IRS Announces 2016 Standard Mileage Rates

The IRS announced today the Standard Mileage Rates for 2016. They are:

• Business Mileage:  $ .54/mile
• down from 2015’s $ .575
• Medical & Moving Mileage:  $ .19/mile
• down from 2015’s $ .23
• Charitable Mileage:  $ .14/mile
• unchanged for more than a decade

Of the three categories, only the charitable mileage rate requires an act of the US Congress to change!

Happy motoring!

Microsoft Resolves O365 Charity Licensing Issue for Churches!

I just released an article to the publisher announcing that Microsoft has resolved the non-discrimination language in its O365 charity licensing agreement. The Lord used MBS in that process, and we are excited to announce it!

Click here if you’d like to read a free pre-release of the article via the MBS website!

New Article: The Challenge of Today’s Family Structures in ChMSes

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I just released an article on this to the publisher...

There’s no doubt that family structures have changed dramatically in the last forty years. ChMS databases are struggling to cope with those changes, and that makes ministry more challenging because most ChMSes impose traditional family structures on today’s family structures. A change must be made! Here are some thoughts that may help.

To read a free advance copy, click here! 

New Article: Negotiating as Serpents & Doves

 
Jesus made an interesting statement in Matthew 10:16b, "...be as shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves" (NASB). I believe these words of His are good guidelines for Christians to apply in every aspect of doing business. We are to be shrewd, yet innocent.

What does all of this have to do with computers? Click here to read the article! 

New OSes: Windows 10, Mac OSX 10.11 (El Capitan), & iOS 9

Just a quick post about Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan), and iOS 9.

Windows 10

• We feel very good about this OS, but have not finished our worksheet on how to configure it yet.
• If you're an MBS client, we recommend holding off upgrading until we complete our worksheet and can thus certify it, which we hope will be by the end of this month.

Mac OSX 10.11 (El Capitan)

• It’s all about the apps; not about the OS (see my article on this topic).
• So far we’re seeing more spinning color wheels (though the color wheel is much prettier!), some crashes, and a problem running Office 2011 in El Capitan.
• The only current fix we’ve found for Office so far is to upgrade to Office 2016.
• At this time we are NOT recommending this free upgrade.

iOS 9.x looks good to go!

I hope that helps!

New Article w Tips for Supporting Better

Just released to the publisher! Geek Speak!

New Article: On Making Difficult Decisions

Sometimes we’re faced with having to make a difficult decision, where every option has a significant downside. How should we process those? And how do we handle the aftermath?

I wrote a brief article that may be helpful! Click here to read a free advance copy!