Scripture for Today

VERSE: Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD.. they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with thefruit of their schemes. -- Proverbs 1:29,31
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Proverbs+1:29,31

THOUGHT: Sometimes the natural consequence of rebellion is its ownjustice. Rebellion ultimately produces bad fruit, and wickedness isoften its own worst punishment. In the face of such a generous Godas we focused upon yesterday, how could we choose to follow anyother path but his? It may seem harder in the short run, but in thelong run there is simply no option that compares!

PRAYER: Father of justice and mercy, thank you for saving me by yourgrace. Thank you for promising to judge the world with grace,mercy, and justice. In you, and you alone, do I find my sense ofwhat is right and fair. I cry out to you, O God, for justice anddeliverance for your people who are oppressed, ridiculed, andpersecuted. In Jesus' name. Amen.http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080131

Best and Worst Places to Buy a House

Whether you're looking for an investment property or a place to live, here's a look at the cities you should seek out and avoid in 2008.

The housing crunch and the excessive inventory -- exceeding 10 months on resale homes -- continues to take its toll on housing prices. But over the long term, housing is still a good investment. In fact, it's more than an investment; it's a home. Plus, you're not really saving anything by renting, as the costs of renting and owning are about equal (well, owning may be a little more). The tax benefits of home ownership far outweigh renting, too. With good housing prices in many great areas, this may indeed be the time to buy.

So now that I've convinced you this is a good time to buy a home, the next question is, Where do you buy one? No matter where you look, you should check out some basic economic fundamentals before buying. Is job growth stable in the area? Is income keeping up with inflation? Is crime above the national average? Is there a higher-than-average rate of foreclosures? These issues and others play a factor when deciding where to buy a house.

As a real estate investor and analyst, it's my job to provide buyers with qualified information on where to buy -- and where to stay away from. Here are my thoughts for 2008 based on the indicators noted above.

The Top Places to Buy
Whether you're an investor like me or you're looking to purchase that next move up, here are my picks for the best areas to buy a home:

*Killeen, Round Rock, Austin, Texas: Killeen has the lowest average home price in any market in the nation while still maintaining quality. Round Rock and Austin have seen incredible job growth and very stable home prices despite the downturn nationwide. Jobs continue to grow here -- a factor for keeping inventory low and prices stable.

*Mission Viejo, California: Mission Viejo has the lowest crime statistics in the nation. With no murders in 2007 and a low rate of violent crime, this is a good place to raise a family. Prices are relatively stable, and the job market in the nearby cities of Irvine and San Diego means there is consistent demand from job seekers.

*Palm Beach, Florida: I'm taking a risk here because this area has been pummeled by foreclosures in 2007. But there are also a lot of boomers retiring, and Palm Beach is looking mighty attractive. If you don't like this high of a risk (which translates to great prices), check out Tampa or Clearwater in the same state.

*Las Vegas, Nevada: Yes, Las Vegas has been hit hard by incoming investors, who watched their home values disappear and then left those homes empty. Las Vegas comes in quite high on the national foreclosure list, almost always within the top three metro areas. But there's an upside -- a very strong job market. In 2007, Las Vegas experienced a 12 percent increase in population, partly driven by retirees looking for Sunbelt states to move to. Coupled with low prices, we could see inventories reduced here, which would also stabilize prices. Be careful what you buy, but I like it.

Places to Avoid
And now for the places you definitely want to avoid:
*Detroit, Michigan: The job market is in chaos. People are getting laid off left and right. National statistics seem to point to a significant problem with job loss and job income not keeping up with inflation. As a result, many nice neighborhoods are now abandoned due to people leaving their homes. Inventories exceed one year (under six months is what we want to see), and the foreclosure problem hit Detroit hard. With fewer jobs to support home purchases, I don't see Detroit turning around anytime soon.

*Miami, Florida: Palm Beach is different than Miami, which sits in its gorgeous aqua water with half-built and abandoned condos, a shrinking job market, a tough time getting insurance against hurricanes and a job problem. Yes, you can get a good deal, but do this only if you don't need the appreciation from the home in the next decade.

*Riverside/San Bernardino, California: Even those lucky homeowners that bought before the boom are feeling it now. Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California consistently lead California in foreclosures and rank in the top three metro areas nationally. The prices have plummeted, and jobs in the area are scarce. People moved there due to lack of affordability in Orange and Los Angeles counties (where their jobs were), so it's a commuter's area. Now that prices in the two counties have dropped, people can live close to their jobs. Although I grew up in Riverside County, I could never recommend it to anyone looking to buy a home.

SOURCE: by Danielle BabbThursday, January 24, 2008 Provided by Entrepreneur.com

Scripture for Today

VERSE: Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes."
Deuteronomy 1:29-30, New International Version

THOUGHT: Moses began his farewell message to Israel with a reminder of their parents' refusal to obey God's word to enter the Promised Land. With his death, these Israelites will have to follow a leader other than Moses for the first time in their lives. Moses wants them to know that their real Leader hasn't changed. God had done mighty things for them in Moses' day. Now God will do mighty things in their day through Joshua. They will have more than second hand deliverance stories to tell their grandchildren. They will be eyewitnesses of God's power and faithfulness. But they would have to obey this same command their parents ignored and own a faith that their ancestors did not have!

PRAYER: Almighty and Sovereign LORD, all glory and honor goes to you for your mighty acts to redeem, to save, to fulfill, and to bless your people throughout the ages. I ask, dear LORD, please bless your people today with faith to expect your power, hearts to obey your Word, and eyes to see that your great work is not yet done. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOURCE: http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi

Scripture for Today

VERSE: We proclaim him [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. Colossians 1:28, New International Version

THOUGHT: The life of Jesus is transformational. The resurrection of Jesus is transformational. The Gospel of Jesus is transformational. Jesus' gift of the Spirit is transformational. The proclamation of Jesus is transformational. The work of Jesus is transformational. In other words, Jesus is the key, the center, the hub, and the heart of what we do and why we do it. Paul also reminds us that Jesus Christ is our goal.

PRAYER: Father, please forgive me. I confess that in my zeal to help others, I have sometimes lost sight of Jesus' power to change their lives and relied on my own meager resources. As I seek to know Christ more perfectly and as I seek to be more like Christ in my daily character, please use me to lead others to him and to be like him. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the name above all names, I pray. Amen.

SOURCE: http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi

Scripture for Today

VERSE: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philemon 1:25, New International Version

THOUGHT: Have you noticed how words of blessing are in such short supply? There is something about our fallen state that makes sarcasm and ridicule easier to use than blessing. But, in God's family, words are always to be used for the benefit and blessing of others. What simpler or kinder words do we need to use to bless others than these words Paul sent to Philemon? Let's find a way to say them ... and say them again ... and again ...

PRAYER: Loving Father, you have blessed me so much with your grace. Please use me to be a blessing to everyone I meet today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOURCE: http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi

Judge Hilary Green's Campaign Kick-Off Tonight

Judge Hillary Green's Campaign Kick-off and Fundraising Reception is tonight, Thursday, January 24, 2008 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Hermann Park Golf Course, 2155 North MacGregor. Judge Hilary Green is the current Jp Judge for Precinct 7. She received her undergraduate degree from University of Houston. While at University of Houston, she pledged the first African American Greek Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

City Weighs Selling Hilton Move Could Result in Second Hotel near Convention Center

The city of Houston is considering selling its 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston convention center hotel.

The sale would allow the city to pay off bonds used to finance the property and create more financial flexibility to undertake another project, such as a second convention hotel downtown.

That's according to Richard Campo, chairman of the Houston Convention Center Hotel Corp., the nonprofit created by the city to develop and own the hotel.

City leaders have been talking about bringing another large hotel to a site next to the George R. Brown Convention Center and across the Discovery Green park from the Hilton Americas, Mayor Bill White said Monday.

For a sale to occur, however, the city would first have to clear up hotel-related obligations tied to its employee pension fund.

The City Council approved a proposal in 2004 to use the Hilton Americas as collateral to cover $300 million of a $2 billion shortfall in the Houston Municipal Employees' Pension System.
Instead of issuing a bond, the city worked out an arrangement with the pension system allowing it until 2033 to pay off the obligation. In exchange, if the city defaulted, it would have to turn over ownership of the hotel.

But as soon as next week, the city plans to seek council approval to issue pension obligation bonds that would pay off the note to the pension fund, said Judy Gray Johnson, the city's director of finance and administration. The city owes the pension fund about $360 million, including interest.

David Long, the pension system's executive director, said the Hilton Americas must be doing well if the city is considering selling it. "That means the need for that second hotel is very good," he said. With the pension system out of the picture, it lifts the city's collateral obligation, allowing the hotel corporation to sell it. Approximately $280 million is owed on the property, which White estimates could be worth "substantially more than $350 million."

"The sale of the existing hotel could help in the financial flexibility of the city to help it make a new hotel possible," Campo said. "When you can reduce debt and free up cash flow, that's a good thing. Those involved said the idea of a second hotel is still very much in the embryonic stage.

Land has not been acquired nor have terms been set. While city officials said they would like to see a new hotel financed privately, one of the alternatives is selling the Hilton Americas in conjunction with building a new hotel. But the two are not mutually exclusive, Campo said.

City officials contend another hotel would make Houston more competitive for big conventions.
They said Houston loses out because of a lack of hotel rooms close to the convention center.

Downtown has less than 5,000 rooms. For conference attendees that can't find room near the convention center, traveling from the Galleria area can be an inconvenience.

Houston also competes with other cities in amenities. Places like Houston and Dallas that lack mountains, lakes and other natural features must have man-made attractions to compensate, said Doug Ducate, president and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research in Dallas.

Such cities "need to have some really attractive benefits in order to attract business," he said.

Moreover, midrange convention center hotels are having a hard time competing for business, as more individual travelers tend to stay at either budget or luxury properties, Ducate said
.
"People are going up or down," he said. Convention center hotels "are more and more reliant on meeting and convention business." To that end, hotel developers are more likely to risk capital on properties like Courtyard by Marriott on the lower end or Ritz-Carlton on the high end.

And that could prove challenging for the city, which would like the private sector to build another convention hotel.

Outside of New York, Orlando and Las Vegas, there hasn't been a major convention center hotel built without some public subsidy for more than 15 years, Ducate said.
By NANCY SARNOFF and CAROLYN FEIBELCopyright 2008 Houston Chronicle TOOLSnancy.sarnoff@chron.com