- - And the Lord direct your heart in the love of God as you continue to faithfully serve Him - -

Links on this Web Site include:      HOME  |  ABOUT  US   |    OUR PURPOSE   |   SITEMAP   |  COMPUTER FUND ACCTG  |  HELPS   |  GLOSSARY 

         TO:  Interested Onliners                                                                                                            FROM: Jim Bramer, Retired Auditor-CPA
                                                                                                                                                                        
   
         RE: J I Ms  J R N L for the month of August 2006                                                                       FILE:  0208-06/jrnl        
                (Click Here for "Blogger like" perspective/rationale)      

01 - Spending Control Helps - Jesus Savior Pilot Me - New Web Site (01)

    When you  Click Here  you are reminded that two years ago our August 2004 JIMs JRNL emphasis was on the general topic of Righteous Personal Finance for Christian Believers and their use of the Envelopes System for the basic purpose of "SPENDING CONTROL."
    Well, here it is two years later and within this August 2006 JIMs JRNL I want to acquaint you with our new sister  "SPENDING CONTROL HELPS" web site.  When you  Click Here  you will find that effective in July 2006 we are addressing  the following via this new  "SPENDING CONTROL HELPS" effort:

>>  "Small Christian Ministries" and/or  "Christian Believers" acknowledge that they need assistance with respect to "SPENDING CONTROLS" .
>>  Trained personnel come along side and remotely assist such Christian Entities in this effort.
>>  Via the effective use of tools provided via the Internet and applicable Software.

    Features of this new  Web Site  covers such matters as:

>>  These entities need to have a successful sojourn on a "Billowy Fiscal Sea."
>>  We all acknowledge and comply with this theme:  "Jesus Savior Pilot Me " 
>>  As we use available "Charts" and "Compasses"  to make "SPENDING CONTROL" decisions
>>  Along with the assistance of a valuable (but remote)  "Associate Pilot"
>>  As all of these resources are utilized for the agreed "SPENDING CONTROL"  purposes, etc.

    Below is an example for a "Christian Believers"  of one of their updated  "Charts"  as used to make weekly buying decisions.

Side A -- Available Resources
	10-ABC Bank Accounts		$2,262.60
	19-"BuyNowPayLater" Enabler		$1,600.00
		Total		$3,862.60
Side 1 -- Committed Areas
	22-Due XYZ Credit Card Co			$1,541.71
	30-Spendable Balances
		31-For Church Donations	$ 300.00
		32-For Life Style Costs	$ 220.89
		33-Mortgage Payment due the 5th	$ 985.00	$1,505.89
	40-SetASide (or Escrowed)
		41-For Upcoming Events	$ 600.00
		49-For Discretionary Purposes	$ 215.00	$ 815.00
		Total		$3,862.60

    They always know how much money there is to spend during the following week within each "30-Spending Balance" area. Example: the $220.89 above in the "32-For Life Style Costs" spending area means, of course, that $220.89 is all that they now have for the usual Life Style purposes.  One of the rules is that no buying decisions are made from running balances of your Bank ($2,262.60) or Credit Card ($1,541.71) -- rather, choices are made from balances within the "30-Spendable Balances" area ($1,505.89.), etc
     See the "Links below via Jim Bramer" for more information on these matters.
     We greatly covet your prayers as we go forward with this.

02 - Some Gleaning most having to do with Money - (02)  --  Authors of the following are unknown

        >>   A Budget is like taking a picture of a dollar landing before it starts.
        >>   A Budget is keeping an expense account before, instead of after, you spend it.
        >>   Too many Christians, like other folks, are figuring their living costs by the following rule: take your income, whatever that may be, and then add 10 or 15 percent.
        >>  The story is told about a pig and a hen who were walking down the street when they saw a sign in a cafe window reading, ‘Delicious ham and eggs.’ "Isn't it grand," said the hen , "that together we can give human beings something that delights them," but the pig frowned, "Yes, he said, "but you're giving out of surplus, but my giving is a real sacrifice."
        >>  This is a poem called "Money."  Dug from the mountain side, Washed in the glen; Server am I, The master of man.  Steal me, I curse you, Earn me, I bless you, Grasp me and hoard me, A fiend shall possess you.   Lie for me, die for me, covet me, take me; Angel or devil, I am what you make me.
        >>   There are three kicks in every dollar, one, when you make it, another when you save it, and the third when you give it
        >>   Achan, one of Joshua's men, had claimed for himself that which had been devoted to God.
        >>   Spontaneous generosity does not always come forth at the time of great need or appeal. Discipline is the basis, or means, frequently, by which generosity is made possible.  In other words, establish priorities and in a disciplined manner comply with these priority matters.
        >>    Gulls have learned that fishing boats generally mean a generous dinner, because of the generosity of the fisherman. Fishermen have reason to feel friendly to the sea gulls because usually they can tell when a school of fish is near by the presence of sea gulls. The fishermen/sea gulls are partners. All of life is made up of a variety of partnerships.
        >>     Psalm 92:3 is an exhortation to praise God upon an instrument of ten strings. Two eyes to see what God has done, two ears to hear God's word, two hands to do God's work, two feet to walk God's way, one tongue to speak truth and one heart/life to give to God. Add them up and you have an instrument of ten strings to be used to for the glory of God.

Links that are "NOT"  via Jim Bramer     

       Some helpful publications via the "Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability - ECFA"  web site.

    Sample Policies - Forms and Procedures
    Standards and Best Practices at Christian Ministries
    Standards and Best Practices at Churches
    Reimbursement and Medical Expenses

Links that are via Jim Bramer

Some of the www.qbuxbox.org Spending Control Helps Chapter links are below:

    Two Sides of the Same Dollar
    After the Fact (ATF) Internet Weekly Accounting System
    BuxBox Accounting System
    Comparisons to Other Software, etc.
    More Memo Accounting Samples re Obligations
    Jim Bramer Services along these lines
    Whole Dollar Accounting Info
 

This Month's previous Editorial - "For What It is Worth" - Written in May 2004 (10) :

Internet / Online Ministry Finance action proposed options   ---  http://www.bcidot.org/fwi/0927-04.html     

Current "Ministry Finance" Truisms

    FINANCE REPORTING - the Ministry finance decision makers MUST timely know the financial facts.  SPENDING - The "General Purpose Fund - GPFund" income for most Ministries is very volatile, so regardless of any authorized GPFund budget, spending is limited to what comes in to the GPFund - period!   Knowing the status of the GPFund on at least a weekly basis is essential.  INTERNAL BORROWING -- Sometimes the GPFund  has more expenses than income so you need to borrow only from "discretionary" internal Special Purposes Funds- SPFunds.  Of course, it is improper for a Ministry to even temporarily borrow from donor restricted funds or "non-discretionary" SPFunds. 
     First Peter 1:13:  "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be revealed."