Gospel

The Power Of The Gospel

Many people around the world who embrace “Christianity” have never heard the true Gospel. They believe Christianity is nothing but a different set of rules, substituting Christian “dos and don’ts” for those of other religions. They continue to believe they must earn their way to God and then do their best to deserve the benefits of salvation. That’s not the true Gospel.

Accepting Jesus as your Savior with the belief that you are now going to abide by a certain set of rules, or exchange one set for another, is not the good news. Why? Because it still depends upon your performance. And I can guarantee you that the devil will make sure you know that your performance is not quite good enough. He is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10).

The truth that makes the Gospel the “nearly-too-good-to-be-true news” is that we are accepted by God through what Jesus did for us. The revelation of God’s grace will deliver you from a performance mentality to a total trust and reliance upon the Lord. Salvation is all about God’s faithfulness, not ours! This is foundational for maintaining a close relationship with God and receiving all the benefits of your salvation.

Romans 1:16-17 says,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

The book of Romans communicates that the Gospel is the power of God. It’s what produces the life of God in people. However, the word Gospel has become a religious term that has lost a lot of its meaning today. Many people associate “Gospel” with anything that has to do with religion, specifically the Christian religion. But “Gospel” literally means “good tidings,” or “good news.”

The Greek word euaggelion, which was translated “gospel” in seventy-four New Testament verses, was so rare in writings outside of the New Testament that it’s only found twice in extra-biblical manuscripts. The reason for this is because this word not only meant “good news,” but was actually describing “nearly-too-good-to-be-true news.”

Much of “Christian culture” today associates the Gospel with these statements: “You’re a sinner. If you don’t repent, you’re going to hell.” Now, these are true statements. There is a heaven and a hell, a God and a devil, and you will go to hell if you don’t repent and receive salvation, but even though all of that is truth, it’s not “good news.” It’s not “the Gospel.”

As a matter of fact, it’s the complete opposite of what Paul was teaching. Roman 2:4 says it’s the goodness of God that leads us to repentance, not judgment and condemnation. That is what Paul was talking about, and that is “good news.”

The Gospel is directly related to the grace of God. That’s the only way this forgiveness of our sins can be obtained. It isn’t through our holiness or good works. God doesn’t take the “good” people and save them; He justifies (extends salvation toward) the ungodly (Rom. 4:5).

This causes many problems for religious people. They say, “Wait a minute! I believe you must do this and that to be holy.” Religion—false religion, man’s concepts—teaches that right standing with God and His blessings come as a result of our own goodness and works.

Religious teachers say, “You must come to our church. You must pay your tithes, read your Bible, and pray more, to mention a few. Then, if you do all these things just right, God will accept you.” That’s anti-Gospel! It’s against the “good news” of God’s grace because it’s putting the burden of salvation on your back—and you can’t bear it. Nobody can save themselves.

That’s basically the false “Gospel” that religion preaches today. They may talk about the one true God and use terminology like “God the Father.” They may even mention that Jesus is the Savior of the world who died for our sins. But at its core, it’s another “Gospel”—which is no Gospel at all (Gal. 1:7).

The Gospel isn’t only the belief in salvation, but it’s also the understanding of the means by which this salvation is obtained. “If you’ll act good and do good, then you’ll be good” isn’t the true Gospel. Notice what Paul said while addressing the very first ministers’ conference at Ephesus:

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

Another way Paul could have said this is, “I am testifying of the Gospel—which is the good news of the grace of God.” The words “Gospel” and “grace” are terms that can be used interchangeably. The good news—or Gospel—is the grace of God.

Even the word salvation is misunderstood. Evangelical Christianity says that salvation is a one-time occurrence, an experience when your sins are forgiven. That’s true, there is a moment when you pass from death to life, but that is not all that happens. It’s an incomplete definition. Salvation isn’t limited to the initial born-again experience.

Salvation is everything Jesus purchased for us through the atonement. Sozo, the Greek word from which “salvation” was translated means more than forgiveness of sin; it also means healing, deliverance, and prosperity. It’s a word that summarizes everything that Jesus provided for us through His death, burial, and resurrection.

James 5:14-15 vividly illustrates how salvation includes both healing and forgiveness of sin:

“Is any sick among you? let him call for this elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save [sozo] the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (brackets mine).

Salvation is a package deal and it’s all accomplished by the grace of God, not our works. However, Satan is always trying to deceive us. He is the one who wants us to believe we must earn things from God. He is the one causing us to doubt the Lord’s willingness to use His ability on our behalf, and unfortunately, the church is often reinforcing that belief.

I’ve had many believers come up to me in the prayer lines asking, “Why am I not healed? I’ve fasted, prayed, and studied the Word. I pay my tithes and go to church. I’m doing the best I can. What does God demand?” When I hear that, they have just given me the answer to their question. They aren’t pointing to what Jesus did; they are pointing to what they have done, and that always leads to failure.

Most people believe that God moves in their lives proportional to their performance. That was the error Paul was dealing with in the book of Romans. When Paul came along and said “I’m not ashamed of the Gospel!” he was saying “I am not ashamed to tell people about the goodness, grace, and mercy of God. The Lord loves us in spite of who we are and what we’ve done.” Now that’s “good news!”

The religious folks of Paul’s day thought this was terrible. They believed what he was preaching was heresy. People needed to recognize and relate to God based on how sorry they were. God wasn’t happy with them or the way they were acting. They were just worms in His sight. Sound familiar?

On the surface it looks like a humble position. In reality, it’s actually making a person’s relationship with God dependent on self. “Look what I have done for the Lord, how holy I’ve been, and how much I’ve denied myself.” This is actually a very self-centered, self-dependent way of approaching God that never produces any fruit in your life.

Religion wants to make sure that people know they are sinners and on their way to hell. However, the truth is that they already know that.

Romans 1:18-19 says,

“For the wrath of God is revealed [not going to be, but already is revealed] from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath [past tense] shewed it unto them” (brackets mine).

God’s wrath has already been revealed intuitively inside of every person. Each individual has within them the knowledge of God’s wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. So when someone wonders If I just tell people about the goodness of God, what will make them understand that they are sinners in need of salvation? Paul’s answer was that they already knew. In their hearts, people already know that they aren’t good, but sinners in need of salvation.The point is that you don’t have to bombard people with the fact that they are sinners; deep in their hearts they already know. You may need to spend some time on that issue in order to make your point and strike that chord in their hearts, but not by condemning them and restricting them to religious dos and don’ts. Paul was saying, “That’s not the true approach.”

It’s the Gospel—the nearly-too-good-to-be-true news that God has provided. It’s salvation for us by grace that empowers men to receive the forgiveness of their sins, the healing of their bodies, the deliverance from Satan’s oppression, and more. We don’t need to convince people they are sinners; we need to show them the way out. That’s the Gospel!

Do you need to be healed? The power for healing is in the Gospel. Do you need to be prospered financially? The power for financial prosperity is in the Gospel. Do you need to be delivered from the power of demonic influence, from depression, from yourself, or from something else? The power for deliverance is in the Gospel! The Gospel is the power of God. It’s “nearly too good to be true.”

I’ve just released a new book entitled Grace: The Power of the Gospel. I think it could radically change people’s perception of how God relates to us. This is a synopsis of Paul’s masterpiece on the subject of the Gospel of grace, the book of Romans. It has changed my life, and it can change yours too.

For the first time, I am also releasing a companion Study Guide. It’s a great tool for Sunday school class, Bible studies, or one-on-one discipleship. Included inside the front cover is a CD-ROM that will allow you to reproduce as many copies as you need to facilitate teaching others.

I encourage you to get several copies of this book along with your study guide. The book is available for a gift of any amount. The study guide, including the CD-ROM, is available for a gift of $35 or more. I also have this teaching in cassette, CD, and DVD formats (DVD recorded from television).

What Is the Gospel?

There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simplifications. People think they’re preaching the Gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the Gospel.

The Gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness – or lack of it – or the righteousness of another. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.

The great misconception in our day is this: that God isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For God to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead – so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So the Gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it? The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith – and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him – and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.

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Laughter and humor help you stay emotionally healthy

Laughter makes you feel good. And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.

More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.

The link between laughter and mental health

The link between laughter and mental health

Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.

Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.

Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

The social benefits of humor and laughter

Humor and playful communication strengthen our relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection. When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment.

Laughing with others is more powerful than laughing alone

Creating opportunities to laugh

Watch a funny movie or TV show.

Go to a comedy club.

Read the funny pages.

Seek out funny people.

Share a good joke or a funny story.

Check out your bookstore’s humor section.

Host game night with friends.

Play with a pet.

Go to a “laughter yoga” class.

Goof around with children.

Do something silly.

Make time for fun activities (e.g. bowling, miniature golfing, karaoke).

Shared laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting. All emotional sharing builds strong and lasting relationship bonds, but sharing laughter and play also adds joy, vitality, and resilience. And humor is a powerful and effective way to heal resentments, disagreements, and hurts. Laughter unites people during difficult times.

Incorporating more humor and play into your daily interactions can improve the quality of your love relationships— as well as your connections with co-workers, family members, and friends. Using humor and laughter in relationships allows you to:

Be more spontaneous. Humor gets you out of your head and away from your troubles.

Let go of defensiveness. Laughter helps you forget judgments, criticisms, and doubts.

Release inhibitions. Your fear of holding back and holding on are set aside.

Express your true feelings. Deeply felt emotions are allowed to rise to the surface.

Bringing more humor and laughter into your life

Therapeutic Benefits of PetsWant to bring the fun? Get a pet…

Most of us have experienced the joy of playing with a furry friend, and pets are a rewarding way to bring more laughter and joy into your life. But did you know that having a pet is also good for your mental and physical health? Studies show that pets can protect you depression, stress, and even heart disease.

Laughter is your birthright, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. Infants begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months of being born. Even if you did not grow up in a household where laughter was a common sound, you can learn to laugh at any stage of life.

Begin by setting aside special times to seek out humor and laughter, as you might with working out, and build from there. Eventually, you’ll want to incorporate humor and laughter into the fabric of your life, finding it naturally in everything you do.

Here are some ways to start:

Smile. Smiling is the beginning of laughter. Like laughter, it’s contagious. Pioneers in “laugh therapy,” find it’s possible to laugh without even experiencing a funny event. The same holds for smiling. When you look at someone or see something even mildly pleasing, practice smiling.

Count your blessings. Literally make a list. The simple act of considering the good things in your life will distance you from negative thoughts that are a barrier to humor and laughter. When you’re in a state of sadness, you have further to travel to get to humor and laughter.

When you hear laughter, move toward it. Sometimes humor and laughter are private, a shared joke among a small group, but usually not. More often, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humor you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and ask, “What’s funny?”

Spend time with fun, playful people. These are people who laugh easily–both at themselves and at life’s absurdities–and who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.

Bring humor into conversations. Ask people, “What’s the funniest thing that happened to you today? This week? In your life?”

Developing your sense of humor: Take yourself less seriously

One essential characteristic that helps us laugh is not taking ourselves too seriously. We’ve all known the classic tight-jawed sourpuss who takes everything with deathly seriousness and never laughs at anything. No fun there!

Some events are clearly sad and not occasions for laughter. But most events in life don’t carry an overwhelming sense of either sadness or delight. They fall into the gray zone of ordinary life–giving you the choice to laugh or not.

Ways to help yourself see the lighter side of life:

Laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take yourself less seriously is to talk about times when you took yourself too seriously.

Attempt to laugh at situations rather than bemoan them. Look for the humor in a bad situation, and uncover the irony and absurdity of life. This will help improve your mood and the mood of those around you.

Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun.

Keep things in perspective. Many things in life are beyond your control—particularly the behavior of other people. While you might think taking the weight of the world on your shoulders is admirable, in the long run it’s unrealistic, unproductive, unhealthy, and even egotistical.

Deal with your stress. Stress is a major impediment to humor and laughter.

Pay attention to children and emulate them. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing.

Checklist for lightening up

When you find yourself taken over by what seems to be a horrible problem, ask these questions:

Is it really worth getting upset over?

Is it worth upsetting others?

Is it that important?

Is it that bad?

Is the situation irreparable?

Is it really your problem?

Using humor and play to overcome challenges and enhance your life

The ability to laugh, play, and have fun with others not only makes life more enjoyable but also helps you solve problems, connect with others, and be more creative. People who incorporate humor and play into their daily lives find that it renews them and all of their relationships.

Life brings challenges that can either get the best of you or become playthings for your imagination. When you “become the problem” and take yourself too seriously, it can be hard to think outside the box and find new solutions. But when you play with the problem, you can often transform it into an opportunity for creative learning.

Playing with problems seems to come naturally to children. When they are confused or afraid, they make their problems into a game, giving them a sense of control and an opportunity to experiment with new solutions. Interacting with others in playful ways helps you retain this creative ability.

Here are two examples of people who took everyday problems and turned them around through laughter and play:

Roy, a semi-retired businessman, was excited to finally have time to devote to golf, his favorite sport. But the more he played, the less he enjoyed himself. Although his game had improved dramatically, he got angry with himself over every mistake. Roy wisely realized that his golfing buddies affected his attitude, so he stopped playing with people who took the game too seriously. When he played with friends who focused more on having fun than on their scores, he was less critical of himself. Now golfing was as enjoyable as Roy hoped it would be. He scored better without working harder. And the brighter outlook he was getting from his companions and the game spread to other parts of his life, including his work.

Jane worked at home designing greeting cards, a job she used to love but now felt had become routine. Two little girls who loved to draw and paint lived next door. Eventually, Jane invited the girls in to play with all the art supplies she had. At first, she just watched, but in time she joined in. Laughing, coloring, and playing pretend with the little girls transformed Jane’s life. Not only did playing with them end her loneliness and mild boredom, it sparked her imagination and helped her artwork flourish. Best of all, it rekindled the playfulness and spark in Jane’s relationship with her husband.

As laughter, humor, and play become an integrated part of your life, your creativity will flourish and new discoveries for playing with friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and loved ones will occur to you daily. Humor takes you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed, positive, creative, joyful, and balanced perspective.

Insurance

The History of Insurance- Looking Back

Looking back centuries ago...

It is difficult to pin point the exact beginning of insurance. Insurance has existed in many different forms for thousands of years. The most ancient form of insurance (still in existence in some rural areas today) existed in non-financial economies in the form of people helping other people. For example, if one neighbor's house burns down, the rest of the neighbors would come together to rebuild a new home. In this type of community, your premium is paid by lending a helping hand- securing your ability to get help if you are to need it in the future. Ancient societies lived on this type of insurance for hundreds of years and it continues to exist in economies where financial instruments are not widespread.

However, the type of insurance we most often are referring to in the modern world however is based on a money economy. The roots of modern insurance can be traced back as early as 2100 BC when Chinese and Babylonian traders moved their goods via caravan and by sea. Traders would pay an extra fee to their lender for the lender's promise to cancel the loan should the goods be stolen or destroyed in a capsize.

Thousands of years later the inhabitants of Rhodes (A Greek Island), invented and put into use the concept of 'general average'. Merchants who were shipping their goods would all pay into a joint premium which would be used to reimburse any merchant who lost their goods due to a storm or ship sinking.

In 600 AD, the Greeks and Romans invented the beginnings of health and life insurance. 'Benevolent Societies' were formed which helped financially care for families and cover funeral expenses upon the death or serious illness of a society member. A similar type of insurance existed later on in England and was based on the membership to 'Friendly Societies', in which members donated funds of money to a joint sum of money that would be disbursed and used when a member experienced a 'covered loss'.

Near the end of the 17th century, London became the hub for marine trade and the high demand for marine insurance became glaringly apparent. In 1688, Mr. Edward Lloyd opened a modest coffee house in London. Little did he know that his meek beginnings in the coffee business would grow to be something entirely different. Becoming a popular meeting spot for ship owners, merchants, captains and those wishing to insure ships, Lloyd's Coffee House soon became known as the place to go for marine insurance. Appropriately, in 1771 Lloyd's Coffee House ceased the sale of coffee and became Lloyd's Subscription Room where 79 underwriters and brokers started the First Committee of Lloyd's. Today, Lloyd's is the leading specialty insurance company with 300 years of experience insuring some of the most complex risks including oil rigs, airlines, celebrity body parts and the Olympic games.

London can also be attributed as the birthplace of building insurance where, in 1666 the Great Fire of London took 13,200 home and businesses and 87 churches. You've likely heard of this famous fire in the childhood song, 'The London Bridge is Burning Down'. In the months after this disaster, Nicholas Barbon opened an office to insurance buildings in London. His company became known as 'The Fire Office' where in 1680 where he insured brick and frame homes.

In 1732, the first United States fire insurance company started in Charles Town (modern day Charleston), South Carolina. Benjamin Franklin helped to enforce the practice of insurance and in 1752 founded the 'Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss of Fire'. This company was the first company to move towards fire prevention by warning of fire hazards, promoting fire safety and by refusing to insure wooden houses and other high-risk buildings.

In modern day, insurance companies exist all over the United States providing protection from financial losses from all sorts of perils and disasters. Travelers Companies, trusted partner of HomeInsurance.com, is known for writing the first auto insurance policy in 1897. With over 150 years in the insurance business, Travelers has become a trusted source for insurance in the United States.

Currently in the United States, regulation of the insurance industry is handled at the state level, by individual state insurance departments. State insurance commissioners mostly operate individually based on their state's insurance needs but have also been known to work in joint efforts through a National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

With insurance rates steadily increasing in recent years since September 11, Hurricane Katrina, and other disasters, it becomes more important for the insured to find dependable coverage and optimal insurance rates. Insurance shopping companies such as HomeInsurance.com, have come to the forefront of insurance shopping by offering property owners multiple, competitive quotes. Giving homeowners an edge in the quoting process, home insurance shopping companies level the playing field and give property owners a powerful stance in the insurance industry.

For more information about modern day home insurance, visit Home Insurance 101 to get an insider's look at a modern, standard home insurance policy with explanations of industry terms and jargon.

Nearly one-third of U.S. workers will become disabled at some point in their career before reaching retirement, according to a 2009 estimate from the Social Security Administration. Yet the federal agency says that 70% of employees aren't covered by private long-term disability insurance. Social Security disability benefits are available for certain disabled workers, but the average payout is only 40% of a person's income and the allowance rate for initial claims can be as low as 30% in some areas of the U.S.

Making up for the rest of that income is possible, but there's a price. A 35-year-old healthy male who earns $100,000 in salary can purchase an individual disability policy with an annual benefit of $60,000 until age 65 for about $1,350 a year, according to the Guardian Disability Insurance Brokerage.

Here's how to check your options for additional paycheck protection:

Short- vs. long-term makes a difference. Short-term disability, also known as sick leave, starts as soon as you're unable to work due to illness, injury or the birth of a child. Forty-seven percent of U.S. employers offer short-term coverage and 40% provide long-term disability, according to industry trade group LIMRA. Some states, such as New York and California, require a minimum level of short-term benefits. You can read buying tips and ways to compare policies here and here.

Know what you already have. It's important to determine your short-term coverage before going to purchase a long-term policy. All policies include an "elimination period," which is the amount of time from when you become disabled to when benefits kick in. Think about this as you would view any insurance deductible. You don't want to pay higher premiums for a shorter waiting period of 30 days if you have six months of short-term coverage.

Know how much you need. Long-term policies typically last for a set number of years or until you reach retirement age. The shorter the benefit period, the lower the premium. You should also check whether you can keep coverage if you leave your employer. This is known as portability.

Determine how much coverage you need. A typical long-term group plan will replace up to 60% of your salary. If your employer pays all or even a portion of the premiums, that's likely your best option to start with. You can calculate how much you might need here or here.

Drawbacks to group plans. Group plans usually only cover salary; no commissions or bonuses unless that is considered part of your core compensation. Some group plans are capped at $5,000 a month, or $60,000 annually. And if you pay premiums on a pre-tax basis from your paycheck, you will be taxed later on the benefit payout.

Age matters. Younger workers might want to check rates with an insurance agent before buying through their employer's group plan. In the individual market, age and health status dictate the premiums.

Read the fine print. Understand the difference between "own" or "any" occupation. Consumer advocates recommend a policy that's triggered when you can't do your specific job, not just any work. This is known as "own-occ." An "any-occ" definition is less desirable and is based on being unable to do "any" work given your training, education and experience.

Protect yourself. Make sure the policy cannot be cancelled, known as "non-can," and that renewal is guaranteed at the same premium as long as you pay on time.

Accidents AND illness. Some policies limit payouts to accidents and not illness. Consumers mistakenly think serious accidents are the overwhelming reason for a long-term disability when common chronic diseases play a bigger role. Only 9% of long-term disabilities were caused by injuries in 2009, according to the Council for Disability Awareness. Calculate your odds of missing work for months or years at this site and check out the leading causes of disability.

What not to do when looking to buy disability insurance.

Don't forget to ask about riders. Riders for cost-of-living adjustments or a future purchase option can allow you to increase coverage as they earn more money without taking another physical or referencing your medical records.

Don't buy a policy before checking the insurer's financial strength. Major credit-rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best offer company reports.

Don't just accept the insurance company's decision on coverage limits. Those with more variable income may be surprised at premiums and level of coverage, however particular occupations and risks are covered uniformly. More than three years of business records should clear up any questions about income levels and variability.

Filling out a disability insurance application can be confusing if you have never done it before. However if you simply start at the beginning, and answer each question individually it is not that hard. The most important thing to remember is to answer every question honestly, and to error on the side of telling too much. Do not hold back on anything, the worst thing you could do is not tell the insurance company about something that occurred in your past. Then when you need a claim paid, the insurance company could have a case of possible misrepresentation or fraud against you. Tell them everything up front, and use your insurance agent for advice when filling out the application.

Basic Information

The vast majority of the application is basic information. What is your full name, street address, social security number, etc...Feel free to breeze through this part, just fill it out accurately. Once you get to the occupation section, slow down and spend some time providing the insurance company details to your occupation. There is a good chance this piece of the application will be used when determining a possible claim. Total disability is often defined as the inability to perform the material and substantial duties of your regular occupation, so when the insurance company is trying to determine whether or not your sickness or accident prevents you from performing these duties, one of the first places they look is your original application. "General Duties Of A Dentist" can work if you are a dentist, the vast majority of dentists do a lot of the same work. However, if you are a consultant, "General Duties OF A Consultant" doesn't come close to describing what you do for a living. Protect yourself by listing what you need to be able to do to continue in your occupation. Driving to appointments, having client meetings on site in several states, preparing data, working with a PC, problem solving, managing people and many other duties should be listed on the application if you need to be able to do them.

Financial Information

Most disability insurance carriers underwrite you based upon what you can verify. If you are making more money this year than you did last year, make sure to show the insurance company somehow. Provide them with a copy of your most recent paystubs, a copy of a recently signed employment agreement, notice of a raise, etc...You will also be required to show last year's income documentation as well unless you just started working in this new occupation. Usually your most recent tax return will suffice, however if it is a joint return you may need to show your W-2 as well so that the insurance company can distinguish between the spouses incomes. Don't be alarmed about providing your personal financial information to the insurance company, there is no way they are going to give it out to anybody else, they simply have too much to lose. They must verify your income level, when insurance companies over-insure somebody that person has less of an incentive to return to work if they possibly could, and insurance carriers design plans so that when a person is on claim they still have an incentive to return to work if they could.

Medical Information

The disability insurance application is designed to obtain a complete medical history of you. Give them what they want, nothing makes an insurance company more nervous than an applicant who turns in an application with all "NO" answers. Apparently this applicant has never been to the doctor, so not even the applicant knows what is wrong with them. A normal person has several "Yes" answers on the medical section of an application. Most disability insurance applications now ask if you have been to a physician within the past several years, they actually hope you have so that they can obtain medical records from that visit. I can sum up how to answer every "Yes" answer by having you follow these rules:

1. What did I have? What was the diagnosis?

2. When was it diagnosed?

3. When was the last time it happened, when was last time it happened and I required treatment?

4. How was I treated? What medications was I given? What was the amount of medication used?

5. How does this impact my ability to perform the duties of my occupation?

Make sure that every "Yes" answer on the disability insurance application has the supporting details that answer the above questions.

Real Estate

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Latest Property News on 'Real Estate India'

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has said it is looking at various options to de-congest routes on national highways going towards Gurgaon and Ghaziabad.

“We are thinking of more ways than one to de-congest the Gurgaon and Ghaziabad routes on the national highways,” the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highwys, Dr C.P. Joshi said.

The Ministry, in a recent meeting, reviewed the various bottlenecks hampering the progress of highways in the country and may find solutions for the same soon, he said.

When asked about re-location of the present Gurgaon toll plaza, a Road Ministry official said, meanwhile, “No such decision has been taken, it is an operational project, various issues were discussed and this was one of them.”

According to reports, the Ministry is considering a proposal to shift the toll plaza from its current location so as to de-congest the route towards Manesar.

The proposal to construct a 29 km elevated corridor on National Highway 24 from the Delhi border to Dasna in Uttar Pardesh was also discussed in the meeting.

The country has a highway network of over 71,000 km and the Government plans to award 9,500 km of highway projects this fiscal.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is likely to invite bids for the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) soon and it is likely to be part of the 9,500 km projects.

EPE envisages to provide signal-free connectivity between Ghaziabad and Faridabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar (Greater NOIDA) and Palwal.

A complementary Western Peripheral Expressway (WPE) also connects Kundli to Palwal via Manesar in Haryana.

The Road Ministry has awarded close to 8,000 km of highway projects in 2011-12.

Pre-launch offer lands Gurgaon builder in trouble

CHANDIGARH/ GURGAON: Advertising the pre-launch offer of residential flats before building plans were approved has landed a New Delhi-based Gurgaon colonizer in the soup, who is now facing the threat of losing his licence.

The director general (DG) of town and country planning (TCP), T C Gupta, on Friday turned down the application of Aurochem Buildprop Pvt Limited, the colonizer, for an additional license for group housing colony on 9.39 acres of land in Sector 112, Gurgaon.

In his orders issued on Friday afternoon, T C Gupta, the DG also informed about initiating the proceedings of cancellation of the main license of the colonizer.

The order accessed by TOI mentioned, “It is evident that you have indulged in malpractice which can’t be ignored by the department. Whereas, legal action is being taken with regard to the main licence, no additional licence can be granted since the legal status of the main license itself is clouded.”

Enquiries revealed that the action by department followed the advertisements issued by Earth Infrastructure Ltd, a company which announced the pre-launch offer of flats to be developed by Aurochem Buildprop, who was accorded the licence.

It is alleged that the Earth infrastructure released the advertisements much before the building plans were approved by the town and country planning department. According to official records, the colonizer was given a license to construct a group housing colony on the land measuring 10.318 acres of land in Sector 112.

While the process of approval of building plans of flats of approved colony was in progress, Earth Infrastructure Ltd released the advertisement of pre-launch offer. At the same time the colonizer applied for an additional license on the land measuring 9.39 acres.

“The advertisement of pre launch offer was released in the month of August and September 2011 whereas the building plans of the colony were approved in the month of December. Secondly, the advertisement did not have the necessary details like license number etc. Thirdly, the advertisement was issued by the company which had no records, including a request of even of transfer of licence from the licencee to Earth Infrastructure, hence this is a breach of trust,” T C Gupta said.

Meanwhile, the department has asked the local authorities to ascertain the details of bookings done by Earth Infrastructure limited or any other agency hired by colonizer for the sale of flats during the pre-launch offer.

Slowdown-proof Delhi farmhouses, swank Mumbai towers facing a sharp demand slump

Farmhouses in leafy enclaves on Delhi’s fringes and oceanview apartments in south Mumbai have always been considered impervious to economic slowdowns. Long the abodes of the haves and the have-mores, their allure as aspiration symbols meant they were always insulated from the troughs of economic cycles. But not anymore. A deadly cocktail of disparate factors such as multinationals cutting down on expatriate postings, fewer senior-level hirings and restructuring of compensation packages, all of these framed against a slowing economy, have hit the market for high-end residential lettings in India’s top two cities like never before. The result: a sharp drop in demand for them, and with it, falling rentals and a growing sense of despair among those who cater to this high-end business.

Demand for renting farmhouses in places like Delhi’s Chhattarpur, Vasant Kunj, Satbari and Bijwasan, the areas of choice for industrialists, expatriate CEOs and diplomats keen to escape the hustle and bustle of Delhi while being physically close to it, have dropped as much as 50% in a year, with rents down at least 20%. Brokers say monthly rentals for a typical farmhouse spread over 2.5 acres and comprising five bedrooms, an outhouse for domestic helps, swimming pool and power generator, are now down to Rs 3-4 lakh compared with nearly Rs 6 lakh in 2007. It’s no different in Mumbai where apartments in marquee buildings have fewer takers. Agents say in Malabar Hill’s plush sea-facing apartment block Haveli, flats that were available on rent at Rs 13-14 lakh a month just two years ago, are now going for Rs 10 lakh. And it’s not just Haveli. Rents have been trending lower in other wellknown buildings such as NCPA Apartments at Nariman Point, Kamal Mahal, Tenerife and Usha Kiran, say brokers.

For some, all this is unthinkable in a city where a sea-facing bungalow was let out for a record Rs 15 lakh a month just last year to Goldman Sachs for housing one of the coheads of its private equity business. “Don’t expect such deals to happen soon again,” remarks a Mumbai-based realtor.

A big reason for the change has been India’s dimming economic performance. Economic growth hit a nine-year low of 5.3% in the January-March quarter, dragging down the number for the last fiscal year to 6.5%, a steep drop from the high single-digit growth levels seen in the preceding years.

Ratings firm Crisil expects India Inc’s revenue growth in the April-June 2012 quarter to be the weakest in the last six quarters.

This means less money to splurge, poor corporate profits, fewer top-level hirings and, consequently, lower churn among senior executives, which was one of the pillars of demand for such housing.

Amid all this, India’s image as an investment destination has also taken a knock in recent months. A combination of political and policy paralysis, rules viewed by investors as hostile to business, poor macroeconomic conditions, a wobbly currency and falling markets have hurt the perception of India as an investment destination for global corporations, many of which are already extremely cautious about spending because of an uncertain economic environment.

For a country that not very long ago was spoken in the same breath as China and on the cusp of double-digit economic growth, India has fallen off the investment priority list for many international firms. In a lot of firms, cost cuts have become the norm, and the impact of all this is playing out in the real estate rental market now, say agents.

Mohit Gandhi, a property broker who helps top executives find farmhouses in Chhattarpur near Delhi, recounts the story of a multinational telecom company CEO, who a few months ago vacated his 2.5-acre rented farmhouse at West End Greens farmhouse complex near Gurgaon for a humbler four-bedroom apartment in south Delhi’s tony Vasant Vihar area.

Gandhi, who helped the expatriate CEO find both the houses, says the farmhouse owner refused to renegotiate a running contract, forcing the executive’s company to terminate it in favour of a cheaper deal elsewhere. This one move saved the company close to Rs 2 lakh a month in rentals. “Two months later, the same landlord gave out his farmhouse at a 20% lower rent as he realised that new offers are suddenly hard to come by,” says Gandhi.

In south Mumbai, a 4-bedroom 5,600-sq-ft flat with an attached terrace in Tenerife, a building with quite a few expat tenants at Malabar Hill, has been lying vacant for almost a year and a half. The landlord is now willing to climb down from his initial expectation of Rs 12 lakh a month, says one broker.

Arvind Mehtani, owner of Settlers India, a brokerage that has helped large companies lease big farmhouses for their executives since 1998, says he hasn’t seen anything like this before. “Demand for leasing farm houses is down 25%. Landlords are now willing to renegotiate with tenants,” he says.

Corporate headhunters say top-level hirings, especially of expat managers, are down. Only firms with a strategic need to bring in an experienced expat manager to India are doing so while most others that would have done so as a matter of normal course in the past are passing over the option because of the high costs involved. “Clearly things are slow and companies are stretching timelines for senior-level hiring,” says Shiv Agrawal, managing director of ABC Consultants, which specialises in senior executive hiring.

Real estate consultancies say belt-tightening in an adverse economic environment has meant budgets for housing have fallen. Also, in a departure from the past practice of companies deciding the quality of housing for its top employees, an increasing number of firms are just providing a fixed budget and letting employees decide their standard of living.

“Across the board, companies have cut down their home budgets for senior executives by at least 15%,” says Mudassir Zaidi, regional director (north) at property advisory firm Knight Frank.

While these demand-side pressures bite, landlords in south Delhi are having to reckon with supply-side pressures too. There has been a sharp increase in the supply of new homes in the area in the past year or so after several homeowners decided to redevelop their old properties, creating multiple apartments on plots of land where only one house stood.

Mumbai, too, has seen the addition of several new apartment buildings such as CASA Grande, Beau Monde and Atlantis in recent years, providing competition to the old marquee names, but in the process intensifying the competition and depressing rates.

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