros to align with your goals, supplements, low intensity cardio, and much more! “By reducing body fat levels a bit, potentially increasing nutrient sensitivity, and mitigating some of the psychological burden that comes with putting on body fat...mini cuts can be a great tool.” Rachel Gregory Today's Questions: What’s a mini cut? Why do a mini cut? How aggressive of a caloric deficit do you typically aim for? Are you changing meal timing and macros or just reducing your caloric intake during your cut? Will you be following a keto approach? How would intermittent fasting and eating for muscle protein synthesis fit into a mini cut approach? When and what to eat? Are there certain dietary approaches that support a mini cut, for example, keto, carnivore or intermittent fasting? Are you following the same workout programming? Who should not do a mini cut? And why? Top Takeaways: Three reasons a mini cut could be beneficial  Physiological and Psychological benefits of mini cuts Accountability benefits in investing in a coach How to calculate caloric intake going into a deficit Benefits of using PSMF days during a diet Rachel’s Hunger Hacks Four ‘guidelines’ to check before thinking about going into a mini cut Show Notes: [0:00] Welcome back to MetFlex and Chill! Today’s episode is a Q&A discussing all things Mini Cuts! [0:30] Shout out to this month's sponsor for the show- Organifi! [1:30] Check out their products by going to www.organifi.com/metflex and you can use the code METFLEX for 15% off any of their products [2:30] What’s a mini cut? [3:30] Why do a mini cut? [15:00] Rachel dives into her stats from her building phase [18:00] Higher volume hypertrophy focused with minimal cardio [18:30] Check out Episode 56 and Episode 58 for more info on Energy Systems and a deep dive into cardio and conditioning [19:00] Question: How aggressive of a caloric deficit do you typically aim for? [19:30] Episode 10: Shifting Your Goals and Mindset, Optimizing At-Home Workouts, and Implementing Refeeds/Diet Breaks  [24:00] Question: Are you changing meal timing and macros or just reducing your caloric intake during your cut? [31:00] How to align macros to your goals during a cut [35:00] Question: Will you be following a keto approach? [37:00] Question: How would intermittent fasting and eating for muscle protein synthesis fit into a mini cut approach? [39:00] Episode 70: Reducing Cellulite, Best Workout Splits, And Ideal Meal Frequency For Building Muscle [41:00] Question: Will you be intermittent fasting and taking any supplements during the three week cut? [41:30] PSMF days [45:00] Rachel’s current pre-workout supplements Legion Stim Free Pre-Workout Organifi Red Juice [47:30] When and what to eat? [48:30] Download the FREE Hunger Hacks EBook by going to my website home page www.metflexlife.com  [49:30] Question: Are there certain dietary approaches that support a mini cut, for example, keto, carnivore or intermittent fasting? [51:00] Question: Are you following the same workout programming? [53:30] Question: Who should not do a mini cut? And why? [59:30] That’s a wrap! Thanks for listening and remember, if you enjoyed the episode and this podcast, please leave a review on Itunes and share it out.  [1:00:00] Check out Organifi products by going to www.organifi.com/metflex and you can use the code METFLEX for 15% off any of their products THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Shout out to this month's sponsor for the show- Organifi! Episode 56: Clearing Up The Cardio Confusion: Implementing Cardio for Fat Loss, Performance, and Overall Health Episode 58: Using Heart Rate Zones During Training, Deload Weeks, Protein Shakes, and Best Nutrition Science Books Episode 10: Shifting Your Goals and Mindset, Optimizing At-Home Workouts, and Implementing Refeeds/Diet Breaks --- Join the FREE MetFLex Life Course: www.metflexandchill.com Rachel Gregory (@rachelgregory.cns) is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Author of the best-selling book, 21-Day Ketogenic Diet Weight Loss Challenge. She received her Master’s Degree in Nutrition & Exercise Physiology from James Madison University and Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Miami. Rachel helps her clients transform their lives by starting with the physical (body), realizing the power of the mental (mindset), and ultimately gaining massive confidence that bleeds into every aspect of their lives (family, relationships, work, etc.).

To watch this episode, please visit Rachel’s YouTube channel. Listeners can find Brendan Ruh at his website scmedicinals.com and santacruzpaleo.com on Instagram @santacruzmedicinals and @santacruzpaleo_. Brendan Ruh is the founder of Santa Cruz Medicinals and Santa Cruz Paleo. While studying Medical Anthropology at UC Santa Cruz, he came across ancestral health and wellness and started to eat a Paleo/Keto diet. He then got into the cannabis industry working in a lab at one of the top cannabis extraction companies. While working in the lab, he started to research CBD and the studies on CBD and other cannabinoids. He realized that CBD works wonders but only in effective doses.  While researching CBD brands to use, he found that no brands offered the doses needed at an affordable cost. This led him to create Santa Cruz Medicinals to provide a high-quality, direct to consumer solution for CBD. After founding Santa Cruz Medicinals he is taking the same business principles of high quality products and an ingredient first mentality into Santa Cruz Paleo to provide amazing keto and paleo snacks, functional foods, and supplements. If you want to check out any of the Santa Cruz Medicinals Products you can use the code METFLEXLIFE for 15% off your order at scmedicinals.com. In this episode, we dive into all the basics surrounding CBD, understanding how to start with CBD products, how to find quality CBD, the difference between CBD and THC, using CBD to help with anxiety, sleep, stress, and more! "Curing something is going to require multiple angles of attacking it through nutrition, sleep, movement, and supplementation." Brendan Ruh Top Takeaways: How to find quality CBD A quick equation to use to figure out CBD dosage for yourself Facts and myths behind sativa and indica strains Two risky elements to look out for in CBD Benefits of adding CBD to your coffee  Today’s Questions: What is CBD? What is the difference between CBD and THC? What do you look for if you're looking for quality CBD products? What types are best? Does the dosing differ from person to person? If you don't feel anything, is it still working? Can you explain what the endocannabinoid system is? Does CBD have anti-inflammatory properties? Will it show up on a job drug screening test? Can you take too much CBD? Vitamins, minerals, and/or herbal supplements known to improve CBD function?  I've read that CBD helps with IBS. Is this true? Is it good to cycle CBD? Have you heard about anyone getting really bad headaches from taking CBD? Show Notes: [0:00] Welcome back to MetFlex and Chill! Rachel gives an overview of today’s episode: All Things CBD [1:00] A quick overview of today’s episode and questions asked [1:30] If you want to check out any of the Santa Cruz Medicinals Products you can use the code METFLEXLIFE for 15% off your order! [2:00] If you’re enjoying the show, the best way to help grow it is to leave a review on itunes podcast app or take a screenshot of the episode and tag @rachelgregory.cns if you share to your instagram stories [2:30] If you would like to watch the guest episodes check out Rachel’s YouTube Channel [3:00] Rachel introduces Brendan Ruh @santacruzmedicinals to the listeners!  [4:30] Question: What is CBD?  [7:00] Question: What is the difference between CBD and THC? [7:30] The Entourage Effect [9:00] Question: What do you look for if you're looking for quality CBD products? What types are best? [10:00] Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients [11:30] Question: Does the dosing differ from person to person?  [12:00] A systematic review of cannabidiol dosing in clinical populations [12:30] A simple equation to use to figure out how much CBD dosage to start with [13:30] Question: If you don't feel anything, is it still working? [16:30] Question: Can you explain what the endocannabinoid system is? [16:30] CB1 Receptors and CB2 Receptors [17:30] Sativa vs. Indica [18:30] What is a terpene wheel? [20:30] Question: Does CBD have anti inflammatory properties? [20:30] Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs [24:00] Question: Will it show up on a job drug screening test?  [24:30] H.R.3884 - Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019 [26:00] Proposition 64 [26:30] Heavy Metals and Pesticides in CBD [27:30] Question: Can you take too much CBD?  [29:30] Adaptogenic Mushrooms [30:00] Question: Vitamins, minerals, and/or herbal supplements known to improve CBD function? [32:30] Deep Sleep Formula [34:30] Question: I've read CBD helps with IBS. Is this true?  [35:00] Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs [36:30] Question: Is it helpful for adrenal fatigue? [39:30] Question: Is it good to cycle CBD? [40:30] Question: Have you heard about anyone getting really bad headaches from taking CBD? [44:30] Question: What is something that you've changed your mind about in the last year? And why? [47:00] Question: Is there anything you've personally been experimenting with? Or implemented lately in your own nutrition, fitness lifestyle that you've noticed benefits from? [49:00] Where to start with Santa Cruz Medicinals! [51:00] What is CBG? [51:30] Launching Santa Cruz Paleo! [54:30] You can find Brendan at @santacruzmedicinals and @santacruzpaleo_ [55:00] If you want to check out any of the Santa Cruz Medicinals Products you can use the code METFLEXLIFE for 15% off your order! --- Join the FREE MetFLex Life Course: www.metflexandchill.com Rachel Gregory (@rachelgregory.cns) is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Author of the best-selling book, 21-Day Ketogenic Diet Weight Loss Challenge. She received her Master’s Degree in Nutrition & Exercise Physiology from James Madison University and Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Miami. Rachel helps her clients transform their lives by starting with the physical (body), realizing the power of the mental (mindset), and ultimately gaining massive confidence that bleeds into every aspect of their lives (family, relationships, work, etc.).

-This week ,The boys are talking about the new Dualsense controller, Cyberpunk delayed again?! Loot boxes are still bad and will never change, and Halo: Infinite is looking pretty rocky. All that and a little side tangent into Pokemon. Question: Will any more of our most anticipated games get delayed again? Twitter: (@emergencypizza_)(@fatal_microwave)   Twitch.tv/lonercast

With less than 24 hours left before the 2020 United States elections, Real Talk with Theo Korolev gives you a behind the scenes listen to a zoom call between two young political enthusiasts, Joe and Luke, as they discuss the following question about this presidential campaign. Please note that this was recorded on July 3rd, and that things might have changed since then. We did this so that you listeners could see exactly how four months in the world of politics could alter each candidate's chances in being the new president of the United States. Our goal, here on Real Talk, was to create an atmosphere where people have the freedom to express themselves and their knowledge to the world. Therefore, we kindly ask all listeners to enjoy the show and listen in a positive light. We understand that not all would agree to all the statements that you are about to hear, However We ask, for the protection of this wonderful panel, that if you have any questions or concerns, you reach out to Real Talk with Theo Korolev website and we will address them as soon as possible. Politics is a very sensitive topic nowadays in America, but we hope you get to enjoy your listen and potentially learn something new, because that is what this show is all about. Now sit back, relax, and...make sure you vote. Question: Will voter suppression play a role in the outcome of the 2020 presidential race? Why do you think people are not voting? Will the Electoral College again trump (pun intended) the popular vote? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theo-korolev/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theo-korolev/support

Are you ready to rethink what's possible in your climbing life? There's a good chance that your perceived limit is actually a self-imposed imaginary boundary! Once again this month, I present an episode of Training Cafe, my twice-monthly video Livestream coaching show on YouTube and Facebook live. The main topic delves into pursuing next-level projects...and the importance of challenging your inner fears of failure and criticism, just like pro climbers do. Now is the time to think bigger...develop a system...and execute your plan with uncommon discipline! Podcast Rundown 2:57 - Beginning of TRAINING CAFE. Main topic is "Turning Impossible into I'm Possible!" 3:12 – But first, we sip coffee together! 3:30 – SHOUT OUT to Chuck Odette, age 64, for sending 5.14b last week! #Legend 4:20 – What it takes to climb hard late into life. 5:20 – MAIN TOPIC: Turning Impossible into I’m Possible 6:10 – Setting goals is easy. Developing an effective SYSTEM for progress towards the goal is harder….and maintaining long-term discipline is even harder yet! 6:55  – Examples of IMPOSSIBLE becoming POSSIBLE…big or small, they can be life-changing. 8:45 – Einstein’s quote must be followed by action! 9:50 – Climbing examples of “I’m Possible”! 11:00 – Ignore the skeptics…don’t take on their #Loserthink! 13:20– High achievers don’t spend a lot of time on social media, gossip, or other time-wasting activities. 14:20 – Need to be somewhat of a compulsive planner. 15:00 – Have a vivid picture in mind every day–build a belief in the goal, and action for bias…and a “get shit done” attitude. 18:50 – Breaking into a new grade in climbing…demands a new level of thinking and novel, disciplined action. Learn from greats like Gullich, Ondra, Hill, Janja Garnbret, Margo Hayes. 20:20 – Great achievements don’t happen by accident! 22:30 – Final tip for your Fall climbing season…. 23:30 -  YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED! 23:40 – Question: Training suggestions for trip to Red River Gorge in December. 26:26 – Question: Can I combine Repeater hangboard training with another exercise like Pull-up training? 29:06 – Question: What is “Aerobic Power”? How to train it? 33:14 - Question: Thoughts on bouldering with weight on as training? 36:09  – Question: How to break a hangboarding finger strength plateau? 38:33 – Question: Can I do shoulder and core training every day? 40:50 – Question: Will taking Beta-Alanine benefit my training and climbing? 43:20 – Question: Can I use the 7/53 maximum strength protocol to train a variety of grip positions? 47:00 – Question: What training advice for a 13-year-old girl wanting to improve to 5.11? 48:09 – Question: How to incorporate technique-training into weekly strength-training schedule? 53:03 – Question: How to deal with naysayers, critics, and trolls? 56:30 – Episode wrap-up. Shout out to the many companies that support what I do: La Sportiva shoes, Maxim Ropes, DMM, Organic, Friction Labs, and PhysiVantage PLEASE write an iTunes review of the T4C podcast, and consider sharing this podcast with a friend and on your social media. SUPPORT THIS PODCAST! Save 15% on PhysiVantage performance Nutrition. Used by a growing number of pro climbers and thousands of recreational climbers around the world. Give PhysiVantage a try, and feel the difference it makes in your climbing! SAVE on La Sportiva shoes >> Thank yous: La Sportiva, Maxim Ropes, DMM Climbing, Friction Labs, Organic Climbing. Music by Misty Murphy Follow Eric on Twitter @Train4Climbing Check out Eric’s YouTube channel. Follow Eric on Facebook! And on Instagram at: Training4Climbing Visit PhysiVantage.com and get a 15% discount on full-price items with checkout code: PODCAST15

Title: Ni**a please!Ok family its time for your after visit summary …If you are a new listener to [2 Dope Docs], we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Website 2 dope docs.net or check out our instagram and facebook @2dope_docs . You can also email us at official2dopedocs@gmail.com and let us know how we can improve or leave us a comment if you enjoyed your unorthodox , doctors visit!In this episode, of 2 Dope Docs we discussed:Ice Cube and 50 cent photoshopped with MAGA hatsCoronavirus PandemicLGBTQ community suffering from cardiovascular problems at a higher rate than non LGBTQ community Gayness & Glory Woman of the Week-Laverne Cox Netflix & Chill-Girlfriends and Schitt's CreekWhiteness-"I don't see color"Gen X v. Millenials and their selfie gameDont forget to Follow our Podcasthttps://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1349104.rssFollow our Host Dr.Hawkins and Dr.B at@2dope_docs on ig@2dopedocs on twitter@2dopedocs on fbOr @2dopedocs.netJoin the ConversationOur favorite part of recording a podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our chat, on social media, and in our comments section. Leave us a voicemail and potentially hear yourself on our show! This weeks follow up question is:Question: Will you get the COVID-19 vaccine? Will you let your children get vaccinated? Why or why not?Explore these ResourcesIn this episode, we mentioned the following resources:Lavernecox.comJandsdesigns215.com for all your apparel needshttps://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/10/08/heart-health-report-aims-to-bolster-research-boost-care-for-lgbtq-patients

Question: Will life be worth watching and experiencing if you continue to let the fear of judgement from others hold you back? If you let fear control you from doing the things you want to try, do, and accomplish, will you be happy? This fear was real for me. In fact, it still shows up in my life at times. But there is no way I want to look back on my life, experiences, and opportunities that I had the choice to say yes to and realize how many things I said no to due to the fear of judgement from others.  In today's episode, I share with you 3 lessons that I have learned, practiced, and succeeded in moving past this fear. I also mention these fears that I have had and grown through: In the gym An unknown environment Groups of people Not being able to help everyone Being made fun of and laughed at Not taken seriously Failure Let's work to move past this fear so you can be free to do the things you want to do and be who you were made to be! Connect with me here: Instagram: sophia_dawn41 Instagram: Flow with the Grow Podcast Facebook: Sophia Dawn Nehlich-Arobba

Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT 'Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.' Sadly, Christianity is most often presented as a story about sin, or separation from God. Yet, scripture reveals that God is always present with his creation, and he knew and loved each one of us even before our creation. ‘Love’ is a difficult word to comprehend. It applies equally to an appreciation of a fish and chip supper as it does to a lifetime’s commitment to another person through marriage. The stakes for the latter are somewhat higher than the former. It is a word that is open to exploration and discovery. I will through experience determine the degree to which I will love and allow myself to be loved. The greatest love is one that lies well beyond my deepest comprehension. It is the love of God, which I’m invited to spend a lifetime exploring. I have the opportunity to learn how to love by the way I choose to live. The external pressure is always to shrink and withdraw into a world I conceive as offering me safety. Yet this is cold comfort compared to the inexhaustible dimensions of God’s love. However, I can only enjoy this fullness in as far as I let go of my own prejudices and selfish search for a love born of utility alone. You are in a battle for the very essence of your being. So much of life seeks to create suspicion and fear, all those feelings that lead us away from experiencing God’s immeasurable love. QUESTION: Will you take up the challenge to go in search of God’s never-ending love story? PRAYER: Thank you, God, that your love is not a superficial tale of romance. You offer me a robust approach to all of life.

Acts 2:39-41 NLT 'This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away – all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time…Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day – about 3,000 in all.' The spread of Christianity is a remarkable story. From persecuted sect to state stakeholder, the Church emerged from the shadows within 300 years of Christ's death and resurrection. As those first disciples gathered in obedient uncertainty in the upper room in Jerusalem, no one could have imagined the future influence of the spiritual transformation that awaited society. Despite setbacks and continued persecution, a faith born in the Middle East somehow spread to embrace the whole world. According to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey, there were 2.18 billion Christians around the world in 2010. The growth continues. Where once St Paul had to travel throughout the known Mediterranean world at great personal risk to carry the gospel message, today new technology means that Premier, through its broadcast, digital and publishing programmes, can share the good news widely, while also encouraging Christians to build up the household of faith. Life never stands still. I’m encouraged and resourced through Premier in being reminded not only of my call to mission but of the steady advance of the Christian Church down the centuries. I am an inheritor of the great works of faith of my Christian forebears. I am myself invited to play my part in living and sharing the gospel. Join with all of us who make up Premier’s Church on the airwaves to see God’s will and purpose emerge through the apparent setbacks society faces. QUESTION: Will you, like that band of frightened disciples, renew your commitment to God and invite the Holy Spirit to renew your resolve to serve God’s purposes on earth? PRAYER: Lord, we are grateful for Premier’s huge impact on effective mission over the last 25 years. Today we pray for your gospel to continue to spread through every street in every town and city across these islands of ours. We commit to supporting Premier as a critical partner in mission for this time.

Acts 2:1-2 NLT 'On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.' It is remarkable what can grow from such small, inconspicuous beginnings. A group of disciples, huddled together for safety, wait for a promised visitation from God. All faith ventures require obedience to God and great personal courage. From a seed planted and resourced through prayer and financial donations in 1994, a platform to carry God’s word was born. Initially, like the disciples in Jerusalem, it was focused on one city, London. But as the Holy Spirit blessed and nurtured this seed, it grew to broadcast nationwide. From a small team of pioneers, Premier has grown to a larger team that now includes regional producers who daily gather news stories from across the UK about all God is doing nationwide. Like the early disciples, we must engage in faithful prayer to see the word of God spread. So, in this celebratory 25th year, Premier wants to gather 25,000 to pray for the UK and the breaking of the chains that bind us. The media carries story upon story of the enormous challenges across our nation, from the rise in the need for foodbanks to the virtual collapse of social care. Here there is a need for God’s people to step up and pray. These are not simply political and economic issues. They reflect our need for God’s wisdom, grace and mercy. This is our opportunity to move from being mere observers and commentators on ‘what’s going wrong’, and assume the responsibility to pray. QUESTION: Will you set aside time for prayer for the future of our national life? PRAYER: Today we pray that Premier will be key to raising up a company of prayer among your people. Those who will pray for the kingdom of God to come on earth. A people who will carry the very real needs of our national life and those most negatively impacted. For those in positions of authority who take the political and financial decisions that affect both the present and future for all of us.

In this episode of Business Matters, Roxanne Sexton with the Bean Team discusses the Paycheck Protection Program and more specifically, how to maximize the loan forgiveness provisions of the PPP. We outline and then discuss the 4 categories provided by the PPP to determine the amount of loan that will be forgiven. Of course, all of this is based on the guidelines issued through the time of the recording.   PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)The Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, intends to provide timely additional guidance to address borrower and lender questions concerning the implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), established by section 1102 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act or the Act). This document will be updated on a regular basis.Borrowers and lenders may rely on the guidance provided in this document as SBA’s interpretation of the CARES Act and of the Paycheck Protection Program Interim Final Rules (“PPP Interim Final Rules”) (link). The U.S. government will not challenge lender PPP actions that conform to this guidance,1 and to the PPP Interim Final Rules and any subsequent rulemaking in effect at the time.Question: Paragraph 3.b.iii of the PPP Interim Final Rule states that lenders must “[c]onfirm the dollar amount of average monthly payroll costs for the preceding calendar year by reviewing the payroll documentation submitted with the borrower’s application.” Does that require the lender to replicate every borrower’s calculations? Answer: No. Providing an accurate calculation of payroll costs is the responsibility of the borrower, and the borrower attests to the accuracy of those calculations on the Borrower Application Form. Lenders are expected to perform a good faith review, in a reasonable time, of the borrower’s calculations and supporting documents concerning average monthly payroll cost. For example, minimal review of calculations based on a payroll report by a recognized third-party payroll processor would be reasonable. In addition, as the PPP Interim Final Rule indicates, lenders may rely on borrower representations, including with respect to amounts required to be excluded from payroll costs.If the lender identifies errors in the borrower’s calculation or material lack of substantiation in the borrower’s supporting documents, the lender should work with the borrower to remedy the issue.2 Question: Are small business concerns (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632) required to have 500 or fewer employees to be eligible borrowers in the PPP? Answer: No. Small business concerns can be eligible borrowers even if they have more than 500 employees, as long as they satisfy the existing statutory and regulatory definition of a “small business concern” under section 3 of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632. A business can qualify if it meets the SBA employee-based or revenue-As of May 3, 2020based size standard corresponding to its primary industry. Go to www.sba.gov/size for the industry size standards.Additionally, a business can qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program as a small business concern if it met both tests in SBA’s “alternative size standard” as of March 27, 2020: (1) maximum tangible net worth of the business is not more than $15 million; and (2) the average net income after Federal income taxes (excluding any carry-over losses) of the business for the two full fiscal years before the date of the application is not more than $5 million.A business that qualifies as a small business concern under section 3 of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632, may truthfully attest to its eligibility for PPP loans on the Borrower Application Form, unless otherwise ineligible.Question: Does my business have to qualify as a small business concern (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632) in order to participate in the PPP? Answer: No. In addition to small business concerns, a business is eligible for a PPP loan if the business has 500 or fewer employees whose principal place of residence is in the United States, or the business meets the SBA employee-based size standards for the industry in which it operates (if applicable). Similarly, PPP loans are also available for qualifying tax-exempt nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), tax-exempt veterans organization described in section 501(c)(19) of the IRC, and Tribal business concerns described in section 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act that have 500 or fewer employees whose principal place of residence is in the United States, or meet the SBA employee-based size standards for the industry in which they operate.Question: Are lenders required to make an independent determination regarding applicability of affiliation rules under 13 C.F.R. 121.301(f) to borrowers? Answer: No. It is the responsibility of the borrower to determine which entities (if any) are its affiliates and determine the employee headcount of the borrower and its affiliates. Lenders are permitted to rely on borrowers’ certifications.Question: Are borrowers required to apply SBA’s affiliation rules under 13 C.F.R. 121.301(f)? Answer: Yes. Borrowers must apply the affiliation rules set forth in SBA’s Interim Final Rule on Affiliation. A borrower must certify on the Borrower Application Form that the borrower is eligible to receive a PPP loan, and that certification means that the borrower is a small business concern as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632), meets the applicable SBA employee-based or revenue-based size standard, or meets the tests in SBA’s alternative size standard, after applying the affiliation rules, if applicable. SBA’s existing affiliation exclusions apply to the PPP, including, for example the exclusions under 13 CFR 121.103(b)(2).As of May 3, 2020Question: The affiliation rule based on ownership (13 C.F.R. 121.301(f)(1)) states that SBA will deem a minority shareholder in a business to control the business if the shareholder has the right to prevent a quorum or otherwise block action by the board of directors or shareholders. If a minority shareholder irrevocably gives up those rights, is it still considered to be an affiliate of the business? Answer: No. If a minority shareholder in a business irrevocably waives or relinquishes any existing rights specified in 13 C.F.R. 121.301(f)(1), the minority shareholder would no longer be an affiliate of the business (assuming no other relationship that triggers the affiliation rules).Question: The CARES Act excludes from the definition of payroll costs any employee compensation in excess of an annual salary of $100,000. Does that exclusion apply to all employee benefits of monetary value? Answer: No. The exclusion of compensation in excess of $100,000 annually applies only to cash compensation, not to non-cash benefits, including:employer contributions to defined-benefit or defined-contribution retirement plans;payment for the provision of employee benefits consisting of group health care coverage, including insurance premiums; andpayment of state and local taxes assessed on compensation of employees. Question: Do PPP loans cover paid sick leave? Answer: Yes. PPP loans covers payroll costs, including costs for employee vacation, parental, family, medical, and sick leave. However, the CARES Act excludes qualified sick and family leave wages for which a credit is allowed under sections 7001 and 7003 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116–127). Learn more about the Paid Sick Leave Refundable Credit here.Question: My small business is a seasonal business whose activity increases from April to June. Considering activity from that period would be a more accurate reflection of my business’s operations. However, my small business was not fully ramped up on February 15, 2020. Am I still eligible? Answer: In evaluating a borrower’s eligibility, a lender may consider whether a seasonal borrower was in operation on February 15, 2020 or for an 8-week period between February 15, 2019 and June 30, 2019.Question: What if an eligible borrower contracts with a third-party payer such as a payroll provider or a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to process payroll and report payroll taxes? Answer: SBA recognizes that eligible borrowers that use PEOs or similar payroll providers are required under some state registration laws to report wage and other data onAs of May 3, 2020the Employer Identification Number (EIN) of the PEO or other payroll provider. In these cases, payroll documentation provided by the payroll provider that indicates the amount of wages and payroll taxes reported to the IRS by the payroll provider for the borrower’s employees will be considered acceptable PPP loan payroll documentation. Relevant information from a Schedule R (Form 941), Allocation Schedule for Aggregate Form 941 Filers, attached to the PEO’s or other payroll provider’s Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, should be used if it is available; otherwise, the eligible borrower should obtain a statement from the payroll provider documenting the amount of wages and payroll taxes. In addition, employees of the eligible borrower will not be considered employees of the eligible borrower’s payroll provider or PEO.Question: May lenders accept signatures from a single individual who is authorized to sign on behalf of the borrower? Answer: Yes. However, the borrower should bear in mind that, as the Borrower Application Form indicates, only an authorized representative of the business seeking a loan may sign on behalf of the business. An individual’s signature as an “Authorized Representative of Applicant” is a representation to the lender and to the U.S. government that the signer is authorized to make the certifications, including with respect to the applicant and each owner of 20% or more of the applicant’s equity, contained in the Borrower Application Form. Lenders may rely on that representation and accept a single individual’s signature on that basis.Question: I need to request a loan to support my small business operations in light of current economic uncertainty. However, I pleaded guilty to a felony crime a very long time ago. Am I still eligible for the PPP? Answer: Yes. Businesses are only ineligible if an owner of 20 percent or more of the equity of the applicant is presently incarcerated, on probation, on parole; subject to an indictment, criminal information, arraignment, or other means by which formal criminal charges are brought in any jurisdiction; or, within the last five years, for any felony, has been convicted; pleaded guilty; pleaded nolo contendere; been placed on pretrial diversion; or been placed on any form of parole or probation (including probation before judgment).Question: Are lenders permitted to use their own online portals and an electronic form that they create to collect the same information and certifications as in the Borrower Application Form, in order to complete implementation of their online portals? Answer: Yes. Lenders may use their own online systems and a form they establish that asks for the same information (using the same language) as the Borrower Application Form. Lenders are still required to send the data to SBA using SBA’s interface.Question: What time period should borrowers use to determine their number of employees and payroll costs to calculate their maximum loan amounts? As of May 3, 2020Answer: In general, borrowers can calculate their aggregate payroll costs using data either from the previous 12 months or from calendar year 2019. For seasonal businesses, the applicant may use average monthly payroll for the period between February 15, 2019, or March 1, 2019, and June 30, 2019. An applicant that was not in business from February 15, 2019 to June 30, 2019 may use the average monthly payroll costs for the period January 1, 2020 through February 29, 2020.Borrowers may use their average employment over the same time periods to determine their number of employees, for the purposes of applying an employee-based size standard. Alternatively, borrowers may elect to use SBA’s usual calculation: the average number of employees per pay period in the 12 completed calendar months prior to the date of the loan application (or the average number of employees for each of the pay periods that the business has been operational, if it has not been operational for 12 months).Question: Should payments that an eligible borrower made to an independent contractor or sole proprietor be included in calculations of the eligible borrower’s payroll costs? Answer: No. Any amounts that an eligible borrower has paid to an independent contractor or sole proprietor should be excluded from the eligible business’s payroll costs. However, an independent contractor or sole proprietor will itself be eligible for a loan under the PPP, if it satisfies the applicable requirements.Question: How should a borrower account for federal taxes when determining its payroll costs for purposes of the maximum loan amount, allowable uses of a PPP loan, and the amount of a loan that may be forgiven? Answer: Under the Act, payroll costs are calculated on a gross basis without regard to (i.e., not including subtractions or additions based on) federal taxes imposed or withheld, such as the employee’s and employer’s share of Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and income taxes required to be withheld from employees. As a result, payroll costs are not reduced by taxes imposed on an employee and required to be withheld by the employer, but payroll costs do not include the employer’s share of payroll tax. For example, an employee who earned $4,000 per month in gross wages, from which $500 in federal taxes was withheld, would count as $4,000 in payroll costs. The employee would receive $3,500, and $500 would be paid to the federal government. However, the employer-side federal payroll taxes imposed on the $4,000 in wages are excluded from payroll costs under the statute.33 The definition of “payroll costs” in the CARES Act, 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)(A)(viii), excludes “taxes imposed or withheld under chapters 21, 22, or 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 during the covered period,” defined as February 15, 2020, to June 30, 2020. As described above, the SBA interprets this statutory exclusion to mean that payroll costs are calculated on a gross basis, without subtracting federal taxes that are imposed on the employee or withheld from employee wages. Unlike employer-side payroll taxes, such employee-side taxes are ordinarily expressed as a reduction in employee take-home pay; their exclusion from the definition of payroll costs means payroll costs should not be reduced based on taxes imposed on the employee or withheld from employee wages. This interpretation is consistent with the text of the statute and advances the legislative purpose of ensuring workersAs of May 3, 2020remain paid and employed. Further, because the reference period for determining a borrower’s maximum loan amount will largely or entirely precede the period from February 15, 2020, to June 30, 2020, and the period during which borrowers will be subject to the restrictions on allowable uses of the loans may extend beyond that period, for purposes of the determination of allowable uses of loans and the amount of loan forgiveness, this statutory exclusion will apply with respect to such taxes imposed or withheld at any time, not only during such period.4 Questions 2 – 18 published April 6, 2020.5 Questions 19 – 20 published April 8, 2020.Question: I filed or approved a loan application based on the version of the PPP Interim Final Rule published on April 2, 2020. Do I need to take any action based on the updated guidance in these FAQs? Answer: No. Borrowers and lenders may rely on the laws, rules, and guidance available at the time of the relevant application. However, borrowers whose previously submitted loan applications have not yet been processed may revise their applications based on clarifications reflected in these FAQs.Question: Are PPP loans for existing customers considered new accounts for FinCEN Rule CDD purposes? Are lenders required to collect, certify, or verify beneficial ownership information in accordance with the rule requirements for existing customers? Answer: If the PPP loan is being made to an existing customer and the necessary information was previously verified, you do not need to re-verify the information. Furthermore, if federally insured depository institutions and federally insured credit unions eligible to participate in the PPP program have not yet collected beneficial ownership information on existing customers, such institutions do not need to collect and verify beneficial ownership information for those customers applying for new PPP loans, unless otherwise indicated by the lender’s risk-based approach to BSA compliance.4Question: Do lenders have to use a promissory note provided by SBA or may they use their own? Answer: Lenders may use their own promissory note or an SBA form of promissory note.Question: The amount of forgiveness of a PPP loan depends on the borrower’s payroll costs over an eight-week period; when does that eight-week period begin? Answer: The eight-week period begins on the date the lender makes the first disbursement of the PPP loan to the borrower. The lender must make the first disbursement of the loan no later than ten calendar days from the date of loan approval.5Question: Do lenders need a separate SBA Authorization document to issue PPP loans? Answer: No. A lender does not need a separate SBA Authorization for SBA to guarantee a PPP loan. However, lenders must have executed SBA Form 2484 (theAs of May 3, 2020to issue PPP loans and receive a loan number for each originated PPP loan. Lenders may include in their promissory notes for PPP loans any terms and conditions, including relating to amortization and disclosure, that are not inconsistent with Sections 1102 and 1106 of the CARES Act, the PPP Interim Final Rules and guidance, and SBA Form 2484.As of May 3, 2020Lender Application Form for the Paycheck Protection Program)6to issue PPP loans and receive a loan number for eachoriginated PPP loan. Lendersmay include in theirpromissory notes for PPP loans any terms and conditions, including relating to amortization and disclosure, that arenot inconsistent with Sections 1102 and 1106 of theCARES Act, the PPP Interim Final Rulesand guidance, and SBA Form 2484.22.Question: I am a non-bank lender that meets allapplicable criteria of the PPP InterimFinal Rule. Will I be automatically enrolledas a PPP lender? What criteria will SBAand theTreasuryDepartmentuse to assess whetherto approvemy application to participate as a PPP lender? Answer:We encourage lenders that arenot currently7(a) lenders to apply in order to increase the scope of PPP lending optionsand the speed with which PPP loanscan be disbursedtohelp small businesses across America.We recognize that financialtechnology solutionscan promote efficiency and financial inclusionin implementingthePPP. Applicants should submit SBA Form 3507 and the relevant attachments to NFRLApplicationForPPP@sba.gov.Submission of theSBA Form3507does notresult in automatic enrollmentin the PPP.SBA and the Treasury Department willevaluate each application from anon-bank or non-insured depository institution lenderand determine whetherthe applicant has the necessary qualifications to process, close,disburse, andservice PPP loans made with SBA’sguarantee. SBAmay requestadditionalinformation from the applicant beforemaking a determination.23.Question: How do the $10 million cap and affiliationruleswork for franchises? Answer:If a franchise brand islisted on the SBA Franchise Directory,each of itsfranchiseesthat meets the applicable size standardcan apply for a PPP loan. (Thefranchisor does not apply on behalf of its franchisees.)The $10 million cap on PPP loansis a limit perfranchisee entity,and each franchisee is limited to one PPP loan.Franchise brands that have been denied listing on the Directory because of affiliation between franchisor andfranchisee may request listing toreceive PPP loans.SBA willnot apply affiliation rules to afranchise brand requesting listing on the Directory to participatein the PPP, but SBA will confirm that the brandis otherwiseeligible for listing on the Directory.24.Question: How do the $10 million cap and affiliationruleswork for hotels and restaurants (and any business assigned a North American Industry Classification System(NAICS)code beginning with 72)? Answer:Under the CARES Act,any singlebusinessentitythat is assigned a NAICScode beginning with 72 (includinghotels andrestaurants) andthat employs not more than 500employees perphysicallocationiseligible to receive a PPPloan.6Thisrequirementissatisfiedbyalenderwhenthelendercompletesthe processofsubmitting aloan through the E-Transystem;notransmissionorretentionofaphysical copy of Form2484isrequired.As of May 3, 2020In addition, SBA’s affiliation rules (13 CFR 121.103 and 13 CFR 121.301) do not apply to any business entity that is assigned a NAICS code beginning with 72 and that employs not more than a total of 500 employees. As a result, if each hotel or restaurant location owned by a parent business is a separate legal business entity, each hotel or restaurant location that employs not more than 500 employees is permitted to apply for a separate PPP loan provided it uses its unique EIN.The $10 million maximum loan amount limitation applies to each eligible business entity, because individual business entities cannot apply for more than one loan. The following examples illustrate how these principles apply.Example 1. Company X directly owns multiple restaurants and has no affiliates.Company X may apply for a PPP loan if it employs 500 or fewer employees per location (including at its headquarters), even if the total number of employees employed across all locations is over 500. Example 2. Company X wholly owns Company Y and Company Z (as a result, Companies X, Y, and Z are all affiliates of one another). Company Y and Company Z each own a single restaurant with 500 or fewer employees.Company Y and Company Z can each apply for a separate PPP loan, because each has 500 or fewer employees. The affiliation rules do not apply, because Company Y and Company Z each has 500 or fewer employees and is in the food services business (with a NAICS code beginning with 72). Example 3. Company X wholly owns Company Y and Company Z (as a result, Companies X, Y, and Z are all affiliates of one another). Company Y owns a restaurant with 400 employees. Company Z is a construction company with 400 employees.Company Y is eligible for a PPP loan because it has 500 or fewer employees. The affiliation rules do not apply to Company Y, because it has 500 or fewer employees and is in the food services business (with a NAICS code beginning with 72).The waiver of the affiliation rules does not apply to Company Z, because Company Z is in the construction industry. Under SBA’s affiliation rules, 13 CFR 121.301(f)(1) and (3), Company Y and Company Z are affiliates of one another because they are under the common control of Company X, which wholly owns both companies. This means that the size of Company Z is determined by adding its employees to those of Companies X and Y. Therefore, Company Z is deemed to have more than 500 employees, together with its affiliates. However, Company Z may be eligible to receive a PPP loan as a small business concern if it, together with Companies X and Y, meets SBA’s other applicable size standards,” as explained in FAQ #2. Question: Does the information lenders are required to collect from PPP applicants regarding every owner who has a 20% or greater ownership stake in the applicant business (i.e., owner name, title, ownership %, TIN, and address) satisfy a lender’s obligation to collect beneficial ownership information (which has a 25% ownership threshold) under the Bank Secrecy Act? As of May 3, 2020Answer: For lenders with existing customers: With respect to collecting beneficial ownership information for owners holding a 20% or greater ownership interest, if the PPP loan is being made to an existing customer and the lender previously verified the necessary information, the lender does not need to re-verify the information. Furthermore, if federally insured depository institutions and federally insured credit unions eligible to participate in the PPP program have not yet collected such beneficial ownership information on existing customers, such institutions do not need to collect and verify beneficial ownership information for those customers applying for new PPP loans, unless otherwise indicated by the lender’s risk-based approach to Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) compliance.For lenders with new customers: For new customers, the lender’s collection of the following information from all natural persons with a 20% or greater ownership stake in the applicant business will be deemed to satisfy applicable BSA requirements and FinCEN regulations governing the collection of beneficial ownership information: owner name, title, ownership %, TIN, address, and date of birth. If any ownership interest of 20% or greater in the applicant business belongs to a business or other legal entity, lenders will need to collect appropriate beneficial ownership information for that entity. If you have questions about requirements related to beneficial ownership, go to https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-and-regulations/cdd-final-rule. Decisions regarding further verification of beneficial ownership information collected from new customers should be made pursuant to the lender’s risk-based approach to BSA compliance.77 Questions 21 – 25 published April 13, 2020.Question: SBA regulations require approval by SBA’s Standards of Conduct Committee (SCC) for SBA Assistance, other than disaster assistance, to an entity, if its sole proprietor, partner, officer, director, or stockholder with a 10 percent or more interest is: a current SBA employee; a Member of Congress; an appointed official or employee of the legislative or judicial branch; a member or employee of an SBA Advisory Council or SCORE volunteer; or a household member of any of the preceding individuals. Do these entities need the approval of the SCC in order to be eligible for a PPP loan? Answer: The SCC has authorized a blanket approval for PPP loans to such entities so that further action by the SCC is not necessary in the PPP program.Question: SBA regulations require a written statement of no objection by the pertinent Department or military service before it provides any SBA Assistance, other than disaster loans, to an entity, if its sole proprietor, partner, officer, director, or stockholder with a 10 percent or more interest, or if a household member of any of the preceding individuals, is an employee of another Government Department or Agency having a grade of at least GS-13 or its equivalent. Does this requirement apply to PPP loans? As of May 3, 2020Answer: No. The SCC has determined that a written statement of no objection is not required from another Government Department or Agency for PPP loans.Question: Is a lender permitted to submit a PPP loan application to SBA through E-Tran before the lender has fulfilled its responsibility to review the required borrower documentation and calculation of payroll costs? Answer: No. Before a lender submits a PPP loan through E-Tran, the lender must have collected the information and certifications contained in the Borrower Application Form and the lender must have fulfilled its obligations set forth in paragraphs 3.b.(i)-(iii) of the PPP Interim Final Rule. Please refer to the Interim Final Rule and FAQ #1 for more information on the lender’s responsibility regarding confirmation of payroll costs.Lenders who did not understand that these steps are required before submission to E-Tran need not withdraw applications submitted to E-Tran before April 14, 2020, but must fulfill lender responsibilities with respect to those applications as soon as practicable and no later than loan closing.88 Questions 26 – 28 published April 14, 2020.9 Question 29 published April 15, 2020.10 Question 30 published April 17, 2020.Question: Can lenders use scanned copies of documents or E-signatures or E-consents permitted by the E-sign Act? Answer: Yes. All PPP lenders may accept scanned copies of signed loan applications and documents containing the information and certifications required by SBA Form 2483 and the promissory note used for the PPP loan. Additionally, lenders may also accept any form of E-consent or E-signature that complies with the requirements of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (P.L. 106-229).If electronic signatures are not feasible, when obtaining a wet ink signature without in-person contact, lenders should take appropriate steps to ensure the proper party has executed the document.This guidance does not supersede signature requirements imposed by other applicable law, including by the lender’s primary federal regulator.9Question: Can a lender sell a PPP loan into the secondary market? Answer: Yes. A PPP loan may be sold into the secondary market at any time after the loan is fully disbursed. A secondary market sale of a PPP loan does not require SBA approval. A PPP loan sold into the secondary market is 100% SBA guaranteed. A PPP loan may be sold on the secondary market at a premium or a discount to par value.10As of May 3, 2020Question: Do businesses owned by large companies with adequate sources of liquidity to support the business’s ongoing operations qualify for a PPP loan? Answer: In addition to reviewing applicable affiliation rules to determine eligibility, all borrowers must assess their economic need for a PPP loan under the standard established by the CARES Act and the PPP regulations at the time of the loan application. Although the CARES Act suspends the ordinary requirement that borrowers must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere (as defined in section 3(h) of the Small Business Act), borrowers still must certify in good faith that their PPP loan request is necessary. Specifically, before submitting a PPP application, all borrowers should review carefully the required certification that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant.” Borrowers must make this certification in good faith, taking into account their current business activity and their ability to access other sources of liquidity sufficient to support their ongoing operations in a manner that is not significantly detrimental to the business. For example, it is unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets will be able to make the required certification in good faith, and such a company should be prepared to demonstrate to SBA, upon request, the basis for its certification.Lenders may rely on a borrower’s certification regarding the necessity of the loan request. Any borrower that applied for a PPP loan prior to the issuance of this guidance and repays the loan in full by May 7, 2020 will be deemed by SBA to have made the required certification in good faith.1111 Question 31 published April 23, 2020.Question: Does the cost of a housing stipend or allowance provided to an employee as part of compensation count toward payroll costs? Answer: Yes. Payroll costs includes all cash compensation paid to employees, subject to the $100,000 annual compensation per employee limitation.Question: Is there existing guidance to help PPP applicants and lenders determine whether an individual employee’s principal place of residence is in the United States? Answer: PPP applicants and lenders may consider IRS regulations (26 CFR § 1.121-1(b)(2)) when determining whether an individual employee’s principal place of residence is in the United States.Question: Are agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers eligible for PPP loans? Answer: Yes. Agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers are eligible for PPP loans if: (i) the business has 500 or fewer employees, or (ii) the business fits within the revenue-based sized standard, which is average annual receipts of $1 million.Additionally, agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers can qualify for PPP loans as a small business concern if their business meets SBA’s “alternative size standard.” TheAs of May 3, 2020“alternative size standard” is currently: (1) maximum net worth of the business is not more than $15 million, and (2) the average net income after Federal income taxes (excluding any carry-over losses) of the business for the two full fiscal years before the date of the application is not more than $5 million.For all of these criteria, the applicant must include its affiliates in its calculations. Link to Applicable Affiliation Rules for the PPP.Question: Are agricultural and other forms of cooperatives eligible to receive PPP loans? Answer: As long as other PPP eligibility requirements are met, small agricultural cooperatives and other cooperatives may receive PPP loans.1212 Questions 32 – 35 published April 24, 2020.13 Questions 36 published April 26, 2020.14 Question 37 published April 28, 2020.Question: To determine borrower eligibility under the 500-employee or other applicable threshold established by the CARES Act, must a borrower count all employees or only full-time equivalent employees? Answer: For purposes of loan eligibility, the CARES Act defines the term employee to include “individuals employed on a full-time, part-time, or other basis.” A borrower must therefore calculate the total number of employees, including part-time employees, when determining their employee headcount for purposes of the eligibility threshold. For example, if a borrower has 200 full-time employees and 50 part-time employees each working 10 hours per week, the borrower has a total of 250 employees.By contrast, for purposes of loan forgiveness, the CARES Act uses the standard of “full-time equivalent employees” to determine the extent to which the loan forgiveness amount will be reduced in the event of workforce reductions.13Question: Do businesses owned by private companies with adequate sources of liquidity to support the business’s ongoing operations qualify for a PPP loan? Answer: See response to FAQ #31.14Question: Section 1102 of the CARES Act provides that PPP loans are available only to applicants that were “in operation on February 15, 2020.” Is a business that was in operation on February 15, 2020 but had a change in ownership after February 15, 2020 eligible for a PPP loan? Answer: Yes. As long as the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, if it meets the other eligibility criteria, the business is eligible to apply for a PPP loan regardless of the change in ownership. In addition, where there is a change in ownership effectuated through a purchase of substantially all assets of a business that was in operation onAs of May 3, 2020February 15, the business acquiring the assets will be eligible to apply for a PPP loan even if the change in ownership results in the assignment of a new tax ID number and even if the acquiring business was not in operation until after February 15, 2020. If the acquiring business has maintained the operations of the pre-sale business, the acquiring business may rely on the historic payroll costs and headcount of the pre-sale business for the purposes of its PPP application, except where the pre-sale business had applied for and received a PPP loan. The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, has determined that the requirement that a business “was in operation on February 15, 2020” should be applied based on the economic realities of the business’s operations.Question: Will SBA review individual PPP loan files? Answer: Yes. In FAQ #31, SBA reminded all borrowers of an important certification required to obtain a PPP loan. To further ensure PPP loans are limited to eligible borrowers in need, the SBA has decided, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, that it will review all loans in excess of $2 million, in addition to other loans as appropriate, following the lender’s submission of the borrower’s loan forgiveness application. Additional guidance implementing this procedure will be forthcoming.The outcome of SBA’s review of loan files will not affect SBA’s guarantee of any loan for which the lender complied with the lender obligations set forth in paragraphs III.3.b(i)-(iii) of the Paycheck Protection Program Rule (April 2, 2020) and further explained in FAQ #1.1515 Questions 38 – 39 published April 29, 2020.Question: Will a borrower’s PPP loan forgiveness amount (pursuant to section 1106 of the CARES Act and SBA’s implementing rules and guidance) be reduced if the borrower laid off an employee, offered to rehire the same employee, but the employee declined the offer? Answer: No. As an exercise of the Administrator’s and the Secretary’s authority under Section 1106(d)(6) of the CARES Act to prescribe regulations granting de minimis exemptions from the Act’s limits on loan forgiveness, SBA and Treasury intend to issue an interim final rule excluding laid-off employees whom the borrower offered to rehire (for the same salary/wages and same number of hours) from the CARES Act’s loan forgiveness reduction calculation. The interim final rule will specify that, to qualify for this exception, the borrower must have made a good faith, written offer of rehire, and the employee’s rejection of that offer must be documented by the borrower. Employees and employers should be aware that employees who reject offers of re-employment may forfeit eligibility for continued unemployment compensation.Question: Can a seasonal employer that elects to use a 12-week period between May 1, 2019 and September 15, 2019 to calculate its maximum PPP loan amount under the interim final rule issued by Treasury on April 27, 2020, make all the required certifications on the Borrower Application Form? As of May 3, 2020Answer: Yes. The Borrower Application Form requires applicants to certify that “The Applicant is eligible to receive a loan under the rules in effect at the time this application is submitted that have been issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA) implementing the Paycheck Protection Program.” On April 27, 2020, Treasury issued an interim final rule allowing seasonal borrowers to use an alternative base period for purposes of calculating the loan amount for which they are eligible under the PPP. An applicant that is otherwise in compliance with applicable SBA requirements, and that complies with Treasury’s interim final rule on seasonal workers, will be deemed eligible for a PPP loan under SBA rules. Instead of following the instructions on page 3 of the Borrower Application Form for the time period for calculating average monthly payroll for seasonal businesses, an applicant may elect to use the time period in Treasury’s interim final rule on seasonal workers.Question: Do nonprofit hospitals exempt from taxation under section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code qualify as “nonprofit organizations” under section 1102 of the CARES Act? Answer: Section 1102 of the CARES Act defines the term “nonprofit organization” as “an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.” The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, understands that nonprofit hospitals exempt from taxation under section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code are unique in that many such hospitals may meet the description set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to qualify for tax exemption under section 501(a), but have not sought to be recognized by the IRS as such because they are otherwise fully tax-exempt under a different provision of the Internal Revenue Code.Accordingly, the Administrator will treat a nonprofit hospital exempt from taxation under section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code as meeting the definition of “nonprofit organization” under section 1102 of the CARES Act if the hospital reasonably determines, in a written record maintained by the hospital, that it is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is therefore within a category of organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a).16 The hospital’s certification of eligibility on the Borrower Application Form cannot be made without this determination. This approach helps accomplish the statutory purpose of ensuring that a broad range of borrowers, including entities that are helping to lead the medical response to the ongoing pandemic, can benefit from the loans provided under the PPP.16 This determination need not account for the ancillary conditions set forth in section 501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code and elsewhere associated with securing the tax exemption under that section. Section 501(r) states that a hospital organization shall not be treated as described in section 501(c)(3) unless it meets certain community health and other requirements. However, section 1102 of the CARES Act defines the term “nonprofit organization” solely by reference to section 501(c)(3), and section 501(r) does not amend section 501(c)(3). Therefore, for purposes of the PPP, the requirements of section 501(r) do not apply to the determination of whether an organization is “described in section 501(c)(3).”As of May 3, 2020This guidance is solely for purposes of qualification as a “nonprofit organization” under section 1102 of the CARES Act and related purposes of the CARES Act, and does not have any consequences for federal tax law purposes. Nonprofit hospitals should also review all other applicable eligibility criteria, including the Interim Final Rules on Promissory Notes, Authorizations, Affiliation, and Eligibility (April 28, 2020) regarding an important limitation on ownership by state or local governments. 85 FR 23450, 23451.17  

Matthew 9:13 NLT Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mercy lays the foundation for both forgiveness and acceptance. Mercy means I am delivered from the consequences of any action someone who has authority over me might take. As parents we err on the side of mercy when dealing with our children. They may have to face certain consequences arising from their actions, yet we fail to impose the full penalty. So, as a child, when I broke our next-door neighbour’s window with my catapult, too tempting a challenge and target, my parents made me contribute towards the cost of the replacement glass, but didn’t demand the full cost. They also dealt with my neighbour and shielded me from his anger. The greatest act of mercy we have is God’s forgiveness. Here, not only are we invited to avoid the unpleasant consequences of our separation from our creator, but that same creator takes on and suffers the consequences himself. When God approaches me with an offer of forgiveness, it is accompanied with a demand that I take responsibility for myself. My thoughts and my actions are to be based upon the undeserved mercy of God. Once we see this we can proceed as Jesus directs; we show mercy to all we meet, for this is the true sacrifice of a “broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17). Making sacrifices to God will never deepen your friendship with him. This is already secured through God’s mercy. Your response is to live and extend mercy to others in every circumstance. Having set myself free from the trap of seeking to earn God’s favour, and justify myself through sacrificial service, I now live grateful for God’s mercy and exercising mercy in every situation. QUESTION: Will you take some time to reflect on God’s mercy that has been shown to you? PRAYER: Thank you that in your great mercy you love me, forgive me, accept me, befriend me, fill me, lead me and walk with me, today and always.

James 4:3 NLT 'And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure.' The scars of unanswered prayers can dampen our enthusiasm for God, or even end our ability to sustain our faith in God. I’ve heard and read thousands of words that seek to explain unanswered prayer; none of them has done more than attempt to rationalise my disappointment. As a young adult, I discovered the discomfort of stepping into other cultures. My privilege was to enjoy the hospitality of nationals; I did not stay in Western-style hotels. Being forced to face cultural differences, I became very aware of the comforts of home, and how blind I had been to the limitations of my own world view. Entering into God’s kingdom, while accepted entirely as I am, is an exploration of an entirely new culture. As the Christian thinker and pastor John Stott identified, the call to obedience requires the Christian to develop their own distinctive standards, values, goals and lifestyle. Discovering these and then exchanging our cultural norms for them demands prayer. As we penetrate deeper into God’s kingdom, just like residing in a different culture, we adapt to and assimilate its values and practices. For me this meant I began to form prayers less based on own needs and more from God’s view. My understanding of life expanded to engage with a world in conflict and need. I moved beyond a simple, if essential, prayer list covering my needs as I see them, to share in God’s redemptive mission through prayer. As with every journey I must pack appropriately, so with prayer I am confronted with discipleship choices that will align me more completely with God’s kingdom values and goals. Do you carry painful wounds or the hardened scarring from unanswered prayers? You may hold God responsible for the pain you have experienced. Your capacity to exercise faith may have been compromised. In prayer, my many disappointments are learning opportunities and I press on with the vital changes God requests of me. QUESTION: Will you continue in faith even when there are no satisfactory answers to your questions? This is real faith in action. PRAYER: All-knowing God, I choose to press on with you, asking that your Spirit continues to work in me, transforming me into the culture and likeness of your dear Son, my Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 6:34 NLT 'Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.' Compassion is the gift of feeling the pain of another. It touches our emotions and resonates within our understanding. When compassion and mercy work together, we offer support, help and encouragement to another without demanding anything in return. Compassion moves our hearts while mercy initiates our response. The greatest challenge the Christian faith presents to our society is to the selfishness that drives the ‘me first’ movement. The advertising industry never fails to market on the basis of my own self-interest. It stirs up my selfish desire to have something for myself. Somewhere a feeling of guilt might stir, but I challenge this mere emotion with a reasonable justification that I deserve something. If I become aware of the disparity between my fortune and another’s I may seek to explain my good fortune away with a phrase such as: “I’m so lucky.” Jesus invites me to allow compassion to complete its work within my heart. Compassion invites a merciful response, free of judgement and justification. Mercy seeks to respond to a person, not to explain the reasons for their predicament. There may well be issues of responsibility, but these are best dealt with once the obvious need is addressed. I all too easily become consumed with my own selfishness, a product of my fear, comparison with others, advantage or pleasure. Jesus invites me (Luke 6:36) to be compassionate and merciful as a reflection of God’s nature. You will not want to face the fact of your own selfishness. None of us wants to. Yet, until you engage with compassion and mercy, your life horizon will stretch no further than your own front door. The call to journey from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth is not purely geographical. It is a metaphor for the degree to which your heart is open to serving God. QUESTION: Will you make that journey from your own front door? PRAYER: Thank you for your compassion and mercy towards me and for sending your Son, Jesus, to rescue me and show me a new way to live.

Genesis 4:9 NLT Afterwards the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” It’s easy to become consumed with my own needs and responsibilities. The older I get, the more challenging navigating life seems to become. I remember as a child taking all sorts of risks without ever being aware of the consequences. Climbing trees, running along walls, everything was an adventure and offered an opportunity to broaden my experience. I remember warnings by my anxious parents as I embarked on what to them appeared a dangerous activity. I was blissfully unaware of my own mortality. As a parent, I first discovered my innate commitment to preserving the life of another. I was acutely aware of the dangers my daughter faced as she shinned up a pole or balanced on a narrow ledge. I found the very same warnings my parents had issued tumbling from my own lips. I became aware of the fragility of another. God is concerned that we look to not only our own advantage, nor simply that of our nearest and dearest, but that we take a view about the welfare of humanity. Of course, the scale of such an invitation is too vast to properly contemplate. However, each of us can choose to take seriously our invitation to pray for the vulnerable in our community and around the world. So often, prayer seems to be too simple a response. Yet, it is at God’s invitation and command. One simple step we can take is to decide to pray for the needs of vulnerable people throughout this year. QUESTION: Will you commit to pray for vulnerable people each day? PRAYER: I call out to you, God of the universe, asking for your help in the lives of vulnerable people I know or know about. Soften my heart to better love, pray and care for those who need your special touch today.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Optimism is about hope in the future, and therefore as we enter a New Year we can celebrate, for we worship an optimistic God. A year ago, Jayne and I identified personal goals that we recorded in a journal together. Initially I identified some relevant objectives but as I reflected on them ahead of committing to them, I realised they were not the primary things to which I was called. Identifying goals for the year ahead took longer than I had expected. This process itself was subject to the many daily challenges life throws at us. For Jayne, ongoing health issues, and for me, the ending of a business partnership I had assumed was the primary purpose for this season of my life were unwelcome interruptions. However, the good thing was that neither of us were knocked over by the unwanted news, so that was an encouragement as it showed what we had been learning about walking the way of God. We went on to firm up our goals, so that twelve months on we are implementing our plans. But God is not time dependent in the ways that we so often are. God wants the best for us and for us to discover and enjoy the best of ourselves. The great news is that this is available to us. As you start a New Year, you can begin your process of identifying how you might live in the year ahead. It is a time for optimism, believing for the best within your circumstances and calling out to God to accompany you for good in the days ahead. Happy New Year! QUESTION: Will you take some time to reflect on the year past and look with hope in God as you plan for the year ahead? PRAYER: Almighty God, I shake off any despondency and disappointment from the months past and wholeheartedly put my trust in you again for the future.  

Psalm 122:1-2 NLT 'I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.' Like the pilgrims in Israel who made their journey to Jerusalem, we consider making our approach to the incarnation with expectation and joy. A sleeping world is about to be woken from its godless stupor and face the reality that God is alive and desires friendship with humanity. I love the whole process of pilgrimage, from preparation through the journey right up to the point of arrival. While there is an objective in the arrival point, this is not the primary focus of the pilgrimage. Pilgrimage works at three levels. The first, obviously, the destination. My favourite place is to journey to San Damiano in Assisi. This the church where St Francis heard God’s call and in response began building stone upon stone seeking to obey God’s command “Build my church”. Later St Francis handed it over to a community of like-minded women, led by St Clare. However, destination though important, must be accompanied by my intention for this pilgrimage. The journey is primarily about what it is I am processing between myself and God. I have usually formulated a question within my heart which is my purpose in pilgrimage. Many voices will interact with that question from my own inner thoughts, both good and bad, to those of the pilgrims I walk beside, people who have no clue of the question I am carrying within. Yet often God’s wisdom will be found within such random conversations with people I shall never meet again. Finally, there is the purpose God has for me in making this pilgrimage. Often my question, so important and pressing at the start of my pilgrimage, fades, even dies, as I discern God’s question. This cuts to the very core of who I am and I often discover the real fruit and purpose for this pilgrimage. QUESTION: Will you treat Advent like a pilgrimage this year and consider what question you want to carry, and invite God to answer? PRAYER: I have experienced Christmas many times, but rather than sleepwalk into another, I invite you to journey with me and make this feast new and fresh.

The best way to be helpful to an unattached child is to direct them back to their parents.  In this episode of Breaking Bread Craig Stickling answers some direct questions regarding attachment disorder.  His answers are both practical and hopeful. Critical content contained in this episode: Question: How can the believing community be helpful with the unattached child? Answer: Always direct the unattached child back to their parents. Question: Is unattachment unique only to non-biological children such as foster children and adoptive children? Answer: No. Biological children can undergo attachment trauma in the early months of life also. Question: Will early attachment trauma always result in attachment disorder with our children? Answer: No. Each child is unique. Temperaments play a part. Some children are more disposed to connection and relationship. Question: Is there hope for the unattached child to become attached? Answer: Yes. While healing takes time, positive momentum and difference can be seen in surprisingly short time frames if proper supports are put in place. Question: Does God understand attachment disorder? Answer: Yes. God’s call to mankind, to trust Him and to walk in relationship is exactly the attachment issue. He longs for our attachment to Him as we long for our children to be attached to us. Question: What encouragement can you give parents who are dealing with attachment disorder? Answer:  You will be seen as trustworthy to your child. You will be able to handle their misbehavior. You will be able to remain calm during stressful encounters. You will be able to protect them.           * You will be an advocate for their healing and growth. Question: What resources would you offer those who want to learn more about attachment disorder? Answer: Nancy Thomas – Families by Design, www.attachment.org          Matthew and Fawn Bradley, www.beatitudehouse.org          Lee Anne Cooper, https://www.unplowedground.org/

Matthew 9:37-38 NLT He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Our home is found in God alone. God is first thought and final end. There is nothing, no reality outside of him. Hence, what we so often mistake for reality is a distraction. Those things that draw our attention away from God and which, while appearing to offer security and satisfaction, in reality prove empty and worthless. God opened my eyes and I heard God’s clear calling. I was to make God, Christian obedience and service my priority and leave the practicalities of life in his hands. Easier said than done; something I wrestle with to this day. Only as my eyes were opened did I see the reality of the needs of the world. While I’d been engaged in evangelism since my own initial commitment, this was because of a sense that I was required to do something rather than out of any sense of calling. Now I understood that I enjoyed the ability to pray, encourage and welcome anyone and everyone to consider God for themselves. Too often life’s twists and turns had raised doubts, or at least reservations, about God’s capacity to love. I only saw through the eyes of one who thought the avoidance of pain was God’s gift to humanity. I failed to appreciate that it was through Jesus’ sacrifice that salvation was secured, a salvation that included pain. Yet, God was within the pain and in following Jesus I might expect and experience pain. Here indeed was good news for all. The experiences of life may not be predicted and will prove demanding, yet God is present in every single one of them. Unless my own eyes have been opened, I have nothing to share but a statement of Truth. Once opened, I have a story to share and can empathise, while sharing the reality of God’s grace in providing for our very keenly felt needs. QUESTION: Will you ask God to open your eyes to the plight of the world as he sees it? PRAYER: Act, speak and work through me today, I ask. Give me grace to see people and problems with your loving eyes.  

1 Peter 4:8 NLT 'Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.' The fourth phrase Dr Bycock highlights in The Four Things That Matter Most is the source and sustenance of successful relationships. Just three simple words but they mean so very much: “I love you”! In my marriage, both Jayne and I frequently say these words to each other. Do they depreciate in value as a result? Most certainly not. They restate the very essence of our relationship, which is love. This love speaks of appreciation and respect. It also speaks of reliability and commitment. The most remarkable thing is that love grows deeper year on year, and this is not limited to one’s spouse. The people I love, I do so more, the longer we journey together. It is also true of my love for God. I certainly loved God at the start of our friendship. Today, the depth of that love is beyond words and understanding. It is easy to locate love within the narrow confines of romantic attachment. Yet love is far more robust and powerful; it can cover “a multitude of sins”. Love can be expressed through your commitment to justice, compassion for the marginalised, in service of God and others – as well as within the intimate relationship of marriage. But love requires discipline to prevent it dying. People who lose someone unexpectedly vividly remember their last conversation. There is great trauma if the last words were said in anger or if true feelings have been left unsaid. I remember well my final conversation with my first wife before she died five days later, without ever regaining consciousness. Again, why wait to declare our feelings until the end of life? QUESTION: Will you look for opportunities to express love in word and deed today? PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to die for me, to make it possible for me to truly understanding what love is.

1 Corinthians 15:42b-44 NLT Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live for ever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. Many people avoid talking or thinking about death, while others live in fear of death, which robs them of enjoying their present for fear of the future. This is upsetting because death is a celebration on the Christian’s journey into eternity. I cared for Katey, my first wife who was diagnosed with a neurological disease. When we asked for a prognosis, the medical profession winced at engaging with the reality of death, which was very frustrating. Many people in the UK avoid any contact with death until relations begin to die later in our life. On visiting the undertakers, a friend of mine, daughter of the deceased, nearly broke down when I suggested I step outside the chapel of rest and leave them alone with their father’s body to say farewell. Death is no longer normalised within society. It is at best forgotten, at worst discreetly hidden. Yet, unless the Lord returns meantime, we all have to die. Christians can reignite a creative conversation around death to demystify it and disarm its power to frighten. Preparing for that event is something I’d encourage everyone to do. Reconciling yourself to death enables you to live well. I cannot know what your perspective on death is. I might have touched a raw nerve of grief, anger or plain confusion. However, death does not need to be a morbid subject, but one that empowers you to live your life now to the fullest extent, safe in the prospect of stepping into God’s eternal embrace. QUESTION: Will you pause now and reflect on your own death? PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for defeating the power of death through your own resurrection. I trust in you and look forward to new life with you in eternity.

On today’s Episode of Million Dollaz Worth Of Game, Gillie & Wallo reprimand Dev for his strange choice of undergarments and discuss household leadership.• ManMan’s Manhood (17:40)• Nanny’s Basement (19:00)• TubeSock Tudie (23:41)• Wallo Poses a Question: Will there be more Classic Albums to come? (25:43)• A Tribe Called Quest (30:16)• The Death Of The Mixtape (34:30)• Million Dollaz Worth Of Game: Back with another man’s baby (38:55)• Gilly Da Narrator (47:50)• Stories From A Cell (52:00)••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••The Million Dollaz Worth of Game show, a weekly podcast with rapper Gillie Da King and social media influencer and disruptor Wallo267 (who are also first-cousins) targeting their combined social media presence of over 1.3 million followers.Gillie and Wallo’s audiences have been demanding a podcast and this is the delivery. For their audience, the Million Dollaz Worth of Game show bridges the gap between social media and reality tv, satiating the hunger for original and authentic content.Follow Us On Instagram:http://www.instagram.com/@mworthofgamehttp://www.instagram.com/@wallo267http://www.instagram.com/@gillie_da_kinghttp://www.instagram.com/@devinwadeWebsite for Merch:https://www.mworthofgame.com

This past weekend, our Off The Couch co-host, Brendan Leonard, ran the Bighorn Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run. So Jonathan Ellsworth talks with him about why he decided to run it; how he prepared; the highs and lows of the experience; dealing with the race’s signature mud; his advice for anyone thinking of running a 100; and then, the big question: whether or not he plans on running another 100 miler.TOPICS & TIMES:Recovering from the race (2:23)The story behind the Bighorn Trail Run (5:15)When & Why did you decide to do it? (10:41)Preparing for the Bighorn 100 (11:25)How mud changed the race (12:27)Resisting comfort at aid stations (16:00)Pushing through the 2nd half of the race (18:22)The patience of race pacers (23:12)The Finish (30:13)Wildlife encounters? (32:29)Hellbender 100 vs. Bighorn 100 (35:36)The Question: Will you do another 100? (36:57) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This past weekend, our Off The Couch co-host, Brendan Leonard, ran the Bighorn Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run. So Jonathan Ellsworth talks with him about why he decided to run it; how he prepared; the highs and lows of the experience; dealing with the race’s signature mud; his advice for anyone thinking of running a 100; and then, the big question: whether or not he plans on running another 100 miler.TOPICS & TIMES:Recovering from the race (2:23)The story behind the Bighorn Trail Run (5:15)When & Why did you decide to do it? (10:41)Preparing for the Bighorn 100 (11:25)How mud changed the race (12:27)Resisting comfort at aid stations (16:00)Pushing through the 2nd half of the race (18:22)The patience of race pacers (23:12)The Finish (30:13)Wildlife encounters? (32:29)Hellbender 100 vs. Bighorn 100 (35:36)The Question: Will you do another 100? (36:57) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Colossians 3:15 NLT 'And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.' Peace is defined as “a freedom from disturbance”. When we moved St Cuthbert’s Oratory from the city of Portsmouth to a large village outside Romsey, we immediately lost the disturbance created by noise. Actually, I quite missed the ‘buzz’, having lived in an urban setting for most of my adult life. But now I have come to love the stillness to which I awake each morning. However, the more unsettling ‘disturbance’ is experienced within the human heart. For many of us, life is made difficult as much by the feelings we experience as by the external circumstances we have to navigate. Paul reminds us that we are to look to Christ for the peace that enables us to live with external pressure and the internal anxiety it generates. Our anxiety is usually caused as we worry about aspects of life that lie beyond our control. A useful way of looking at life is to apply the TOP principle. This invites me to look at my situation and identify what is Totally within my control, what lies Outside my control and what is Partially in my control. Most of us spend our time seeking to resolve, usually within our heads, things that lie outside our control. This is wasted energy and effort for the simple reason we don’t have the authority to affect them, no matter how much we worry. Better to be thankful that we can carry these things and name them before God and know that our future lies within God’s hands. I now apply the TOP principle, act on what is in my control, totally or partially, and then present that and what’s outside my control to God in prayer, grateful I can leave it with him. My emotions may take a while to catch up, yet I quell the inner disturbance and find the promised peace of God and give thanks. QUESTION: Will you let God know the source of your anxiety and own your very real fears? Then give God what lies outside of your control and request God’s peace with thanks. PRAYER: Lord, give me the wisdom to discern what I can act upon and what I must leave in your care, grateful that you are always present.

Topics: The Black Church, Jessie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Shaft, & Soul Train. (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)   1971 Overview Snapshots 1.    Richard Nixon still President 2.    Vietnam War still going: (year 16 of 19) 3.    Deaths: 2,357 of 58,318 total 4.    Congressional Black Caucus created 5.    Soledad Brothers (California) and Attica (New York) prison riots 6.    The Supreme Court rules unanimously that busing of students may be ordered to achieve racial desegregation. 7.    Maya Angelou’s, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Nikki Giovanni all publish books 8.    Beverly Johnson is the first black woman to appear on the cover of a major fashion magazine (Glamour). 9.    QUESTION: Because schools are socializing and educational institutions, did busing “undercut” black identity and intellect or help us get along better in a diverse world and learn more? Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.: Civil rights activist, Baptist minister, and politician from Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. 10.    Breakout Year: The "Black Expo" in Chicago, attend by 800,000+, to encourage black business and he organizes People United to Save Humanity (P.U.S.H.) 11.    FYI: Graduate from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 12.    Started working for Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965 13.    Jackson participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches. 14.    Became known for commanding public attention since he first started with MLK. 15.    MLK was impressed by JJ’s drive and organizational abilities but was also concerned about his ambition and attention-seeking. 16.    1971 he grabs the MLK legacy and becomes the de facto face of the “Black Church”. 17.    QUESTION: I appreciate Jessie, but why don’t I trust him? The Black Church: Always in the Mix. (JJ  18.    The phrase "black church" refers to Protestant churches that minister to predominantly black congregations. 19.    Segregationist discouraged and often prevented blacks from worshiping with whites.  20.    This created culturally distinct communities and worship practices that incorporated African spiritual traditions. 21.    Gradually, slaves developed their own interpretations of the Scriptures. Finding inspiration in stories of oppression and deliverance like Moses vs. Pharaoh. 22.    Question: First image that comes to mind? 23.    Key event: Philadelphia, PA 1787 – Birth of the “Black Church”: Richard Allen founded the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). The first fully independent black denomination. 24.    The AME church put a high premium on education, tended to attract the middle class, and produce black leadership. 25.    After the Civil War, "Baptists" grew rapidly, due primarily to a more independent governing structure. 26.    Baptist churches are governed locally, by the congregation. 27.    Major Difference Between Methodist and Baptist: The Method of Baptism [Pentecostals require additional reading] 28.    Who: Methodists baptize infants. Baptists only baptizes those capable of understanding. 29.    How: Methodists baptize with immersion, sprinkling, and pouring. Baptists only with immersion. 30.    Question: Any special memories about you or someone else being baptized? The Civil Rights Period: The Baptist “Come Up” 31.    Black churches were the heart and soul: acting as information hubs and centers of solidarity, while also providing leadership, organizational manpower, and moral guidance during this period. 32.    Notable minister-activists: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Baptists (Atlanta, GA), Ralph David Abernathy - Baptist (Linden, AL), Bernard Lee - Baptist (Norfolk, VA), Fred Shuttlesworth - Baptist (Mount Meigs, AL), Wyatt Tee Walker - Baptists (Brockton, MA), C. T. Vivian - Baptist (Boonville, MO) *Obama awarded him The P.M.o.H. in 2013.  Practices 33.    Main features: African ritual, slave emotionalism, and speaking/story-telling eloquence.  34.    Services: devotional prayer, singing by the congregation and choir, and the minister's sermon. 35.    Many ministers use drama, poetry, and the "call and response" tradition to connect with and energize the congregation. Question: Have you ever visited a “white” church and felt the difference? Politics and social issues 36.    Tendency to focus more on social issues. (poverty, gang violence, drug use, prison ministries, racism, etc.) 37.    Generally, more socially conservative [i.e., same-sex marriage, LGBT issues, women's rights, etc.] Present Day: Quick facts (Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study) 38.    Roughly eight-in-ten (79%) Blacks self-identify as Christian.  39.    The share of African Americans who identify as religiously “unaffiliated” has increased in recent years, mirroring national trends. 40.    This shift may help explain the popularity of non-church led activism, such as Black Lives Matter, Contributions of the Black Church 41.    The church has housed and fed the poor, assisted with psychologically negative and destructive habits, helped others overcome social and economic oppression, provided leadership development, supported the black family structure, acted as a social network and liaison for businesses, educated youths and adults, mentored "at risk" youth, provided job development skills, offered scholarships, built recreation centers, provided prison aftercare and drug prevention programs, and many other things. 42.    Functioned as a primary repository for "Black Culture", housing much of our history and traditions. Conclusion: 43.    Historically, the Black Church has been a major agent for socioeconomic and religious empowerment since the post-slavery era. 44.    It has acted as a reliable ally and sanctuary to the black community. Question: Will the Black Church be as vital to the next generation? Economics 45.    Unemployment Rate = 5.8% / Minimum Wage = $1.60, up .15c ($64w, $3,200y, ~$19,800 in 2018) Music 46.    Top Singles for the entire year of 1971 (Source: http://billboardtop100of.com/1971-2/) (*) = Black Artists / (it took 40 songs to get 10 black artists) -1    Three Dog Night: Joy To The World -2    Rod Stewart: Maggie May / (Find A) Reason To Believe -3    Carole King: It’s Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move -4    Osmonds: One Bad Apple -5    Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart -6    Raiders: Indian Reservation -7    Donny Osmond: Go Away Little Girl -8    John Denver: Take Me Home, Country Roads -9(1)    Temptations: Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) -10    Dawn: Knock Three Times -11    Janis Joplin: Me And Bobby McGee -12(2)    Al Green: Tired Of Being Alone -13(3)    Honey Cone: Want Ads -14(4)    Undisputed Truth: Smiling Faces Sometimes -15(5)    Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose: Treat Her Like A Lady -16    James Taylor: You’ve Got A Friend -17(6)    Jean Knight: Mr. Big Stuff -18    Rolling Stones: Brown Sugar -19    Lee Michaels: Do You Know What I Mean -20    Joan Baez: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down -21(7)    Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On -22    Paul and Linda McCartney: Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey -23(8)    Bill Withers: Ain’t No Sunshine -24    Five Man Electrical Band: Signs -25    Tom Jones: She’s A Lady -26    Murray Head and The Trinidad Singers: Superstar -27(9)    Free Movement: I Found Someone Of My Own -28    Jerry Reed: Amos Moses -29    Grass Roots: Temptation Eyes -30    Carpenters: Superstar -31    George Harrison: My Sweet Lord / Isn’t It A Pity -32    Donny Osmond: Sweet And Innocent -33    Ocean: Put Your Hand In The Hand -34    Daddy Dewdrop: Chick-a-boom -35    Carpenters: For All We Know -36    Sammi Smith: Help Me Make It Through The Night -37    Carpenters: Rainy Days And Mondays -38    Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind -40(10)    Jackson 5: Never Can Say Goodbye 47.    Question: Best Single? Top Albums 48.    Jan - ...To Be Continued, Isaac Hayes 49.    Feb - Curtis, Curtis Mayfield 50.    Apr - Live in Cook County Jail, B.B. King 51.    May - Maybe Tomorrow, The Jackson 5 52.    Jun - Aretha Live at Fillmore West, Aretha Franklin 53.    Jul - What's Going On, Marvin Gaye 54.    Jul - Shaft    Soundtrack, Isaac Hayes 55.    Question: Best album? Key Artists 56.    Marvin Gaye: American singer, songwriter and record producer. Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", and duet recordings with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Rossand Tammi Terrell, later earning the titles "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul". 57.    During the 1970s, he recorded the albums What's Going On and Let's Get It On and became one of the first artists in Motown (joint with Stevie Wonder) to break away from the reins of a production company. His later recordings influenced several contemporary R&B subgenres, such as quiet storm and neo soul. Following a period in Europe as a tax exile in the early 1980s, he released the 1982 Grammy Award-winning hit "Sexual Healing" and its parent album Midnight Love. 58.    Aretha Louise Franklin: American singer and songwriter. Franklin began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister. In 1960, at the age of 18, she embarked on a secular career. 59.    In 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as "Respect", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Spanish Harlem" and "Think". 60.    By the end of the 1960s decade she had gained the title "The Queen of Soul".  61.    Franklin eventually became the most charted female artist in the history. 62.    Franklin has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards and is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide. Franklin has been honored throughout her career including a 1987 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in which she became the first female performer to be inducted. She was inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In August 2012, Franklin was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Franklin is listed in at least two all-time lists on Rolling Stone magazine, including the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time; and the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. African-American Cinema 63.    Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song is a 1971 American independent action thriller film written, co-produced, scored, edited, directed by and starring Melvin Van Peebles. His son Mario Van Peebles also appears in a small role, playing the title character as a young boy. It tells the picaresque story of a poor black man on his flight from the white authority. 64.    Van Peebles began to develop the film after being offered a three-picture contract for Columbia Pictures. No studio would finance the film, so Van Peebles funded the film himself, shooting it independently over a period of 19 days, performing all of his own stunts and appearing in several sex scenes, reportedly unsimulated. He received a $50,000 loan from Bill Cosby to complete the project. The film's fast-paced montages and jump-cuts were unique features in American cinema at the time. The picture was censored in some markets and received mixed critical reviews. However, it has left a lasting impression on African-American cinema. 65.    The musical score of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song was performed by Earth, Wind & Fire. Van Peebles did not have any money for traditional advertising methods, so he released the soundtrack album prior to the film's release to generate publicity. Huey P. Newton celebrated and welcomed the film's revolutionary implications, and Sweetback became required viewing for members of the Black Panther Party. According to Variety, it demonstrated to Hollywood that films which portrayed "militant" blacks could be highly profitable, leading to the creation of the blaxploitation genre, although critic Roger Ebert did not consider this example of Van Peebles' work to be an exploitation film. 66.    Release date: April 23, 1971 / Budget: $150k (~920k today) / Gross: $4.1m (~25m today) 67.    Shaft is a 1971 American blaxploitation action-crime film directed by Gordon Parks and written by Ernest Tidyman and John D. F. Black. The film revolves around a private detective named John Shaft who is hired by a Harlem mobster to rescue his daughter from the Italian mobsters who kidnapped her. The film stars Richard Roundtree as John Shaft, Moses Gunn as Bumpy Jonas, Charles Cioffi as Vic Androzzi, and Christopher St. John as Ben Buford. The major themes present in Shaft are the Black Power movement, race, masculinity, and sexuality. It was filmed within the New York City borough of Manhattan, specifically in Harlem, Greenwich Village, and Times Square. 68.    Shaft was one of the first blaxploitation films, and one of the most popular, which "marked a turning point for this type of film and spawned a number of sequels and knockoffs." The Shaft soundtrack album, recorded by Isaac Hayes, was also a success, winning a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture; and a second Grammy that he shared with Johnny Allen for Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement; Grammy Award for Best Original Score; the "Theme from Shaft" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and has appeared on multiple Top 100 lists, including AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs. Widely considered a prime example of the blaxploitation genre. Shaft was selected in 2000 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." 69.    Release date: July 2, 1971 / Budget: 500k (~3m today) / Gross: $13m (~80m today) 70.    The film was one of only three profitable movies that year for MGM,  71.    It not only spawned several years of "blaxploitation" action films, it earned enough money to save then-struggling MGM from bankruptcy Television: 72.    Soul Train is an American music-dance television program which aired in syndication from October 2, 1971 to March 27, 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, dance/pop and hip-hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco and gospel artists also appeared. The series was created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its first host and executive producer. 73.    Some commentators have called Soul Train a "black American Bandstand," 74.    Cornelius acknowledged Bandstand as a model for his program, but he tended to bristle at the Bandstand comparisons. 75.    Cornelius, with help from Jesse Jackson, openly accused Dick Clark of trying to undermine TV's only Black-owned show, when Clark launched "Soul Unlimited". 76.    Cornelius was relatively conservative in his musical tastes and was admittedly not a fan of the emerging hip hop genre, believing that the genre did not reflect positively on African-American culture (one of his stated goals for the series). 77.    Rosie Perez testified in the 2010 VH1 documentary Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America that Cornelius also disliked seeing the show's dancers perform sexually suggestive "East Coast" dance moves. 78.     This disconnect (which was openly mocked in an In-Living Color sketch where Cornelius and the show were lampooned as extremely old and out of touch) eventually led to Cornelius's stepping down as host in the early 1990s and the show's losing its influence. Black Church Sources: https://thewitnessbcc.com/history-black-church/ https://aaregistry.org/story/the-black-church-a-brief-history/ http://news.gallup.com/poll/200186/five-key-findings-religion.aspx [2016] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Black_America#Baptists https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Black_America http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/02/07/5-facts-about-the-religious-lives-of-african-americans/

Zechariah 14:9 NLT 'And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord – his name alone will be worshiped.' It’s hard to observe global events or experience personal disappointment and to maintain a constructive view of God’s authority. Why is it that God’s rule fails to counteract the evil and tragedy we observe and experience? Much like those first disciples, we have a choice to wait in anticipation for the promises of God to be realised in some way – and some of these promises most likely lie beyond our lifespan, as they have our forebears. Living as if God is Sovereign is difficult when the evidence of our own eyes and experience suggest otherwise. And our experience is comfortable compared to refugees displaced by war or children trafficked to satisfy the lust of others. In living as if there is some divine order in the world, are we deluded or worse, seeking to wrap human misery in a fantasy of our own imagination? It is more than anything else the clearest demonstration of faith, something insubstantial that lies well beyond the reach of reason. Conviction defies logic. And logic has its limitations, as scientific research reveals with increasing regularity. Logic has its place, yet so does faith. A group of frightened disciples overwhelmed with disappointment are encouraged by meeting the Lord in risen form. Now obediently locked in the upper room, fearful for their fate, they are about to experience the outpouring of God’s love in supernatural form. Yet, even as they receive the most remarkable gifts and will observe supernatural intervention, their lives will be subject to imprisonment, torture and cruel execution, simply for keeping faith with the Lord who has called them, yet is now ascended. It is indeed a challenge following Jesus. Yet, twelve disciples are empowered to turn their whole world upside down. And so can we… QUESTION: Will you continue to pray, “your Kingdom come, your will be done”? NOVENA PRAYER: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may my heart desire your kingdom above my own, your will not my will, and your purpose in all things. Give me eyes to discern your kingdom way, and hands that work in collaboration with your Holy Spirit to build that kingdom here on the earth. I entrust myself to you once more this day.  

Exodus 20:2 NLT 'I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.' Our reflections for this 2018 Premier Novena are based around the words Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer, “your Kingdom come”. It sounds simple and clear, and yet carries within it the very heart of our relationship to God. It is a simple thing to entrust ourselves into God’s care and to acknowledge that God will provide for us in each and every situation. This I did enthusiastically and sincerely as a student. I had never had the gospel, or the good news about Jesus as my rescuer, explained to me. It made sense to my rational mind and slowly it took hold of my heart as well. I no longer simply believed in the logic of salvation, but I experienced a realisation of God’s presence alongside me in my everyday life. However, then life began to happen all around and to me. There were things I enjoyed and circumstances I’d never have chosen in a month of Sundays. This culminated in the journey Katey and I were introduced to following her diagnosis with progressive MS. Suddenly rescue seemed a somewhat hollow word. Like Israel I stood at the start of a journey of discovery. Freedom from slavery was not the equivalent of the comfortable life. I encountered the challenge from my own inner assumption that life on the earth must be easy for me. I deserved a good and steady income, safety from external threat to my security and well-being, and the freedom to choose what I wanted in life. I was now invited to discover that journeying with God offered total provision, yet a provision that lay beyond my ability to understand and control. I was subject to God’s rule. Our world prizes independence above all else, and God’s kingdom can prove uncomfortable by contrast. It’s so often realised in the hidden spaces ahead of the public squares. Israel was brought into a wilderness of God’s choosing as the only route leading into the Promised Land. QUESTION: Will you lay down your independence and accept God’s right to rule your life? NOVENA PRAYER: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may my heart desire your kingdom above my own, your will not my will, and your purpose in all things. Give me eyes to discern your kingdom way, and hands that work in collaboration with your Holy Spirit to build that kingdom here on the earth. I entrust myself to you once more this day.

Acts 1:14 NLT 'They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.' I invite you to join with thousands of other Christians in a Premier Novena. The word Novena comes from the Latin for nine and describes the nine days when the disciples, together with Mary, Jesus‘ mother, waited for the promised Holy Spirit. They united in continuous prayer as Luke records in Acts. It is the nine days from the ascension up to Pentecost. During these nine days the fledgling Church called out to God for power from on high so they could fulfil Jesus’ command to witness to the very ends of the earth. They had a specific focus given by Jesus and so these nine days are for intentional prayer. In 2018 our reflections and prayers will focus on the words Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer, “your Kingdom come”. By committing to this Novena, we declare our serious intention to call on God for his kingdom to be made manifest throughout the earth. That’s why I encourage each of us to say the Lord’s prayer at the start of each daily prayer during our Novena. Pause and pray that prayer right now: Our Father... This Novena seeks to draw God’s diverse people into agreement and, with one united voice, to pray for the same objective. There is great power when God’s people come together in agreement in prayer. Every day as I say “Amen” at the conclusion of my prayer, it will be both amplified and multiplied many thousands of times throughout the United Kingdom. Finally, I pray that each of us, having dedicated ourselves to pray over these next nine days, will experience a fresh visitation of the Holy Spirit. QUESTION: Will you commit to pray for the next nine days for God’s kingdom to come to the United Kingdom with fresh power? NOVENA PRAYER: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may my heart desire your kingdom above my own, your will not my will, and your purpose in all things. Give me eyes to discern your kingdom way, and hands that work in collaboration with your Holy Spirit to build that kingdom here on the earth. I entrust myself to you once more this day.  

Exodus 16:3 NLT “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” For me, learning to drive was both traumatic and taxing. To this day I remember “mirror, signal, manoeuvre”. The importance of the rear-view mirror was stressed continually. In fact, my instructor would ask as we drove, “What’s the colour of the car behind you?” or “What make is the car behind you?” If I hesitated or attempted a sly glance into the mirror, he was highly critical of what he termed “my overall road awareness”. Here Israel has rather too much focus on the rear-view mirror as they criticise Moses for having brought them from a slavish, yet reliable, routine into the uncertainty of wilderness living. Their separation anxiety was high; their confidence in their leader limited. The ultimate orchestrater of their circumstance, God, was unimpressed with this desire to live out of their rear-view mirror. This whole generation, apart from Caleb and Joshua, never progressed beyond the wilderness, never experienced the Promised Land. As we get older there is a temptation to dwell on the ‘good old days’. People regularly compare the present unfavourably with the past. We so easily romanticise what has been and use the rose-tinted, variable-focused view to colour our observation and subsequently our experience of the present. Like the Israelites, those who live looking back over their shoulders may only ever experience the wilderness in their encounter with God. Most often, looking ahead can fill our hearts with anxiety. Ageing bodies make us aware of our mortality, discovering the abandonment many older people feel in old age, and the trauma of identifying a means to maintain dignity at an affordable price forces us to think as consumers. Like the Israelites, we feel what we knew before offered us greater security than what we see ahead of us. Here we have to find the courage to trust God and press ahead. QUESTION: Will you hold onto the past, or will you focus on the road ahead? PRAYER: Lord, I know focusing on the past robs me of my future. Instead help me this day to live with and for you.  

Question: Will my nipple piercings get caught in my lace bra?

Acts 1:14 NLT 'They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.' Today I invite you to prepare for a Novena of prayer with Premier. Premier first launched a Novena in 2015, so this is the third year where we are encouraging concerted prayer. Premier are also supporting the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ prayer initiative (see page 10 for more information). The word Novena comes from the Latin for nine and describes those days when the disciples, together with Mary, Jesus’ mother, his brothers and other women waited for the promised Holy Spirit. They were “constantly united in prayer” as Luke records in Acts. It is the period from the ascension to Pentecost. During this period the fledgling Church called out to God for power from on high so that they might fulfil Jesus’ command to witness to the very ends of the earth. They had a specific focus given by Jesus and so these nine days are for intentional prayer asking for fresh Holy Spirit power to then go and spread the good news about Jesus to everyone. By committing to this Novena, we declare our serious intention to call upon God for his kingdom to come throughout the earth. I encourage each of us to say the Lord’s Prayer at the start of each daily prayer during our Novena. The prayer Jesus taught his disciples will provide the focus for this year’s Novena. So pause and pray that prayer right now. If you don’t know it, you can find it in Matthew 6:9-13. This Novena aims to draw God’s diverse people into agreement and, with one united voice, to pray for the same objective. There is great power when God’s people come together in agreement in prayer. Between Ascension Day and Pentecost many tens of thousands will be joining this Novena and with the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ prayer initiative. So as you say amen at the conclusion of your prayer, it will be both amplified and multiplied many thousands of times throughout the UK and beyond. QUESTION: Will you commit to pray that the Holy Spirit will come to re-energise all God’s people to share the gospel? PRAYER: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Jeff Hedges, the Pharmacy Compliance Guide is back discussing the IMPACT repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have on the Pharmacy Industry.  Question: Now that the Republicans have control of both houses and the White House, they are going to Repeal and Replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare. What does this mean? Answer: The current system is broken, mainly because the government and the insurance companies worked together to write this law to control health care payments to health care practitioners. Patient care and the health care practitioners were not factored into the law. Question: Will the new healthcare law contain the popular portions of the ACA? Answer: Before the ACA was created, both the Republicans and Democrats agreed that pre-existing conditions, children staying on their parent’s health insurance until the age of 26 as well as many small portions of health care that benefit patients and providers. In fact, 80% of the ACA had been mutually agreed upon by everyone before the law was enacted. However, over the last eight years, this fact has been forgotten. Question: So why is the ACA considered to be so bad? Answer: ACA eliminated competition and fixed pricing for practitioners. Then turned over the management of health plans to the insurance carriers with no oversight on premiums. This eliminated competition by the mergers of insurance companies. Now there are only six national insurance carriers who set their premiums and control the market.  Question: What can we expect with the new changes to health care?      Answer: 2017 insurance policies have already been written, so there will be no changes for current policies. However, depending on what changes are made in the first half of 2017, 2018 may have a completely different look for health insurance. Question: What can we expect the first changes to be made in our healthcare? Answer: Interstate competition. Enabling insurance companies to compete across state lines will have a dramatic effect on insurance premiums. Health care practitioners will be involved in the development of the new regulations so the focus is on health care to the patient and the patient / doctor relationship. This concept alone will redefine the entire health care program in the United States. The simple concept of patient driven care rather than cost driven care will be the most radical change. Question: We hear about practitioners, especially pharmacies, who are being reimbursed below their acquisition prices, is this true and if so, how are healthcare facilities able to stay in business? Answer: Yes, as insurance premiums continue to climb, reimbursement to providers are being cut. Especially in the pharmacy industry. 75% of generic drugs are reimbursed at or below acquisition price. The insurance companies have also imposed a Direct / Indirect Remunerations (DIR) fee that is clawed back 60 days after the reimbursement is made. This can be a flat fee or a percentage and it fluctuates, this makes it difficult to plan your cash flow. This fee has forced thousands of pharmacies out of business. What key points need to be addressed as the Affordable Care Act is repealed and replaced- points to keep if speaking to members of Congress Before the ACA was created, both the Republicans and Democrats agreed that pre-existing conditions, children staying on their parent’s health insurance until the age of 26 as well as many small portions of health care that benefit patients and providers. In fact, 80% of the ACA had been mutually agreed upon by everyone before the law was enacted. However, over the last eight years, this fact has been forgotten. Critical points that are hurting pharmacies and patients Pharmacy Benefit Managers have: Established a regulatory empire with no over-sight Established reimbursement rates for pharmacies with no input on acquisition prices Worked in collusion with insurance companies Set price fixing with other PBMs Have no transparency, even with mandatory state laws requiring transparency Direct / Indirect Remunerations (DIR) fees Were initially established under the ACA as a quality payment to pharmacies for providing quality patient services Let health insurance attorneys working with HHS the ability to change definitions within the ACA, to change the quality payments to a DIR fee. The DIR Fee is an after service fee (insurance tax) deducted or clawed back normally 60 days after the reimbursement. This is either a percentage or flat fee that also changes from carrier to carrier and throughout the year. This has the most detrimental effect on pharmacies’ cash flow and consequently forces them out of business. Mandatory Mail Order Insurance carriers increasingly force patients into the insurance company’s mail order pharmacy. Prescriptions are auto-filled/auto-shipped without patient consent Patients become overwhelmed with excess medications and DME products Medicare/Medicaid/Tri-Care are the payors who are the end losers who pay for extra fees for services not needed. Orthotic Products moved to Off-the-Shelf This single move has caused rampant fraud throughout the country The current practice allows the mail order companies to advertise in all forms of media. A patient contacts the supplier who matches them with a physician over the phone. Physician writes prescription and sends to the mail order medical supply company who then ships the product to patient. No medical necessity is required. Thousands of new fraud cases are occurring every month. Competitive Bidding has: Drastically reduced patient access to DMEPOS products Reduced reimbursements for DMEPOS products leads to cheaper products being dispensed therefore, affecting the quality of care  Conclusion -It’s a great time to be in pharmacy and a better time to be looking into accreditation to be able to add the most amount of services and reimbursements to your bottom line.  Connect with Jeff today:  R.J. Hedges & Associates 163 9th Street PO Box H  New Florence, PA 15944   Phone: (724) 357-8380 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Hedges, the Pharmacy Compliance Guide is back discussing the IMPACT repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have on the Pharmacy Industry.  Question: Now that the Republicans have control of both houses and the White House, they are going to Repeal and Replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare. What does this mean? Answer: The current system is broken, mainly because the government and the insurance companies worked together to write this law to control health care payments to health care practitioners. Patient care and the health care practitioners were not factored into the law. Question: Will the new healthcare law contain the popular portions of the ACA? Answer: Before the ACA was created, both the Republicans and Democrats agreed that pre-existing conditions, children staying on their parent's health insurance until the age of 26 as well as many small portions of health care that benefit patients and providers. In fact, 80% of the ACA had been mutually agreed upon by everyone before the law was enacted. However, over the last eight years, this fact has been forgotten. Question: So why is the ACA considered to be so bad? Answer: ACA eliminated competition and fixed pricing for practitioners. Then turned over the management of health plans to the insurance carriers with no oversight on premiums. This eliminated competition by the mergers of insurance companies. Now there are only six national insurance carriers who set their premiums and control the market.  Question: What can we expect with the new changes to health care?      Answer: 2017 insurance policies have already been written, so there will be no changes for current policies. However, depending on what changes are made in the first half of 2017, 2018 may have a completely different look for health insurance. Question: What can we expect the first changes to be made in our healthcare? Answer: Interstate competition. Enabling insurance companies to compete across state lines will have a dramatic effect on insurance premiums. Health care practitioners will be involved in the development of the new regulations so the focus is on health care to the patient and the patient / doctor relationship. This concept alone will redefine the entire health care program in the United States. The simple concept of patient driven care rather than cost driven care will be the most radical change. Question: We hear about practitioners, especially pharmacies, who are being reimbursed below their acquisition prices, is this true and if so, how are healthcare facilities able to stay in business? Answer: Yes, as insurance premiums continue to climb, reimbursement to providers are being cut. Especially in the pharmacy industry. 75% of generic drugs are reimbursed at or below acquisition price. The insurance companies have also imposed a Direct / Indirect Remunerations (DIR) fee that is clawed back 60 days after the reimbursement is made. This can be a flat fee or a percentage and it fluctuates, this makes it difficult to plan your cash flow. This fee has forced thousands of pharmacies out of business. What key points need to be addressed as the Affordable Care Act is repealed and replaced- points to keep if speaking to members of Congress Before the ACA was created, both the Republicans and Democrats agreed that pre-existing conditions, children staying on their parent's health insurance until the age of 26 as well as many small portions of health care that benefit patients and providers. In fact, 80% of the ACA had been mutually agreed upon by everyone before the law was enacted. However, over the last eight years, this fact has been forgotten. Critical points that are hurting pharmacies and patients Pharmacy Benefit Managers have: Established a regulatory empire with no over-sight Established reimbursement rates for pharmacies with no input on acquisition prices Worked in collusion with insurance companies Set price fixing with other PBMs Have no transparency, even with mandatory state laws requiring transparency Direct / Indirect Remunerations (DIR) fees Were initially established under the ACA as a quality payment to pharmacies for providing quality patient services Let health insurance attorneys working with HHS the ability to change definitions within the ACA, to change the quality payments to a DIR fee. The DIR Fee is an after service fee (insurance tax) deducted or clawed back normally 60 days after the reimbursement. This is either a percentage or flat fee that also changes from carrier to carrier and throughout the year. This has the most detrimental effect on pharmacies' cash flow and consequently forces them out of business. Mandatory Mail Order Insurance carriers increasingly force patients into the insurance company's mail order pharmacy. Prescriptions are auto-filled/auto-shipped without patient consent Patients become overwhelmed with excess medications and DME products Medicare/Medicaid/Tri-Care are the payors who are the end losers who pay for extra fees for services not needed. Orthotic Products moved to Off-the-Shelf This single move has caused rampant fraud throughout the country The current practice allows the mail order companies to advertise in all forms of media. A patient contacts the supplier who matches them with a physician over the phone. Physician writes prescription and sends to the mail order medical supply company who then ships the product to patient. No medical necessity is required. Thousands of new fraud cases are occurring every month. Competitive Bidding has: Drastically reduced patient access to DMEPOS products Reduced reimbursements for DMEPOS products leads to cheaper products being dispensed therefore, affecting the quality of care  Conclusion -It's a great time to be in pharmacy and a better time to be looking into accreditation to be able to add the most amount of services and reimbursements to your bottom line.  Connect with Jeff today:  R.J. Hedges & Associates 163 9th Street PO Box H  New Florence, PA 15944   Phone: (724) 357-8380 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Hedges, the Pharmacy Compliance Guide is back discussing the IMPACT repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have on the Pharmacy Industry.  Question: Now that the Republicans have control of both houses and the White House, they are going to Repeal and Replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare. What does this mean? Answer: The current system is broken, mainly because the government and the insurance companies worked together to write this law to control health care payments to health care practitioners. Patient care and the health care practitioners were not factored into the law. Question: Will the new healthcare law contain the popular portions of the ACA? Answer: Before the ACA was created, both the Republicans and Democrats agreed that pre-existing conditions, children stayin

Jeff Hedges, the Pharmacy Compliance Guide is back discussing the IMPACT repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have on the Pharmacy Industry. Question: Now that the Republicans have control of both houses and the White House, they are going to Repeal and Replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare. What does this mean? Answer: The current system is broken, mainly because the government and the insurance companies worked together to write this law to control health care payments to health care practitioners. Patient care and the health care practitioners were not factored into the law. Question: Will the new healthcare law contain the popular portions of the ACA? Answer: Before the ACA was created, both the Republicans and Democrats agreed that pre-existing conditions, children staying on their parent’s health insurance until the age of 26 as well as many small portions of health care that benefit patients and providers. In fact, 80% of the ACA had been mutually agreed upon by everyone before the law was enacted. However, over the last eight years, this fact has been forgotten. Question: So why is the ACA considered to be so bad? Answer: ACA eliminated competition and fixed pricing for practitioners. Then turned over the management of health plans to the insurance carriers with no oversight on premiums. This eliminated competition by the mergers of insurance companies. Now there are only six national insurance carriers who set their premiums and control the market. Question: What can we expect with the new changes to health care? Answer: 2017 insurance policies have already been written, so there will be no changes for current policies. However, depending on what changes are made in the first half of 2017, 2018 may have a completely different look for health insurance. Question: What can we expect the first changes to be made in our healthcare? Answer: Interstate competition. Enabling insurance companies to compete across state lines will have a dramatic effect on insurance premiums. Health care practitioners will be involved in the development of the new regulations so the focus is on health care to the patient and the patient/doctor relationship. This concept alone will redefine the entire health care program in the United States. The simple concept of patient-driven care rather than cost-driven care will be the most radical change. Question: We hear about practitioners, especially pharmacies, who are being reimbursed below their acquisition prices, is this true and if so, how are healthcare facilities able to stay in business? Answer: Yes, as insurance premiums continue to climb, reimbursement to providers are being cut. Especially in the pharmacy industry. 75% of generic drugs are reimbursed at or below the acquisition price. The insurance companies have also imposed a Direct / Indirect Remunerations (DIR) fee that is clawed back 60 days after the reimbursement is made. This can be a flat fee or a percentage and it fluctuates, this makes it difficult to plan your cash flow. This fee has forced thousands of pharmacies out of business. What key points need to be addressed as the Affordable Care Act is repealed and replaced- points to keep if speaking to members of Congress Before the ACA was created, both the Republicans and Democrats agreed that pre-existing conditions, children staying on their parent’s health insurance until the age of 26 as well as many small portions of health care that benefit patients and providers. In fact, 80% of the ACA had been mutually agreed upon by everyone before the law was enacted. However, over the last eight years, this fact has been forgotten. Critical points that are hurting pharmacies and patients Pharmacy Benefit Managers have: Established a regulatory empire with no over-sight Established reimbursement rates for pharmacies with no input on acquisition prices Worked in collusion with insurance companies Set price-fixing with...

Today's EpisodeOverwatch is a huge success for Blizzard. It beat out League of Legends. Blizzard announced its competitive mode. Most gamers were waiting for this since launch. It's a competitive game, so it is a perfect match. It will be interesting to see if the community likes this version of the mode. I suspect Overwatch will be popular for years if Blizzard maintains this game. That means, new maps, characters and modes. If they can keep that up, this game will be played for years. Blizzard did a great job, now they have to keep tweaking to make it even better.Now, get to listening this podcast.Gaming News Pwned (Overwatch is talked about):Doom adds some old school optionsOverwatch is the most popular game in South Korea and the competitive mode is finally here!Twitch adds a new option to show your love for streamersOrion taken off of Steam, then brought back. Claims Activision is evil. We knew that.Battlefield 4 and Hardline gets a new UIOculus gets ride of its terrible DRMMicrosoft Anniversary update coming August 2nd.XCOM 2 has a new DLC with robots!COD Blops 3 brings the zombies and dragons?Steam Summer sale is on!and more!Question:Will you play Overwatch competitive mode?Tweetable Quotes:Yes, let's add dragons to COD Blops 3. That makes sense.Overwatch competitive mode is out and people are not liking it.You can take screenshots of demons exploding. That's what Doom is all about. Pure gory fun!Support:Like these podcasts? Support me on Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alex Nisbett talks about customer performance, designing great public services and building internal service design capacity. ---------------------------------------- EPISODE GUIDE 1:04 - First encounter with Service Design 3:02 - How can we design for Customer Performance? 12:42 - Who are building [service design] capacity? 20:40 - What if public services became better than commercially provided ones? 26:45 - Beginners tip: Go out and make a difference! 28:56 - Question: Will the need for design research disappear? ---------------------------------------- ABOUT ALEX NISBETT @AlexNisbett ➜ https://goo.gl/wl2pEI Alex on LinkedIn ➜ https://goo.gl/rnjjH1 LINKS FROM THE SHOW Service Design for Business book ➜ http://goo.gl/fTgXc4 Livework ➜ http://goo.gl/Jsb1dO Policy Lab UK ➜ https://goo.gl/Ej51pI Government Digital Service ➜ https://goo.gl/f283YU

What kinds of risks have you taken? Relational? Vocational? Financial? What kind of spiritual risks have you attempted? Like an Author, God is writing THE story of the ages and He has written your character into the script. Question: Will you risk playing the part God has ordained?