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www.matthewdunaway.com · 205-705-3590
April 2018
GRACE AND FORGIVENESS The Christian Concepts Behind Bankruptcy
As a bankruptcy lawyer, I’ve had to work my way through the concept of bankruptcy law and how it seems to clash with the notion of responsibility. We’re taught being a responsible member of society means paying our bills on time. I know I felt terrible in the past when I couldn’t pay my bills because the debt was overwhelming. You feel like a failure, and there’s a stigma around filing for bankruptcy, because it’s seen as dodging your responsibilities. However, I believe bankruptcy plays an important part in allowing people to remain responsible members of society. To me, the role bankruptcy plays in society shares something in common with the grace of God in the Bible. Easter Sunday fell on April 1, and many people reflected on how Jesus’ grace and resurrection forgave the sins of humanity. Forgiveness is a huge theme in the Bible, and not just through the divine absolution of sins; we can Forgiveness is a huge theme in the Bible, and not just through the divine absolution of sins; we can find many examples of debt being forgiven in the Scriptures.
find many examples of debt being forgiven in the Scriptures. In the Old Testament, there’s record of the year of Jubilee, which was celebrated at the end of the seven cycles of sabbatical years, or once every 50 years or so. During Jubilee, there were many traditions, including the forgiveness of all debt. owed his master a huge debt he could never possibly repay. Though his master decided to forgive the servant, the servant turned around and demanded payment from another man who owed him money. The debtor begged for more time, but the servant refused and had the man sent to debtors prison. When the master found out, he was angry that the servant hadn’t shown the same forgiveness and had the servant sent to a labor camp until he could work off the debt he originally owed. A foundation of the Christian faith is forgiveness, but being forgiven doesn’t mean you turn around and make the same bad choices again. When we seek forgiveness, we must also strive to do better in the future, not falling into the same habits that demanded we need absolution in the first place. As a religious man, I view bankruptcy as something we shouldn’t be ashamed of because, in a way, it reflects God’s own grace. There’s also a practical reason for bankruptcy. Two hundred years ago, if you owed someone money and couldn’t pay them back, they sent In the New Testament, we find the parable of the ungrateful servant, which tells of a servant who
you to debtors prison. What good did that do anyone? You couldn’t repay your debt from prison, and you weren’t contributing to the economy from behind bars. Additionally, if you knew borrowing money could potentially land you in prison if bad luck left you unable to repay the sum, why would you ever take the risk? take risks with their money. Without risk, we don’t have companies, and I don’t just mean big corporations like Walmart or McDonald’s. Small businesses exist because people are willing to take risks, and bankruptcy is the safety net. You can take a gamble on your financial future knowing, if bad luck strikes, you won’t be out of the game forever. You can recover and have another shot, continuing to build our economy. No one is proud of being unable to pay their bills or struggling beneath a mountain of debt, but we shouldn’t ignore the gift that is bankruptcy. Honest mistakes or bad luck shouldn’t destroy us forever. Bankruptcy isn’t about avoiding your responsibilities; it’s about being forgiven so you can be a responsible member of society once again. We live in a capitalist society where the economy would shut down if people weren’t willing to
–Matt Dunaway
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BRINGING FAMILY TOGETHER Gardening:
After spending a winter cooped up inside with your family, there might be a little tension between everyone. Fortunately, it’s spring, and the warm weather, melting snow, and blooming flowers offer a good way to ease restlessness. This season, why not bring your family closer together by starting a family garden? A Learning Experience
a single project, and you can literally share the fruits of your labor. Deciding on Plants When it comes to deciding which plants you want in your garden, there are many variables to consider. Do you want to grow edible plants, ones that have magnificent blooms, or ones that are easy to care for? Flowers are a good start if you want a plant that grows a little faster; plus, they lend a pop of color to your garden. Growing vegetables is also rewarding, as the kids will take great pleasure in eating what they’ve grown. Other possibilities include sunflowers, blackberries, peas, and lettuce. You might be surprised at how willingly children eat their greens when they’ve had a hand in growing them.
Sudoku Gardening gives your family a chance to collaborate. When you’re stuck inside for long periods, you may be spending time together, but it’s usually not quality time. Working in a group to create and maintain a garden is a hands-on experience for everyone. It’s a chance to get the whole family involved with Nearly every step in the gardening process can be a learning experience for kids and parents alike. Begin by discussing where you should start and why, what supplies you’ll need, and the types of plants you want to grow. Gardening also offers opportunities to learn about science, ecology, and nutrition. Collaboration
Family gardens can bring something new and fresh to your home. So, get outside, enjoy the sun, and discover the joys of plants and gardening.
“If you’re struggling with an impossible financial situation and find that not only your quality of life but your family’s future is suffering, please don’t hesitate to contact Matthew Dunaway. There is no substitute for the sound legal advice he provides. And, after speaking with him, should you decide that bankruptcy is right for you, rest assured that your experience will be as stress-free as possible. Matt is extremely forthcoming about what will happen and what you can expect. He is knowledgeable, efficient, dedicated, and I can honestly say that he helped me get through one of the most difficult times ever. I asked for Matt’s help after being referred by attorney John Watts. Much respect for both of them. Here’s hoping that you can at least enjoy the same confidence in Matt that I had during this sensitive time.” –Amy B.
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TAX DAY 2019
How to Make Tomorrow’s Taxes Less Terrible
Tax Day is April 15. If you haven’t filed yet, we wish you the best of luck as you race to fill out forms and get to the post office. That said, even if you filed the moment you got your W-2s this year, you shouldn’t put your tax prep on the back burner until next year. In 2019, we will be filing with the new tax code, and that’s sure to unleash a whole new set of struggles. Fortunately, there are things you can do right now to make filing your taxes much easier next year. Be Organized This one is obvious, but incredibly difficult. Throughout the year, we end up with countless receipts as well as credit card, bank, and investment statements. Don’t let these pile into a mountain of paperwork, or worse, accidentally be thrown away. Spend 30 minutes going through the papers you already have and create an organizational system you can stick with.
the FileThis app. Available on Apple and Android, FileThis is an electronic filing cabinet that neatly stores all your paperwork so you can easily find the ones you need. FileThis has built-in cloud storage, though you can also integrate it with your Dropbox, Google Drive, or Evernote. Take a Look at Your Withholding Some people love big tax returns and eagerly use them once a year to fund trips or to splurge. But large tax returns really mean the government controls more of your money than is necessary. Vanessa Borges, tax prep supervisor at Tax Defense Network, LLC, in Jacksonville, Florida, says, “The ideal payroll-withholding situation is to have just enough tax — not too much, not too little — withheld from your paychecks to meet your eventual annual tax bill.” Having a smaller tax return means you have extra money to cover your finances all year long, not just once a year. And if you were horrified
to discover you owed money this year, adjusting your withholding can help prevent the unpleasant revelation from repeating next year. Filing your taxes will never be easy, but it doesn’t have to be a huge obstacle. With a little preparation today, you can put yourself in a better place for when your W-2s arrive next year.
If your filing cabinets always turn into black holes where paperwork is lost forever, consider using
Roasted Asparagus With Lemon Breadcrumbs Recipe of the Month
Good News Mark 8:34–35
Spring is the height of asparagus season. This dish, which features the crunch of breadcrumbs and a refreshing splash of lemon, is the perfect way to highlight the natural flavors of the vegetable without overwhelming them.
Ingredients • 2 pounds asparagus • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil • Kosher salt Instructions 1. Heat oven to 425 F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20–26 minutes, turning asparagus halfway through. 2. When asparagus is nearly done, heat remaining olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add • Freshly ground pepper • 2 garlic cloves, minced
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.’”
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped • 2 teaspoons lemon zest • Juice of one lemon (not packaged lemon juice) garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fold in parsley and lemon zest. 3. Transfer asparagus to serving platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and top with breadcrumb mixture.
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Recipe inspired by Food and Wine Magazine
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NSIDE We Shouldn’t Be Ashamed of Bankruptcy ... page 1 Gardening: Bringing Family Together ........ page 2 Our Clients Say It Best .................................. page 2 Tips for an Easier Tax Day ........................... page 3 Roasted Asparagus With Lemon Breadcrumbs ................................................ page 3 The Message Behind Kindness Rocks .......... page 4
A SMALL TOKEN WITH A BIG MESSAGE Kindness Is Contagious
Have you ever had one of those days when nothing seems to go right? You wake up late, you can’t find your keys, the kids aren’t ready, and the day continues to unfold in a negative fog. Those difficult days are the reason Megan Murphy started the Kindness Rocks Project. After her parents passed away, she found comfort in finding heart-shaped rocks and sea glass on the beach. She realized that these small tokens might make other people feel better, too. Megan’s friend, one of the first to pick up a rock Megan had left behind, sent her an encouraging message after finding it: “If you did drop this rock, you made my day.”
a rock, paints a kind message on it, and leaves it on the beach for others to find. And the idea has spread. As the project has grown, so have people’s stories about finding kindness rocks. When people find a kindness rock, they get a boost to their day, but they also feel inspired to pay the kindness forward. If you want to spread kindness, start with a few smooth 3- to 5-inch rocks. Part of the adventure is in finding the rocks, so take the time to explore outside to find them. Maybe take the kids for a trek to a nearby park or beach. Once you have your rocks, use nontoxic paint or spray paint to color them. Use bright colors so that others can spot them. After the paint has How to Make Your Own Kindness Rocks
dried, use paint pens to write your messages on the rocks. These can be as simple as one word or as big as an inspiring quote or verse. After you’ve written your message, use a clear nontoxic sealant to protect your artwork so it will be there when others find it. Find an outdoor space to leave your rock — maybe even in the original spot you found it. In a world that often seems dark, your message of kindness will serve as a beacon of hope for others. “One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.” –Gautama Buddha
Since then, Megan has inspired others with randomly placed messages of kindness. She finds
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