Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you!


    From The Nicholaou's
          Nick & Grace & Amanda
                       & Java

Christmas is the celebration of God invading our space and time by sending himself as a human being so we could understand him better and so he could live a perfect life-- the life he had always hoped we would live. Because we don't conduct ourselves perfectly, though, he allowed himself to be killed as a sacrificial replacement on our behalf, making his perfect righteousness available to all who will receive it as a gift. And that, he said, is how we can be sure of a maximally enjoyable life, both here and afterwards in heaven.

Our prayer is that each whose life we touch will know that maximally enjoyable life. Merry Christmas from the Nicholaou's.

Big News for the MBS Family!

As you may know, my wife (Grace) is a CPA that serves many Christian churches and nonprofits. Her practice has been focused on California, and she is terrific! (You knew I’d say that!)

This week she announced that her firm is joining a larger national firm with the same focus and aim-- to help churches and ministries through solid CPA services (link to announcement).

She is joining BMWL as a partner in early 2014. We have known them for many years, and I think very highly of them. You may know of their president, Mike Batts, who has served as ECFA’s board chair and who also chaired the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations.

I am not trying to pull you away from your current CPA firm. I want you to know, however, that Grace is now part of a larger team and has even greater resources in case you’re thinking of putting your CPA needs out for bid. If you are, I know she would appreciate the opportunity to be considered.

2014 IRS Standard Mileage Rates

The IRS has announced the Standard Mileage Rates for 2014. They are:

• $ .56 for business miles
• $ .235 for medical and moving miles
• $ .14 for miles in service of charitable organizations

The reason the charitable mileage rate is still at the ancient amount is because the charitable mileage rate can only be changed by Congress, who has been unwilling to do so for many years.