FOSTER'S flagship beer, VB, does not have the vice-like grip on barbecues, parties and beer mats it enjoyed 20 years ago, and it has got some beverage analysts worried.
The beer of choice under the pergola and around the pool is increasingly Boag's, a beer made in Tasmania, owned by the Japanese and sold by the truckload in Victoria.
Goldman Sachs JBWere analyst Ian Abbott believes Boag's, part of Lion Nathan's portfolio, is on the cusp of a fresh wave of popularity in VB's home territory.
He said that if the penetration continued, it could sink Foster's national market share and cost the beer and wine company $100 million in revenue and $40 million in pre-tax earnings. Mr Abbott said that after years of failing to crack the fiercely loyal Victorian market, Lion Nathan now had a brand that resonated with Victorians.
Placing a ''sell'' on Foster's stock, Mr Abbott said the timing was perfect for Lion Nathan as social trends showed consumers were increasingly willing to try new brands.
''If … Lion Nathan is successful in gaining traction in Victoria - current growth for Boag's is at least 30 per cent - then this would suggest there is a risk of a modest downwards trajectory to Foster's overall market share over the next few years,'' he said. Foster's market share in Victoria has traditionally been 85 to 95 per cent.
''If Lion Nathan were to direct most of its Boag's mainland Australia capacity - say 60 million litres - to the Victorian market, then in time we believe Boag's alone could capture 15 per cent of the Victorian beer market and Lion Nathan's aggregate position in Victoria would improve to 20-25 per cent market share.
''If Foster's share of the Victorian beer market were to fall from its current 85 per cent to 75 per cent, then, on our analysis, its share of the overall Australian beer market would fall from 50 per cent currently to around 48 per cent - which is the equivalent of a drag of around $100 million in revenue, or around $40 million in EBIT [earnings before interest and tax].''
A spokesman for Foster's said Victorians remained strong supporters, with its CUB beer brands taking nine of the top 10 positions in the state.

Housing starts surge most since 2001

Housing starts in the final three months of last year rose to the highest level since September 2001, offering a glimmer of hope for the nation's housing shortage.
Dwelling starts jumped 15.1 per cent in December quarter to 40,022 units, accelerating from a revised 11 per cent growth clip in the September quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
''It's fantastic news for the housing shortage,'' said ICAP economist Adam Carr. ''We desperately need more houses.''
''I actually do think it's a crisis. You are seeing evidence of it everywhere,'' he said.
A rise in housing starts was helped by low interest rates and the government stimulus for first home buyers enacted last year. Australia suffers from an estimated 200,000 home shortfall that is expected to worsen in coming years as the population grows and the economy continues to strengthen.
Other indicators are less positive, though, showing a 7.9 per cent slump - its steepest fall since June 2000.
Year-on-year, seasonally adjusted housing starts rose 26 per cent in the December quarter, the ABS said.
In the quarter, private sector houses rose 13.4 per cent, seasonally adjusted, while private sector multi-unit buildings jumped 18.9 per cent, ABS said.
Mr Carr said despite the two quarterly increases in dwelling starts, ''the question is how long will the uptick in residential investment last?''
''Lending has collapsed basically. I can't see a...reason for that.''
State-by-state
New South Wales dwellings starts rose by 16.5 per cent in the quarter, seasonally adjusted. In Victoria, they rose by 15.6 per cent.
In Queensland, starts increased 13.3 per cent, while in South Australia they rose 8.7 per cent, the ABS said.
Fellow mining state of Western Australia posted a 2.3 per cent increase in dwelling starts, while in Tasmania they barely budged, rising only 0.7 per cent in the quarter.
Based on what the ABS said were smaller, less reliable samples, dwellings in the Australian Capital Territory rose 33.7 per cent, and in the Northern Territory they rose 12.2 per cent.
JP Morgan economist Ben Jarman said the improvement in dwelling starts was ''a positive for economic activity in the fourth quarter and beyond'' and will also help ease supply shortages in the housing market.
''With house prices continuing to rise, in stark contrast to those in developed markets overseas, housing has become an increasingly hot topic with RBA officials.''
''A lingering question raised by the US experience leading up to the financial crisis is where the central bank's responsibilities lie when faced with rapidly expanding asset prices.''
Mr Jarman said the RBA is unlikely to raise interest rates on house prices ''except at the margin'' with the ideal scenario being that they correct themselves over time through a flexible supply.
''Today's data should provide some relief on that front,'' he said.
Investors are rating the probability of another rise in the central bank's rates when its board next meets in April at a one-in-three chance.

Inside The Comcast-NBC Train Wreck: How The Curse Of The Moguls Struck Again

The Times business section leads with one of those stories that have been so often written about great media mergers: How did it happen, who whispered what to whom, who knew what when about the deal?
In the past, these stories were breathless if not orgiastic. This one, about , is notably subdued. Partly, this is because any business reporter could have written it in his or her sleep. It’s the same hoary story: that panting dog, Jimmy Lee, the banker at JPMorgan Chase, getting the parties together at the Allen & Co. conference; the scene in Sun Valley; the grumpy, but somehow heroic, CEOs facing off like old bulls. Blah blah. And partly, it is because there have been so many media mergers before—mythical combinations of distribution and content, many of them concocted in Sun Valley and almost none of them have worked out—that, well, even business reporters have to show some amount of soberness and skepticism.

Google takes aim at Microsoft with acquisition

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc stepped up its assault on Microsoft Corp's productivity software business with the acquisition of a small start-up company that allows Microsoft users to edit and share their documents on the Web.
Google said on its company blog Friday that it has acquired San Francisco-based DocVerse. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"With DocVerse, people can begin to experience some of the benefits of Web-based collaboration using the traditional Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint desktop applications," Google Product Manager Jonathan Rochelle said in the blog post.
The deal represents the latest move in the competition between Google, the world's No. 1 Internet search engine, and Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker.
Microsoft has boosted investment in its Bing search engine during the past year, while Google is developing a PC operating system dubbed Chrome OS that will compete with Microsoft Windows, the software used in the vast majority of the world's PCs.
Google is also trying to lure users to its Web-based productivity software, known as Google Docs, which competes with Microsoft's dominant Office software package.
In an interview with Reuters, Google's Rochelle said that DocVerse software makes it easier for users and businesses to move their existing desktop PC documents to the Internet "cloud," where the documents reside on the Web and can be accessed from any PC.
Google "fell in love with what they were doing to make that transition easier," Rochelle said of DocVerse.
Microsoft's business division, which makes Office, is the most profitable unit of the company, generating more than $12 billion in profit last fiscal year, more than half Microsoft's $20.4 billion overall profit.
Microsoft said in an emailed statement that Google's acquisition of DocVerse acknowledges that customers want to use and collaborate with Microsoft Office documents. "Furthermore, it reinforces that customers are embracing Microsoft's long-state strategy of software plus services, which combines rich client software with cloud services."
The DocVerse deal is Google's second acquisition announcement this week, and marks the company's fourth acquisition in less than four weeks.
San Francisco-based DocVerse was founded in 2007 by a pair of former Microsoft managers. The company has less than 20 employees, according to co-founder Shan Sinha and had raised nearly $1.5 million in funding prior to the Google deal

Google takes aim at Microsoft with acquisition

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc stepped up its assault on Microsoft Corp's productivity software business with the acquisition of a small start-up company that allows Microsoft users to edit and share their documents on the Web.
Google said on its company blog Friday that it has acquired San Francisco-based DocVerse. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"With DocVerse, people can begin to experience some of the benefits of Web-based collaboration using the traditional Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint desktop applications," Google Product Manager Jonathan Rochelle said in the blog post.
The deal represents the latest move in the competition between Google, the world's No. 1 Internet search engine, and Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker.
Microsoft has boosted investment in its Bing search engine during the past year, while Google is developing a PC operating system dubbed Chrome OS that will compete with Microsoft Windows, the software used in the vast majority of the world's PCs.
Google is also trying to lure users to its Web-based productivity software, known as Google Docs, which competes with Microsoft's dominant Office software package.
In an interview with Reuters, Google's Rochelle said that DocVerse software makes it easier for users and businesses to move their existing desktop PC documents to the Internet "cloud," where the documents reside on the Web and can be accessed from any PC.
Google "fell in love with what they were doing to make that transition easier," Rochelle said of DocVerse.
Microsoft's business division, which makes Office, is the most profitable unit of the company, generating more than $12 billion in profit last fiscal year, more than half Microsoft's $20.4 billion overall profit.
Microsoft said in an emailed statement that Google's acquisition of DocVerse acknowledges that customers want to use and collaborate with Microsoft Office documents. "Furthermore, it reinforces that customers are embracing Microsoft's long-state strategy of software plus services, which combines rich client software with cloud services."
The DocVerse deal is Google's second acquisition announcement this week, and marks the company's fourth acquisition in less than four weeks.
San Francisco-based DocVerse was founded in 2007 by a pair of former Microsoft managers. The company has less than 20 employees, according to co-founder Shan Sinha and had raised nearly $1.5 million in funding prior to the Google deal.

Bumpy ride for corporate giving amid recession

(Reuters) - Giving by U.S. companies endured the worst recession in decades with mixed results as some pared back philanthropy in the face of tough times, others increased budgets and most predicted a steady 2010.
The economic downturn sparked some changes in giving priorities as well, with several companies placing more importance on basic needs such as fighting hunger and homelessness and others focusing more in their local communities.
"This is not just giving money anymore. It's solving problems. These are social issues that we're addressing," said Charles Moore, executive director of the nonprofit Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy.
"Companies continue to examine their priorities. Very few are taking on new kinds of causes, and they are tending to reallocate the funds they do have," he said. "There's great expectation on the part of communities and (employees) on companies -- they expect more."
Reuters spoke to 10 companies whose philanthropic arms are ranked by the Foundation Center among the top U.S. foundations. Four said the dollar value of their giving increased in 2009, two said it remained steady, and four said it dropped.
Coca-Cola Co (KO.N), Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), MetLife Inc (MET.N) and ExxonMobil (XOM.N) all said their giving rose at least a few percent -- from between $1 million and $10 million -- in 2009 from 2008, when the collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers triggered the global economic crisis.
"While we haven't dramatically changed the areas of giving, we have within those areas concentrated on basic human needs," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "So we have done a great deal more with hunger relief and work force and basic access to education."
2010 GIVING SEEN STEADY
Verizon Communications (VZ.N) and Bank of America (BAC.N) said their giving was steady last year.
"In terms of our giving, we're not stepping away from the plate," said Kerry Sullivan, Bank of America Foundation president. "We understand that these investments in the community are so important to the health of the community and therefore the health of our business."
Giving by General Electric Co (GE.N) fell about 5 percent in 2009, Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N) said its philanthropy dropped about 10 percent and Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N) and Alcoa (AA.N) said giving fell 30 percent last year.
"In response to the economic downturn, Caterpillar has taken steps to reduce costs in a variety of ways," said Caterpillar spokeswoman Bridget Young to explain the cut.
All the corporate foundations told Reuters their giving would likely remain steady or be a slightly higher this year. Most said they were still receiving high demand for help.
"The (MetLife) foundation's giving in 2010 will be up slightly over 2009," said its president and chief executive Dennis White. "We have shifted some resources in response to tough economic conditions."
"We are making more grants for food banks across the country and are providing increased support for housing counseling, including services to address the growing number of families affected by foreclosures," he said.
The tough economic times have also seen companies call on one of their strongest assets to boost their philanthropic work -- their employees.
Since 2007, the number of Alcoa employees taking part in the company's "Month of Service" initiative has more than doubled to 37 percent, while Wal-Mart employees gave more than 1.5 million volunteers hours last year, up from 1.25 million in 2008.
At Bank of America, employees spent more than 800,000 hours volunteering at nonprofit groups.
"It's a morale builder but it also augments our impact in the community," Sullivan said. "We really want to encourage employees to be more engaged."

Wall St Week Ahead: Bulls may extend rally from March 2009 lows

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bulls may get more room to run next week on the anniversary of the March 2009 lows -- if U.S. stock investors see more signs of stability after Friday's rally on smaller-than-expected job losses.
The catalysts could be February retail sales and March consumer sentiment.
On Friday, stocks jumped after U.S. Labor Department data showed employers cut fewer jobs than expected in February, which enhanced the perception that the job market may be on the verge of recovery. The Nasdaq marked its highest close in 18 months. Both the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index closed at six-week highs.
Tuesday will mark the first anniversary of the stock market's slide to 12-year closing lows on March 9, 2009. Since then, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index has climbed nearly 70 percent.
Much of the stock market's gain has been driven by stronger-than-expected economic data and earnings, which have pointed to a recovery.
But investors have been eager to see more robust signs of strength, especially in the nation's job market.
"Jobs are absolutely key," said Bob Doll, chief equity strategist for BlackRock Inc , one of the world's largest asset managers with about $3.35 trillion in assets under management.
"The manufacturing sector is improving. The U.S. consumer, at least in soft goods, is spending some money, inflation remains contained, housing is bottoming, and the next thing investors need to see is some job growth."
Unemployment near 10 percent has, in part, held back consumer spending, economists have said.
Next Friday brings the Commerce Department's monthly retail sales data for February along with the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary reading on March consumer sentiment.
Besides that data, investors will have weekly jobless claims and the international trade deficit to mull over.
Investors will also keep their radar trained next week on Greece's debt problems, which could keep a lid on sentiment.
STRONG WEEK FOR STOCKS
The three major U.S. stock indexes finished the week on a strong note. For the week, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 2.3 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 3.1 percent and the Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 3.9 percent, its best weekly gain since October.
A year ago, the Dow and the S&P 500 were trading at 12-year lows, with uncertainty over a plan to salvage banks among the thorny issues hanging over the market.
"The black clouds of the day a year ago were the non-zero probability of depression and the concern about the potential nationalization of the banking system," Doll said.
"The dissipation of those two concerns has led to this massive rally. and now it's going to be grinded out with economic recovery and earnings improvement," he said.
REASSESSING THE SNOW JOB
For Friday's retail report, the consensus forecast, according to economists polled by Reuters, calls for a decline of 0.2 percent in February, compared with a gain of 0.5 percent in January. Ex-autos, the forecast is for a gain of 0.1 percent in February versus January's gain of 0.6 percent.
Analysts have said severe U.S. winter snowstorms last month may have had a negative impact on the data.
"The snowstorms could have probably done some damage to the February data of retail sales. So people will be looking at what damage that has done to consumer spending," said John Praveen, chief investment strategist at Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC in Newark, New Jersey.
This week, U.S. retailers reported stronger-than-expected same-store sales for February, despite the storms. Target Corp , one of the largest U.S. discount chains, said same-store sales rose 2.4 percent for the month.
Consumers "are not going to lead the U.S. economy, but they're not going to drag it down, like so many people thought," Doll said.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary sentiment reading for March is expected to come in at 73.6. That compares with a final February reading of 73.6.
Friday also will bring data on business inventories for January.
Just a few S&P 500 companies are expected to report results next week, including The Kroger Co , the largest U.S. grocery chain, and Brown-Forman Corp , the maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey, Finlandia vodkas and other well-known brands of alcoholic beverages.
More than 70 percent of S&P 500 companies have beaten earnings estimates for the fourth quarter, well above the 61 percent in a typical quarter, according to Thomson Reuters, which began tracking data in 1994

AIG's Greenberg says cannot be charged

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, the former chief executive of American International Group Inc , believes he no longer faces possible criminal charges over a sham transaction involving the insurer and a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
As a result, Greenberg said he is now prepared to testify about the matter.
In a March 2 affidavit filed with the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Greenberg said the statute of limitations to prosecute him over the 2000 transaction between AIG and Berkshire's General Re Corp unit expired on Feb 21.
Federal prosecutors have already obtained five convictions and two guilty pleas of former General Re and AIG officials over the transaction, which boosted AIG's loss reserves by $500 million without transferring risk. Among those convicted was onetime General Re Chief Executive Ronald Ferguson.
Greenberg said that in October 2008, he invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination about the transaction, as he was giving testimony in a civil fraud lawsuit originally filed in 2005 against him and former AIG Chief Financial Officer Howard Smith.
But in his March 2 affidavit, Greenberg said he is ready to talk. "I am prepared to testify regarding the Gen Re transaction and to be heard on the issues concerning the Gen Re transaction. I, therefore, withdraw my earlier invocation of my Fifth Amendment rights," he said.
Eliot Spitzer, then New York's attorney general, filed the civil fraud lawsuit against Greenberg and Smith in 2005. The case is now overseen by Andrew Cuomo, Spitzer's successor.
A Cuomo spokeswoman had no immediate comment. Laura Sweeney, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice, declined to comment.
The General Re transaction surfaced just before Greenberg's forced March 2005 departure from AIG after nearly four decades at the New York-based insurer's helm.
Lifting any threat of criminal charges would lighten the legal burdens that the 84-year-old Greenberg might still face.
Last August, he agreed to pay $15 million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges that he altered AIG's records to inflate results between 2000 and 2005. Smith agreed to pay $1.5 million.
Three months later, Greenberg and AIG resolved years of litigation that followed his exit. AIG agreed to reimburse him and others for as much as $150 million of legal expenses.
FIFTH AMENDMENT NOT NEEDED
In a separate filing, Greenberg's lawyer, Nicholas Gravante, said the longest potential criminal statute of limitation covering the transaction expires after five years.
He said this period began to run no later than Feb. 21, 2005, when the market learned of matters concerning the General Re transaction.
"Counsel for Mr. Greenberg is now confident that all potential criminal statues of limitation relating to the Gen Re transaction have expired," wrote Gravante, a partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP in New York.
"Limited use of the Fifth Amendment is no longer necessary to exercise prudence in protecting Mr. Greenberg's innocence," he added.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Charles Ramos is overseeing the civil fraud lawsuit. He has set a March 8 hearing on Greenberg's request to reopen his deposition.
The federal government has said Greenberg was an unindicted co-conspirator in their case. Greenberg has consistently denied wrongdoing. Buffett was questioned by investigators about the transaction but was never accused of wrongdoing.
Greenberg was ousted as AIG's chief executive in March 2005. The General Re transaction is not related to the government's roughly $180 billion of bailouts of the company, which left it holding a nearly 80 percent stake.

US House panel: Toyota shows no proof yet of study

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp has failed to support statements of top executives that the automaker has rigorously evaluated electronic throttles in its vehicles, Democratic leaders of a congressional committee said Friday.
The assertion by Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak, chairmen of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee and its investigative subcommittee, respectively, added to the fallout from Toyota's safety and recall crisis that has shaken the automaker's reputation for quality.
Toyota has recalled more than 6 million cars and trucks in the United States since October for equipment and mechanical problems related to unintended acceleration.
But questions about possible glitches in throttle software and whether that is behind at least some cases of unwanted acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles are central to ongoing congressional and regulatory investigations.
Those questions were magnified this week by regulators, who said they were investigating more than 60 complaints from motorists alleging that recall fixes had not solved their problems with unintended acceleration.
Edolphus Towns, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, late on Friday asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for monthly reports on post-recall complaints and what the agency and Toyota are doing to resolve the matter.
NHTSA and Toyota are investigating the complaints. Toyota said Thursday a partial review of reports found no evidence of problems with the fixes or the electronic throttle systems.
The automaker said it has fixed more than 1 million cars and trucks since recalling floormats that can jam the accelerator in October 2009 and gas pedals that do not spring back as designed in January.
The Energy and Commerce Committee, which will hold its second hearing on Toyota on March 11, said in a letter to Toyota U.S. sales chief Jim Lentz that thousands of documents turned over to the panel in the past month have not sufficiently supported statements by executives that exhaustive testing has found no throttle problems.
"Despite our repeated requests, the record before the committee is most notable for what is missing -- the absence of documents showing that Toyota has systematically investigated the possibility of electronic defects that could cause sudden acceleration," the Democratic lawmakers said.
The letter said some documents contain information that could be used in planning "a rigorous study." But "not one of them suggested that a rigorous study had taken place."
Toyota said in a statement on Friday that it is cooperating with the committee and is providing more information on an independent study of its throttle systems by outside consultant Exponent Inc as well as the results of its own testing.
Waxman and Stupak in their letter questioned the preliminary results of Exponent which found no problems with the carmaker's throttles.
NHTSA has also found no problems over the years. But committees in both houses of Congress have questioned whether the agency conducted thorough investigations and whether it has adequate resources to do the job now. Regulators have said they may seek outside help on the Toyota review.
The letter from Waxman and Stupak came as Toyota openly challenged a key committee witness, who testified on Feb. 23 that he found a possible throttle flaw during his own testing of the electronic circuitry in a Toyota Avalon.
David Gilbert, a professor of auto technology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has been retained by a safety advocate working with trial lawyers. Exponent said Gilbert's results were not representative of real world conditions because they could be achieved only in a laboratory setting.
"Toyota has offered to demonstrate the results of our further research would welcome committee representatives to observe those demonstrations," the company said in its statement.
Waxman and Stupak also requested details about Toyota's plans for providing brake override software for countering unintended acceleration in new and some existing vehicles, as well as efforts toward making information retrievable from its vehicle data recorders, or "black boxes."

Defendant to plead guilty in US arms sting case

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Friday alleged that a former arms executive, who is expected to plead guilty to bribery charges, made illicit payments to defense ministry officials in Georgia.
Daniel Alvirez, a former president of an arms manufacturer in Bull Shoals, Arkansas, plans to enter a guilty plea in the next few weeks to charges under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, according to his attorney.
"I can confirm that," the attorney, Michael Volkov, said.
Volkov spoke after U.S. prosecutors filed a so-called superseding information against Alvirez that laid out in greater detail than before an alleged scheme to bribe foreign government officials, including payments to Georgian defense officials.
The Georgian bribes were allegedly paid to secure contracts for the sale of M855 ammunition and rations, according to the superseding information.
Officials at the Georgian embassy in Washington could not immediately be reached for comment.
Superseding informations, which replace previous criminal charges, are typically filed when a defendant has negotiated a plea agreement with the government.
Alvirez was one of 22 arms executives arrested in January -- 21 of them at a convention in Las Vegas -- in the largest prosecution of individuals brought by the U.S. Justice Department under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The act makes it a crime to bribe foreign officials to obtain or retain business.
The 22, including a former senior salesman at Smith & Wesson , were charged in 16 separate indictments after a sting in which federal agents posed as arms-buying representatives of the defense minister of an African country.
The investigation marked the first time the U.S. government had employed an undercover operation to ensnare individuals under the FCPA.
The superseding information spells out additional details about the FCPA conspiracy charge brought against the defendants.
While the 22 appeared to have no ties to one another beyond being ensnared in the same sting, the document says that Alvirez and 16 other defendants attended a cocktail reception at Clyde's restaurant in Washington, D.C., to celebrate their respective deals in the sting operation.
The company Alvirez worked for is not identified in the superseding information, but he was formerly president of ALS Technologies Inc, which makes tear gas launchers, bullets and other ammunition

Health-care reform's fatal assumption

NEW YORK (Fortune) -- At the bipartisan health-care summit scheduled for February 25th, President Obama is pledging to champion the voluminous bills passed by the House and Senate as the foundation for reforming the $2.2 trillion medical marketplace.
But each piece of legislation comes with a deadly expectation that could cost taxpayers dearly: the benevolence of corporate America.
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"Many people say Americans will like the bills once they pass," says Edmund Haislmaier of the conservative Heritage Foundation. "But what they're more likely to get is a surprise in the form of hundreds of billions a year in extra spending."
That surprise comes from an assumption made by the Congressional Budget Office: that few employers will drop their plans even when the government offers generous subsidies and imposes penalties that are absurdly low.
Both the House and Senate measures lay out the subsidies that the federal government is obligated to grant lower-income and middle-class health-care consumers when the plans would go into effect in 2014. It's a big contractual entitlement, but it's likely cost is vastly understated.
Let's examine the size of the subsidies. The House and Senate bills both set caps on the percentage of income Americans pay for premiums. They also subsidize the out-of-pocket costs of deductibles and co-pays.
Since the plans are quite similar, we'll use the one in the House legislation. For a family of four, the bill puts a limit of between 3% and 12% of income from $20,500 to $82,000 a year on a sliding scale. The lower a family's income, the higher the share paid by the taxpayer.
For a household in the middle of America's income spectrum, earning $61,500, the CBO reckons that the average yearly premiums and out-of-pocket costs for a family policy will reach $20,500 by 2016. When the plans are fully implemented, the family is obligated to cover $10,500, and the government pays the balance of $10,000. For a family making around $40,000 the government contributes even more -- around $19,000.
The CBO projects that these subsidies will cost $93 billion in 2016. But that assumes that just 29 million Americans collect them, and that the number of people covered by their employers actually increases. And that number is likely to decrease sharply.
0:00 /4:44Health care costs will go up
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Why? Here's where the fatal flaw comes in. Companies that drop their plans face relatively minor penalties under the provision that's won the most Congressional support, an annual fine of $750 per worker.
Most big industrial companies are already paying around $15,000 per family in health-care costs. Hence, they could shoulder the fine and reduce their costs by 95%, simply by dumping their workers into the subsidy pools the plans mandate.
Using the CBO numbers, the government's subsidy per person comes to $3,200 in 2016. Say just half of all employers cancel their plans, throwing 80 million Americans into the pools. That would cost an extra $256 billion.
But those workers would presumably get raises, since in a free labor market employers are likely to put what they now pay for health care into paychecks. The government would collect extra income and payroll taxes, as well as the yearly fine of $750. All told, the extra revenue from taxes and the penalty would harvest around $100 billion to partly offset the additional subsidies -- but only partly.
So the net extra cost would be $156 billion ($256 billion minus $100 billion). Meanwhile the total spending on subsidies would soar from the projected $93 billion to almost $250 billion, an increase of 170%. That's the $93 billion the CBO is already predicting, plus the additional $156 billion from the tens of millions of employees who would lose their corporate plans and receive subsidies instead.
The $250 billion represents a permanent, structural spending increase of 1% of GDP, and it's headed higher from there. Message to taxpayers

California solar project gets $1.4 bln US guarantee

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States Monday gave its biggest backing yet to a renewable energy project, guaranteeing $1.37 billion in loans for a California development by BrightSource Energy Inc that uses the sun's heat to power a steam turbine.
BrightSource's proposed solar thermal plants are expected to generate about 400 megawatts of electricity and power about 140,000 California homes, giving it the heft to compete with plants fueled by coal and natural gas.
President Barack Obama's administration has touted green energy investments as a way to create jobs and increase international economic competitiveness.
"We're not going to sit on the sidelines while other countries capture the jobs of the future -- we're committed to becoming the global leader in the clean energy economy," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.
The sector has seen projects being launched and agreements being signed with utilities, who count on solar thermal to meet California clean energy goals, but construction has yet to start on a large scale for the solar thermal industry.
Financing of projects has been a big challenge with the tightening of the credit markets as capital requirements of these green energy companies are very large.
Solar thermal technology is different from its better-known rival, rooftop photovoltaic. Solar thermal companies like BrightSource and rivals Abengoa Solar, eSolar Inc have technology that uses the sun's rays, reflected by thousands of small mirrors, to heat liquids to create steam in turbines and generate electricity.
The conditional loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy, the largest federal loan commitment offered to a renewable energy firm, would help BrightSource build three utility-scale solar thermal plants for its Ivanpah project, which will be located on federally-owned land in the Mojave Desert in southeastern California.
"It's a good beginning for the industry," BrightSource CEO John Woolard said in an interview. "It really allows Ivanpah to be the first (solar thermal) project to be constructed in almost 20 years now" in California.
California, and other parts of the world, are betting heavily on solar thermal. About a quarter of the clean energy contracts approved in 2009 in California by capacity was solar thermal, according to the Public Utilities Commission.
Construction on the first Ivanpah plant is expected to begin during the second half of this year, with commercial operations beginning in 2012.
All three plants are expected be on line by 2014.
The loan guarantee is conditioned on BrightSource meeting financial and environmental requirements, including local, state and federal regulatory approvals.
BrightSource has run into trouble from environmental groups who are concerned that the construction would harm desert plants and wildlife, including the desert tortoise.
The company earlier this month agreed to reduce the footprint for the Ivanpah project to minimize the environmental impact.
TO RAISE EQUITY FINANCING
The company, which counts search giant Google and Silicon Valley fund VantagePoint Venture Partners among its investors, already has contracts to deliver more than 2,600 megawatts of power to California utilities PG&E Corp (PG&E) and Edison International's Southern California Edison (SCE).
PG&E will purchase approximately two-thirds of the power generated at Ivanpah and SCE will purchase approximately one-third.
Woolard said that the key value of federal loan guarantees is that it helps strong renewable energy projects get financed, especially since the credit markets have yet to reach normal levels of activity.
It "replaces or helps shore up that component," he said.
Woolard did not reveal the total funding needed for the project but said the company would be raising equity financing from sources such as private investors, energy companies and investment funds.
"There is an equity commitment," Woolard said. "We will be going out to raise equity (financing) in the next four to six months. So that will be the next step in the process."
The loan guarantee is the sixth such offer to renewable energy companies by the Obama administration, which has touted green energy investments as a way to create jobs and increase international economic competitiveness.
Under the program, the Department of Energy issues a conditional commitment to guarantee loans to be provided by the U.S. Treasury's Federal Financing Bank. (Additional reporting by Tom Doggett; Editing by Peter Henderson and Marguerita Choy)

California health insurer draws hail of charges

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A review of 3,000 consumer complaints against Anthem Blue Cross, California's largest for-profit health insurer, has found over 700 violations of state law during the past four years, state regulators said on Monday.
The investigation into claims-handling practices by Anthem, a unit of WellPoint Inc, comes as the company fends off sharp criticism from the Obama administration for its plans to raise premiums for some individuals by up to 39 percent.
On a third front, lawyers delivered opening statements in the Los Angeles trial of a breach-of-contract suit brought against Anthem by a man who claims the insurance company wrongfully denied coverage for a life-saving liver transplant.
Anthem was singled out for review by California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor this year, on the basis of a large number of consumer complaints, spokesman Darrel Ng said.
"We understand that when you handle thousands of claims, human error is a factor. But it looks like that there may be something else going on, which is why we started the enforcement action," Ng said.
The 700-plus violations cited by regulators were submitted to an administrative law judge for further review and possible sanctions. The company faces fines of up to $10,000 for each violation, or more than $7 million if all cases were proven.
The lion's share involved a failure to pay claims within 30 days, or to respond quickly enough to regulators investigating consumer complains, Poizner's office said.
COMPANY 'TAKES ISSUES VERY SERIOUSLY'
Regulators said they also found dozens of instances in which the company misrepresented policy provisions or offered "unreasonably low settlement offers."
"We take the issues raised ... very seriously," WellPoint said in a statement, adding that the review "represents a small fraction" of the "many millions" of claims it handles each year. "We look forward to receiving the specifics from the investigation and to ... resolve these issues."
Anthem agreed earlier this month to delay its planned premium hikes until May after Poizner retained an outside actuary to examine the company's rates. Competitors such as Blue Shield of California and Aetna also have raised premiums significantly in recent years, Ng said.
The administration and congressional Democrats have seized on Anthem's proposed premium hikes as part of their strategy to boost support for an overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system. Top WellPoint executives have been called to testify on Wednesday on Capitol Hill.
Indianapolis, Indiana-based WellPoint, the largest U.S. health insurer by membership, has said Anthem's planned premium increases in California are in line with its rivals, reflecting soaring medical costs and an exodus of healthy consumers from its ranks.
In the breach-of-contract case going to trial this week, a lawyer for liver transplant patient Ephram Nehme, 62, told a Los Angeles Superior Court jury that his client was forced to go out of his coverage network, and out of state to Indiana, for his surgery because his illness had rapidly progressed.
Anthem lawyers have said the company was under no obligation to reimburse Nehme for the $205,000 cost of his surgery because he went out of network after the transplant had been approved at an in-network Los Angeles hospital.
But Nehme's lawyer, Scott Glovsky, said his Los Angeles doctors recommended that he go to Indiana because he risked waiting too long if he stayed in California. He said Anthem denied authorization of the Indiana surgery without conducting an inquiry or talking to any of Nehme's physicians. (Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Eric Walsh

Reuters Summit-WRAPUP 1-Online travel bookings shift overseas

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Growth in online travel bookings is rapidly shifting overseas, leading to a race to bolster operations in Asia and Latin America, the chief executives of two top online travel companies said Monday.
Speaking at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit, Dara Khosrowshahi of Expedia Inc and Jeffery Boyd of Priceline.com agreed that overseas growth is fundamental to their business strategies.
Khosrowshahi, the 40-year-old leader of the largest U.S. online travel agency, said he expects non-U.S. bookings to account for at least half of Expedia's business within five years, up from 37 percent currently.
"Europe is a great market for us. And for us, the Asia-Pacific and Latin American markets are new emerging markets," he said.
The value of the company's bookings rose 26 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2009. International bookings increased 38 percent. Domestic bookings increased 19 percent.
Asia-Pacific and Latin American markets account for about 5 percent of the total value of Expedia's bookings, but the company hopes to double that in the next couple of years, Khosrowshahi said.
"We're aggressively investing in China and Australia, India and Brazil," he said.
His rival, Boyd, 53, said about two-thirds of Priceline's bookings are non-U.S.
Priceline, which made its name with its name-your-own-price auction, saw gross bookings growth of 52.9 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter.
International bookings were up 81 percent. Domestic bookings grew 20.6 percent.
"The international markets are less mature. The online market is less well-developed. Competition is not as far ahead as it is here in the United States," Boyd said.
He also noted that the hotel business is more fragmented in international markets.
"We expect to have higher growth in the international markets, from new markets like Asia that are less well-penetrated and are currently enjoying higher levels of economic growth," Boyd said.
REBOUNDING BUSINESS TRAVEL
Corporate travel demand is up after a painful recession, but companies likely will curb travel expenses and steer employees away from costly first-class accommodation, Khosrowshahi said.
"The phones are ringing again, from what the partners tell us," he said. "Again, it is off of a very low base, but we do see some encouraging signs from our hotel partners."
He said that while demand is improving, U.S. companies remain conservative in their travel spending and are adhering more closely to internal travel policies that may have been neglected in recent years.
The travel industry has been hit in the past year by an economic downturn that eroded travel demand. Travel companies responded by slashing fees and offering promotions to bolster bookings.
Boyd said the online travel business was recovering from a recession that saw the erosion of travel demand.
"We probably have seen the beginning of a recovery in business travel already, at least according to what the hotels are saying," he said.

Schlumberger sees gas drill growth in Smith deal

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oilfield services leader Schlumberger Ltd aims to gain market share in shale gas drilling with its purchase of rival Smith International Inc , and expects few antitrust hurdles for the takeover.
Investors' belief in the deal's potential gained traction on Monday, with Smith shares extending their early gains and closing 8.8 percent higher at $41.03. Schlumberger trimmed its early losses and closed 3.7 percent lower at $61.57.
On a conference call with analysts Monday, Schlumberger Chief Executive Andrew Gould said he had been considering the acquisition "for some time," and the timing now was right, even though he acknowledged paying "a significant premium."
The stock market had shaved about $700 million off the original $11.3 billion value as of Monday's close.
But analysts welcomed Gould's move to get his hands on Smith's drillbit technology, in which the company made its name when it was founded 108 years ago in California's oil boom.
"The bits is a really cool business, and Smith is the best at that," said Doug Sheridan of EnergyPoint Research Inc.
Under the terms, Smith shareholders will receive 0.6966 shares of Schlumberger for each of theirs.
That originally valued Smith at a 37.5 percent premium over Thursday's closing share price, according to a joint statement by the companies on Sunday. They expect the deal, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, to close this year.
Schlumberger expects the acquisition to add to earnings per share in 2012, after realizing pretax savings after costs of about $160 million in 2011, and double that the next year.
Schlumberger said later on Monday that in the event of a deal termination, Smith may have to pay a fee of $340 million.
Big oil services players, which also include Halliburton Co and Baker Hughes Inc, say clients, and state-run oil companies in particular, increasingly demand more services from a single provider.
So Schlumberger, operating in about 80 countries, wants Smith drillbits to give clients the option to drill deeper and cheaper for fossil fuels, and has its eyes on the fast-growing market for extracting natural gas from shale rock.
"No doubt, in the long-term, shale gas is going to be one of the big new energy sources in the U.S. and overseas," Gould said, "and the capacity to serve that market in North America is of great interest to me."
Gould does not believe antitrust issues will cause any "change in the landscape" of the acquisition.
Analysts say the deal is likely to face close scrutiny by antitrust enforcers given the attention paid to other oilfield services mergers, such as Cameron International Corp's NATCO purchase and the $6 billion purchase of BJ Services by Baker Hughes, which is due to close this quarter.
Many anticipated a sale of Smith's PathFinder business, which logs data while drilling, and UBS analyst Angie Sedita put its price tag at $600 million to $700 million.
Tudor, Pickering Holt expects Schlumberger to jettison many of the assets Smith acquired when it forked out $2.7 billion for W-H Energy at the peak of the oil market boom in mid-2008.
Barry Nigro, an antitrust expert at law firm Fried Frank, noted that oilfield services had already undergone a fair amount of consolidation, and the head of the DOJ's antitrust division had said she intends to focus on the energy industry.
"So I think it's an area that is likely going to get a closer look than usual," he said, though the real question was how long the review would take and what would have to be sold.
A decade ago, a U.S. court fined Schlumberger and Smith for violating a 1994 consent decree to keep their drilling fluid arms separate, but analysts say that case settled the problem.
Smith CEO John Yearwood will be very familiar with any issues surrounding their M-I SWACO drilling joint venture, of which Smith owns 60 percent, having been a Schlumberger representative on its management committee.
Both he and Smith Chief Financial Officer William Restrepo worked at Schlumberger for two decades, with Yearwood's final two years spent as senior adviser to Gould.
EnergyPoint's Sheridan, like many analysts, expects Smith's low-margin Wilson Supply business to be sold eventually. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder and Steve James in New York, and Braden Reddall in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Tim Dobbyn, Bernard Orr, Phil Berlowitz)

US FDA: No new conclusions on Glaxo's Avandia yet

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing data on possible heart risks with GlaxoSmithKline Plc's diabetes drug Avandia but has not reached any new conclusions, the agency said Monday.
The FDA will hold a public meeting in July 2010 to discuss the risks and benefits of the drug, but said in the meantime doctors and patients should continue to use Avandia as directed.
"This work is ongoing and no new conclusions or recommendations about the use of rosiglitazone (Avandia) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes have been made at this time," the FDA said, referring to the drug's generic name.
Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro, in a statement posted on her website, urged the FDA to "remove Avandia from the market until a truly independent, science-based advisory panel can evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the drug."
"It is reprehensible that many people might have suffered heart attacks or heart failure as a result of taking this drug, especially if a safer alternative exists," said DeLauro, who chairs an appropriations subcommittee that funds the FDA.
Avandia came back in the spotlight after two U.S. senators on Saturday released a report on the drug and internal FDA documents. The documents included a 2008 memo from two FDA drug safety reviewers who recommended pulling the drug from the U.S. market after they concluded it was more dangerous to the heart than the rival drug Actos by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd .
One of the reviewers, FDA critic David Graham, had argued to an advisory panel in 2007 that Avandia should no longer be sold. That panel voted 22-1 to recommend the drug remain on the market.
Glaxo shares fell 2.5 percent to close at $37.32 on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. Analysts said new attacks on Avandia could add to litigation risks and help rival drugmakers.
Sales of Avandia topped $3 billion in 2006, but fell to $1.2 billion in 2009.
Glaxo said the scientific evidence did not establish that Avandia increased heart attack risks and added it had been open in providing information about the drug.
The company "stands behind the safety and efficacy of Avandia when used appropriately and according to its label and maintains that this is an important medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes," Glaxo spokeswoman Mary Anne Rhyne said.
The FDA said Monday it is reviewing data from a Glaxo-sponsored study known as Record, as well as other studies that look at the cardiovascular safety of Avandia. The FDA will present all of the safety data at a public advisory panel meeting in July.
The FDA decided in November 2007 Avandia should carry a warning saying a review of 42 studies associated the drug with an increased risk of a heart attack or chest pain compared with a placebo. But it said overall data were "inconclusive."
"We don't find that available information since that time has really changed the assessment," Dr. Janet Woodcock, head of the FDA's drugs center, said on a conference call with doctors on Monday.
Woodcock added, "We feel that it is time for a thorough re-evaluation of all the data of the drug as far as cardiovascular risk, and we are undertaking that right now."
Results from Glaxo's Record study, published in the Lancet medical journal in June 2009, showed Avandia did not increase overall heart risks compared with older diabetes drugs.
"We are neither accepting nor rejecting that conclusion. We are going to have to review in great detail the study data as well as audit the study to determine how robust these findings are," Woodcock said.
Concerns about Avandia emerged in May 2007 when Cleveland Clinic researchers published a study saying there was a link between the drug and heart attacks.
Jeffrey Holford, an analyst at stockbroker Jefferies, said early loss of Avandia from the U.S. market in mid-2010 would cut 2010 and 2011 earnings estimates by less than 1 percent. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine, Susan Heavey and Ben Hirschler; editing by Andre Grenon, Leslie Gevirtz and Bernard Orr)

US FDA: No new conclusions on Glaxo's Avandia yet

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing data on possible heart risks with GlaxoSmithKline Plc's diabetes drug Avandia but has not reached any new conclusions, the agency said Monday.
The FDA will hold a public meeting in July 2010 to discuss the risks and benefits of the drug, but said in the meantime doctors and patients should continue to use Avandia as directed.
"This work is ongoing and no new conclusions or recommendations about the use of rosiglitazone (Avandia) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes have been made at this time," the FDA said, referring to the drug's generic name.
Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro, in a statement posted on her website, urged the FDA to "remove Avandia from the market until a truly independent, science-based advisory panel can evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the drug."
"It is reprehensible that many people might have suffered heart attacks or heart failure as a result of taking this drug, especially if a safer alternative exists," said DeLauro, who chairs an appropriations subcommittee that funds the FDA.
Avandia came back in the spotlight after two U.S. senators on Saturday released a report on the drug and internal FDA documents. The documents included a 2008 memo from two FDA drug safety reviewers who recommended pulling the drug from the U.S. market after they concluded it was more dangerous to the heart than the rival drug Actos by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd .
One of the reviewers, FDA critic David Graham, had argued to an advisory panel in 2007 that Avandia should no longer be sold. That panel voted 22-1 to recommend the drug remain on the market.
Glaxo shares fell 2.5 percent to close at $37.32 on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. Analysts said new attacks on Avandia could add to litigation risks and help rival drugmakers.
Sales of Avandia topped $3 billion in 2006, but fell to $1.2 billion in 2009.
Glaxo said the scientific evidence did not establish that Avandia increased heart attack risks and added it had been open in providing information about the drug.
The company "stands behind the safety and efficacy of Avandia when used appropriately and according to its label and maintains that this is an important medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes," Glaxo spokeswoman Mary Anne Rhyne said.
The FDA said Monday it is reviewing data from a Glaxo-sponsored study known as Record, as well as other studies that look at the cardiovascular safety of Avandia. The FDA will present all of the safety data at a public advisory panel meeting in July.
The FDA decided in November 2007 Avandia should carry a warning saying a review of 42 studies associated the drug with an increased risk of a heart attack or chest pain compared with a placebo. But it said overall data were "inconclusive."
"We don't find that available information since that time has really changed the assessment," Dr. Janet Woodcock, head of the FDA's drugs center, said on a conference call with doctors on Monday.
Woodcock added, "We feel that it is time for a thorough re-evaluation of all the data of the drug as far as cardiovascular risk, and we are undertaking that right now."
Results from Glaxo's Record study, published in the Lancet medical journal in June 2009, showed Avandia did not increase overall heart risks compared with older diabetes drugs.
"We are neither accepting nor rejecting that conclusion. We are going to have to review in great detail the study data as well as audit the study to determine how robust these findings are," Woodcock said.
Concerns about Avandia emerged in May 2007 when Cleveland Clinic researchers published a study saying there was a link between the drug and heart attacks.
Jeffrey Holford, an analyst at stockbroker Jefferies, said early loss of Avandia from the U.S. market in mid-2010 would cut 2010 and 2011 earnings estimates by less than 1 percent. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine, Susan Heavey and Ben Hirschler; editing by Andre Grenon, Leslie Gevirtz and Bernard Orr)

How do I keep my focus on that which is lasting and most important?

It is hard for us, when we are studying for an exam, changing the baby's diaper or closing a business deal, to give much thought to eternity. Most of the time, our focus is on doing the next thing -- that which is right before us.
But King Solomon, to whom God gave great wisdom, said, "[God] has also set eternity in the hearts of men" (Ecclesiastes 3:11NIV). That is why, even in the press of the daily round, something deep within us calls out to understand the eternal -- that which is lasting and most important. (This yearning, by the way, is evident in the search questions that have prompted people to read this study, such as "What is there after this life?")
Our window into the eternal dimension is through the Bible. (By the way, I would question any source, other than the Bible, that says it knows what eternity is like, or what the future holds.) Jesus described eternal life this way: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).
The scriptures assert that the promise of eternity is as certain as the reality of this life. When Jesus said, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV), He was affirming a direct and immutable link between believing and eternity. When we give ourselves to Jesus, He joyfully and emphatically opens the way for us to be with Him forever. Eternity profoundly impacts our lives here on earth and on into the next life -- life after death.
Our intimate and timeless unity with our Lord and our God is so wonderful, it infinitely overwhelms any price that is paid or any suffering that is endured in this life -- even life itself! Eternity, including the next life, is what we were designed for, a truth the Apostle Paul embraced:
[He has] raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6,7).
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body (Philippians 3:20,21).
If you have such a perspective -- an eternal perspective -- it will be your mainspring of true hope, giving you the stamina to persevere, whatever the trial. Paul said: " ... tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5: 3,4).
However rewarding or challenging your day-to-day life is, by comparison to God's eternal purpose for us, it is but a moment, a vapor. Thank God that His plan for you is so much larger, so much more extraordinary than you can ever possibly imagine. He has, indeed, set eternity in your heart and will take infinite care that your deepest longings will be eternally fulfilled.

Is my future safe in His hands?

As we grow in our relationship with the Lord we find we can trust Him for more and more. When Wendy and I were beginning our family, we spent long hours talking about what kind of world our children would encounter. (Probably every generation has had such concerns.) While we still wonder where this troubled world is headed, our confidence has grown that the future is safely in God's hands. More than just trusting Him in whatever happens, we trust Him for whatever happens.
Undergirding this trust is an understanding that history is not just mankind's story. It's the Lord's story (His-story!). It has a beginning and an end. It is not circular, as some religions contend, but linear. Three major markers define the trajectory of man's journey.
Creation. The Bible's opening phrase is, "In the beginning" (Genesis 1:1) and Jesus was present: "He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:2). From that point, history unfolds systematically and progressively.
Redemption and Restoration. The birth, death and resurrection of Jesus became the fulfillment of God's plan for a restored relationship with His creation -- and the fulcrum upon which all world events turn.
Consummation. History will culminate in what Paul calls the "consummation," or "summing up," when God will "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him" (Ephesians 1:10).
We are now in that period leading up to the consummation. The times ahead will likely witness increasing challenge and difficulty throughout the earth, but we can rest securely in the confidence that God is firmly and fully in control.
So where do we fit in? From our limited perspective, day-to-day events may seem random and detached from each other, like individual threads on the underside of a tapestry. But from God's perspective, nothing is random. He views the tapestry from above and sees an exquisite pattern. Each person and each event has a purpose, whether a birth, a death, an election result, a military defeat or a technological breakthrough (like the computer you are using right now).
How future events will transpire, we simply don't know. But God knows -- and again, we can trust Him implicitly. Not that we should have a passive, "come-what-may" attitude -- but rather the opposite. As Jesus directed, we are to be watchful, very attentive, especially as the end draws near (see Matthew 24:42).
One of my favorite scriptures defines the rules of engagement and the focus of our affections as we walk through the present toward the future:
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1,2).
Just imagine -- pioneers of the faith watching you as you run the race! How timely is the advice that you shed all that weighs you down and keep your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, the One who has already won the victory.
Memorize these verses from Hebrews and let them be your daily inspiration. Come what may, be certain that the Lord, who was there at the beginning, who has been present throughout, will write the last glorious chapter.
Key Scripture
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 21:6).
Key Thought
The essence of history is His Story. Because of His love and care for me, I’m part of that story.
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Why do I keep having these thoughts?

We need to be aware of a tenacious and destructive force at work in the life of the believer. It is called "temptation" -- the continuing effect and downward pull of our former life and habits. The end game of temptation is always the same, to keep us from a close walk with the Lord. Temptation is never fatal. But yielding to it can set us back and cause much discouragement.
Some mistakenly believe that Christians are immune to evil thoughts and behaviors -- that some kind of protective shield drops over us to keep us from being lured away. That may be a happy notion, but it's not reality. In fact, I have noticed that as a person moves ahead with the Lord, temptations often intensify. The believer is, after all, of great value to the Lord and therefore a target for our adversary, who hates anything God loves. Peter refers to us as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people" (1 Peter 2:9). Credentials like these increase Satan's obsession to pull us down and separate us from the Lord.
I find I have to guard myself diligently, especially in three areas of temptation identified by the Apostle John. He cautions, "All that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life -- is not of the Father, but of the world" (1 John 2:16).
The lust of the flesh includes improper kinds of self-indulgence, especially in the sexual arena -- and that includes not only our actions but our thoughts as well.
The lust of the eyes refers to all that we illicitly crave -- and which, by the way, does little to satisfy should we attain it.
The pride of life is perhaps the most insidious -- producing in us self-promotion, selfish ambition, and advancement at the expense of others. Ultimately the pride of life seeks to make us like God -- the very cause of Satan's fall from heaven.
No matter how much we battle temptation, we can thank the Lord that He is our way to victory. He is uniquely qualified, for He, the God/man, successfully overcame all that tempted Him and is able to help us as we're tempted: "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Peter echoes this assurance: "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9). Paul adds: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
AN EXAMPLE
Let's look at how temptation might arise in your life and how you can respond. Suppose you are traveling and have booked into a hotel. You are tired at the end of a long day and you turn on the TV to relax. As you are channel surfing, you land on a station that portrays blatant nudity (or something else you know is inappropriate). You linger there, and before long you are absorbed in what you are watching. You think, "No one's around. What could it matter?" But the next morning you feel dirty. Images play across your mind. You can't shake them. You find it hard to pray. God seems more distant.
How might this confrontation against your mind and spirit be dealt with at various points? Prevention: To avoid randomly landing on a tainted channel, prescreen the channels using the directory found in most rooms. Or decide you have better things to do, and don't turn on the TV at all. Protection: If you land on a channel with questionable programming, call out to the Lord immediately. Ask Him to help you. If you know what you're watching is offensive to Him, click out of it and don't go back. Ask Him to wash away any of the lingering images. Repentance and Restoration: If you do get dragged in and are facing the "morning after," talk with the Lord openly and honestly, no matter how much you don't "feel" like it. Confess that wrong you've done, ask for forgiveness and receive His restoring love. Learn the lesson and don't repeat it.

How do I talk with my Father in heaven?

It is a wonderful privilege that we can talk with the Lord of all heaven and earth at any time of the day or night. And we can discuss any subject with Him. We don't need to use formal written prayers -- although if these are more comfortable for us, that's all right.
One day Jesus' disciples asked Him a key question: "Can You teach us how to pray?" They had observed how much time Jesus spent quietly talking with His heavenly Father. The prayer He suggested is a model for us:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be (holy is) Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:9-13).
This prayer is so helpful because it reverently establishes our focus on our heavenly Father, petitions His intervention in earthly matters, brings before Him our needs for provision, forgiveness and protection, and ends by glorifying Him and His great power.
Just as the psalms of David are great for worship, they are also helpful examples of how we can talk with our heavenly Father. He loves for us to simply come to Him, just as an earthly father delights in his children sitting on his knee, sharing whatever is on their minds.
Many of the psalms are cries to the Lord for help in times of trouble. Psalms 17, 28, 61, 64, 70 and 86 are all examples of David's calling out to the Lord to hear and protect him from his enemies. Sometimes it's clear by the end of the psalm that David knows by faith that the Lord has heard his cry for help.
Here is the key: Talk to Jesus as your best Friend. Begin by thanking and praising Him for His great love for you. Then tell Him your concerns. You can tell Him anything and everything. He already knows so don't worry about shocking Him.
When you know you have disappointed Him, instead of distancing yourself, come immediately to Him and ask for forgiveness. Then take His hand and go on with Him. In prayer you can experience the joy of His comforting arms around you. In response to your prayers, He will forgive, encourage, strengthen and bring clarity to problems. And He will give you His amazing peace.
One of the hardest lessons is learning to listen. You will probably find it difficult to quiet your distracting thoughts enough to hear God's voice. A good way to begin hearing Him speak is through daily reading of the scriptures. It is an excellent way to listen -- and often the result is unexpected answers to some of your questions.
When you have found others who also believe in Jesus, join with them to pray. Hearing others express their hearts to the Lord is a great catalyst to the growth of your own faith. You will soon find yourself looking forward to those times together.
Most important of all, remember that prayer is continual conversation with the One you are learning to love and trust. Just looking up into the sky and smiling at Him or giving your own hand a squeeze -- as if holding the Lord's hand -- can bring you right back into the closeness you need with Him at that moment.
Key Scripture
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer ... with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).
Key Thought
Prayer is conversation with our precious Lord.
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Why is it so important for me to praise and worship Jesus?

When believers in Jesus praise and sing to Him, is it because God, the King of the universe, needs human beings to worship Him? Not really, although we can be sure God delights in our worship.
Actually, what I find is that praise and worship are vitally important to my relationship to Him. Worship enables me to lift my thoughts from myself to my Savior, Friend and Lord, and into a whole new realm. It shifts my focus from my circumstances to His plans.
When we meditate on His goodness, His amazing love, His sacrificial death for us, and His great power in our lives our natural response is to praise and worship Him. Thankfulness spontaneously wells up within us.
David was a great worshiper who became Israel's most outstanding king. The account of his life is found in Old Testament books of First and Second Samuel. From his earliest years we see his heart for worship. As a young shepherd boy, watching his father's flock on the hills surrounding Bethlehem, David expressed his love and gratitude to the Lord. He sang about the beauty of God's creation. He prayed to God when he was in danger. And when the Lord answered and protected him, David expressed thanksgiving and praise through songs and poetry.
The Psalms, many of which were written by David, give us the rich legacy of his worship and deep love for God.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want [lack anything] (Psalm 23:1)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? (27:1)
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (29:2)
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised (48:1)
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! (103:1)
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever (107:1)
Here is an approach to worship, based on my experience, which you may find helpful. Early in the morning and before going to sleep at night express your love to the Lord. "Father, I greet you this morning, and thank You for this new day." "Lord, it's been quite a day, but I thank You for Your faithfulness."
As you go about your daily activities be conscious to thank Him, praising Him for Who He is and telling Him you love Him. (Of course, some days you feel more like doing this than others.) Realize that you are on a journey. The more you praise Him throughout the day, the more you will sense His joy and the more you will see things from His perspective. Your daily life will take on a whole new meaning.
Key Scripture
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God (Psalm 147:1).
Key Thought
Nothing brings me closer to the Lord than thanking, praising and worshiping Him.

What does it mean to renew my mind?

Our scripture on Day 1 described the extent of change in our new life in Christ:
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
"All things" includes our minds. The Lord has plans to renew our minds, along with everything else!
You may say, "I have a perfectly good mind. It has been well trained and highly educated. I can reason, and think clearly. I'm not in a fog. My mind serves me well in my work. I've even received awards for creative thinking ... "
Here's the problem: Our minds were deeply impacted when mankind initially rebelled against God. This happened when Adam and Eve yielded to Satan's temptation to sin, resulting in the "Fall of Man" (see Genesis chapter 3). God's first children became thoroughly corrupted (including their minds) and we inherited their fallen condition.
Since then, we've used our best efforts, humanly speaking, to function with that which was damaged -- to compensate for what the Apostle Paul calls "a debased mind" (Romans 1:28). For example, consider how the Greeks sought to elevate the mind, as did the great Oriental thinkers, or philosophers down through the ages. Yet with all the prominence given to "thought" and "reason," they totally missed it when it came to apprehending the greatest truth ever, that there is one true God and He can be known personally.
Another example: Think about brilliant people you know -- "the smartest person in the world" -- and observe the large gaps, say in their ability to be good parents, or manage their finances, or maintain lasting friendships or use their time wisely. In spite of their great intelligence, vital aspects of an integrated life are missing. Before I became a Christian, I had concluded I wouldn't believe anything that wasn't reasonable or logical. Eventually, however, I realized that line of thinking was a barrier, not a doorway to receiving Christ. In reality, I needed a different way of thinking.
The Apostle Paul, who had a brilliant mind and was highly educated, challenged early followers of Christ (and us!) toward having "renewed minds."
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).
The Lord doesn't want you to set your mind aside when you come to Him. Just the opposite. He created your mind, and wants it fully employed, but in the right kind of way. The process by which this occurs is "renewal." It is not to stop thinking, but to think biblically. It is to view things from His perspective. It is to have "the mind of Christ," and not allow your thinking to be conformed to the world. "Let this mind be in you ... " was Paul's advice to the Philippian believers (Philippians 2:5). The results are dramatically different: "To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:16).
A great way to begin the transformation toward a renewed mind is to meditate on the scriptures. You might take the ones mentioned so far in these studies, reflect on them, even memorize them. Renewing the mind is a process, but one with great reward.
Key Scripture
Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8).
Key Thought
In every circumstance and every situation, I can have the mind of Christ.
For more resources to help you grow as a Christian, you can go to

Who has God linked me with?

When people become followers of Jesus, their highest priority is to nurture their new relationship with the Lord. There can be no substitute for developing a personal one-to-One bond.
Even so, as we emphasized on Day 11, we aren't supposed to be isolated, but rather joined to other believers in a common pursuit to discover God and walk in His ways. It has been said that the two sections of the cross -- the vertical and the horizontal -- symbolically represent our dual relationship with God and with others. They intersect. They are not unrelated.Gatherings of believers -- or "churches" -- come in many packages -- from small clusters of those who gather secretly in regions where such practices are forbidden, to "mega-churches" of tens of thousands of Christians. Regardless of the configuration, it is vital for every believer to be linked with other believers. This linkage was the spontaneous response of those who came to faith on the day of Pentecost, and we need to understand how they functioned.And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine (or teaching) and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42).Each of the four aspects of their assembling was catalytic to their growth individually and as a group: Teaching kept them centered on God's word, rooted in "sound doctrine." Fellowship kept them involved with one another in friendship, as well as praise, worship and testimonies to God's activity. Breaking bread kept them in touch by sharing meals with each other, giving opportunity for warm dialogue and growing friendship. These meals generally took place "house to house" (v. 46), and brought whole families, including children, together in a very natural setting. Prayers kept them focused as a group upon God's presence. As they offered prayers, petitions and intercession, they were able to hear His will for their lives. If only these same elements were always present in church life today!
As a new believer, you may or may not have an existing relationship with a church fellowship. Or, you may be in a church that falls far short of being the right place for you. Sadly, many churches seem spiritually dead. Some are making serious mistakes. But you can boldly ask God to bring you together with the individuals and groups He desires for you. He knows your needs, and knows with whom you ought to be connected.He may direct you into a format that is "unconventional." For many years our family met "from house to house" with several other families. Our children were enthusiastically involved, and the essential elements of the early church noted above were present. In many areas of the world, thousands of new churches are forming, growth is taking place and dynamic fellowship is occurring.Jesus is intent on this kind of growth. He said, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (Hell) shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Jesus' church is not in retreat, not barely getting by, not just going through the motions. Jesus' church is healthy, vibrant and strategic. He wants you to be in such a church.
Key Scripture... not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).Key ThoughtAs a new Christian, I need to be in healthy fellowship with others.Questions or comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.

What work does God want me to do?

The true nature of God is wonderfully revealed in the life and words of Jesus. He said, "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also" (John 14:7).In almost every other religious form or tradition, the "god" (or "gods") being worshiped is passive and abstract or merely a historical figure. In contrast, Jesus declared that the true God is alive, active and engaged. "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working" (John 5:17). God did not simply create the heavens and earth with an explosive burst of divine energy -- then back off to let creation run itself. He has remained intimately involved, infusing His sustaining power and influence in every location, every situation and every moment (see Colossians 1:17).This reality has huge implications for how we live out His purposes. If we miss the intensity of God's direct involvement, our tendency will be either to work independently of Him (secularism) or work for Him, as "little helpers." His concept is neither. It is to work with Him. Dr. Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God (an excellent resource!) puts it this way: "God is at work all around us all the time. Our job is to see where He is working and join Him." The Apostle Paul refers to us as "ambassadors" who are "workers together with Him" (2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:1).You need to grasp just how dramatic this is. The God of the universe is inviting you, indeed giving you the privilege, to join Him in His work. That's much different than your going off, doing your thing, and checking in with Him now and then. Instead, as His coworker, your "antenna" goes up and every sense is quickened, alert to His activity. Nothing is random, nor beyond His redemptive reach. For example:You see the sad face of a fellow employee who has lost a loved one, and you are able to pour out God's compassion and mercyYou have been helped by a new book and you purchase some to give to your friendsA traffic jam causes you to miss a flight and you discover God had a significant reason for you to not go when you'd intendedThink about your current situation -- as a student, or as you begin your work career or start a family. Maybe you're in the midst of a job change, or planning to retire. Where you are is no accident, nor is what you are doing at this time. But maybe you're like me -- you just need to adjust your focus from "what I am doing" to what God is doing, and how, specifically, you can join Him right now in His work.
Make this shift and a whole new world of adventure, joy, peace and spiritual impact will open to you.

How am I supposed to live the Christian life?

If we try to answer this question from a human perspective we will always gravitate toward a rules-orientation -- do this, don't do that -- implemented by self-will and human effort. This approach is destined to fail. It simply is not God's design.
The Apostle Peter said God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (see 2 Peter 1:3). The key to living the Christian life is to draw upon God's provision. One main way that provision comes is by the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. (The Trinity, or Godhead, includes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Three in One, One in Three.)
While the Holy Spirit was involved in God's work from the beginning of creation, He was imparted to Jesus' followers in a powerful way after our Lord's death and resurrection. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He instructed his followers to wait for the Promise of the Father, saying, "You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now" (Acts 1:5).
This prompted them to recall earlier words of Jesus:
(The Father) will give you another Helper (Comforter) that He may abide with you forever (John 14:16)
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you (John 14:26)
It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you (John 16:7)
When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).
True to His word, the Father powerfully sent the Holy Spirit fifty days after Jesus ascended to heaven, on the day of the Jewish festival of Pentecost. This is recorded in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Here is how E. Stanley Jones, a missionary to India in the 1900s, describes the impact: "At Pentecost, timid believers were transformed into irresistible apostles."
The Holy Spirit is God's provision for you to successfully live the Christian life today. Some of His characteristics will help you know Him and discern His activity:
He works quietly, never intruding or demanding
He always points to and glorifies the Father and the Son, never drawing attention to Himself
He instructs you by speaking to your now-awakened human spirit (thoughts and impressions that are clearly beyond your normal processes)
He is always present, always able to be of help
He gently corrects, warns and adjusts (the requirement for you is to be very sensitive to detect his voice)
As you read the Bible, especially the New Testament, watch for the many and varied ways the Holy Spirit guided the activities of God's people. He wants to help us in such ways today.
Take a moment now to thank God for His wonderful provision. Open your heart, mind and spirit to the Helper, the Holy Spirit, and how He wants to be active in your life -- right now!
Key Scripture
He (the Holy Spirit) will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).
Key Thought
I am not on my own. God has made full provision for me as I walk with Him.
Questions or comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.

How do I relate properly to others?

Just as God created us to be in close fellowship with Himself, He designed us to be tightly related to others. In that order! Our tendency is to focus on human relationships -- friends, family, co-workers, neighbors -- and make God an afterthought.
In the lesson on Day 6 we saw that loving God is our highest priority -- "the first and great commandment," according to Jesus (Matthew 22:38). Then He added, "And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 39). These two are closely bound. It is really out of our relationship with God that we develop the capacity to love others. Oswald Chambers puts it this way: "God's love to me is inexhaustible, and I must love others from the bedrock of God's love to me" (May 11).
You may have come into your relationship with Christ from a place of complete isolation from other people of faith. This seems to be a common trait among those who are searching the Internet. Or, you may have made this step after being around other Christians, seeing their lives and hearing how Christ has changed them.
In any case, God's intention is to link you with other believers, groups of fellow Christians who constitute what is known as the "church." Keep in mind the church is not a building, nor a denomination. In most cases it is a local gathering of those who are "born again." A term Paul uses to describe such a network of believers is "the body." See how members of "the body" are interdependent on each other:
For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased (1 Corinthians 12:14,18).
God's design is for you to be linked together with others. The 17th century English poet, John Donne (1572-1631), captured this reality in his famous meditation when he said, "No man is an island, entire of itself ... " You have a unique role to fill. It shouldn't surprise you that the Great Designer would not leave your earthly relationships to chance. So you can put the whole matter of your relationships with others before Him, asking Him to bring you in contact with those of His choosing.
Does this include your mate in life? I believe so. For example, God brought my wife Wendy and me together nearly 50 years ago, and I have no doubt this was His wise choice. Our six children were not just biological happenings, but God's carefully designed gifts whom He called us to raise. That conviction has helped carry us through the many challenges we have faced as parents.
Your newfound faith will impact every relationship. As noted earlier, some will want to grow spiritually along with you. Others will back away. Still others who come into your life through Christian fellowship will become your closest friends. "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" is a privilege and responsibility that comes directly from God's heart.
Key Scripture
Abound in love to one another (1 Thessalonians 3:11).
Key Thought I am incomplete in myself. I need other people and they need me.
Questions or comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.

Why the change?

Bye-bye MyView Dollars. Hello MyView Points (MVPs).You Spoke, We Listened … our new rewards program will no longer be based on MyView Dollars. Not only did we make the MyView Rewards Program easier to use, we also increased how quickly you can get paid and even are allowing you to earn rewards in other ways. So, out with the old, and in with the new!Starting in December 28, 2010, we will be converting to MVPs and our new, improved rewards program.
How will this affect my available MyView Dollars?Never fear, your current MyView Dollars will retain the same value when converted to MyView Points. Our new rewards program was designed specifically to benefit you. We are excited about the upcoming changes and we want you to be excited as well!
What will the new MyView Rewards Program be like?Just for Trying RewardsWhile we try our best to invite you to studies that you are well suited for, we understand you will not qualify for every survey. Your time is valuable, and we think you should be rewarded for your effort. So, you will now be rewarded with MyView Points (MVPs) when you provide coherent and truthful responses to all initial screening questions. When you qualify and complete the survey, you’ll earn additional MVPs.Points will be credited immediatelyTired of having to wait for your points to be approved? You earned the points and you deserve to get them right away. Points will now be immediately credited to your MyRewards account. There could be an occasional delay if we have a technical issue but we’ll work out the kinks quickly if so – our goal is for this to be immediate every day and for every point!No more PayPal TMYou told us that you are not happy with PayPal, so we’re making the shift to Prepaid Visa Cards. You will be issued a Virtual Prepaid Visa Card that is sent via email and valid for online purchases. If after receiving the Virtual Prepaid Visa Card, you would like to receive a Physical Prepaid Visa Card, just follow the directions included in the email and it will be sent via mail. Please allow an additional 5 -7 days for your Physical Prepaid Visa Card to be processed. Have the freedom to buy what you want, when you want, everywhere Visa is accepted.Receive your Rewards SoonerOur new reward options allow for a much faster processing time. You can receive your Virtual Prepaid Visa Card in 2 to 3 business days.Coming Soon!Starting January 2010 you will start receiving your rewards through Prepaid Visa Cards. Our goal, however, is to add even more reward options throughout the year, perhaps including charity donations, gift cards, subscriptions to services, points for your virtual games, etc. Stay tuned as we finalize and add these new exciting reward options.
Will I be able to request rewards at any moment during the transition period?From December 28, 2009 through January 3, 2010, we will transition to the new MyView Rewards Program. During that time you will not be able to request or claim rewards. Don’t worry; you will still be able to earn MyView Points (MVPs) during that time. All information will remain safe and be available for viewing at any time.Through December 27, 2009, you will continue to earn MyView Dollars and will be able to redeem them via PayPal (see below). Beginning December 28, 2009, you will begin to earn MyView Points (MVPs). At that time, you will be able to see a history of all reward transactions that occurred prior to December 1, 2009, by viewing the Rewards Summary. These totals will now be shown in MVPs. During the week of December 28, 2009, we will complete the transfer of your MyView Dollars, earned between December 1 and December 27, 2009, to MVPs, and we will then update your Rewards Summary to reflect this.** Remember, if you prefer to redeem your current rewards before the changes are made, and you have 25 or more in MyView Dollars, you may do so on or before December 27, 2009. Your rewards will be paid out via PayPal according to our current terms and conditions. However, starting January 4, 2010 all requested rewards will be issued according to our new MyView Rewards Program, starting with a Virtual Prepaid Visa Card.
What are the benefits of a Prepaid Visa Card?You can use the Virtual Prepaid Visa Card for your online purchases, or if you wish, you can request a Physical Prepaid Visa for purchases on location. These cards can be used everywhere Visa is accepted, and offer you the benefit of a fast, easy reward pay out.
What if I am a member not located in the USA; will I be able to use the Prepaid Visa Card?Yes! Our Virtual Prepaid Visa Card option was created with you in mind. Virtual Prepaid Visa Cards get delivered straight to your inbox within 2 to 3 business days, and can be used outside the United States wherever Visa is accepted.
Important Dates to Remember:December 27, 2009: Last day to request PayPal payout for MyView Dollars (if no requests are made, MyView Dollars will automatically be converted to MyView Points and deposited into your account).December 28, 2009 to January 3, 2009: Blackout Dates. Remember, your MyView account information will remain safe! The reward information (now in MVPs) will be available for you to review during the Blackout dates. And, just remember … during the Blackout dates, you will continue to be able to earn MVPs by participating in surveys.January 4, 2010: MyView Points may be claimed under the new MyView Reward program.
We hope you are as excited as we are for the new and improve rewards program. After all, it was built with you in mind!