Another light bulb joke

How many Saucerians does it take to change a light bulb?

I won't be needing to change a light bulb when I leave this little rock.

Tax exemption for churches

     501 (c) (3) in IRS Publication 557 lists the organizations eligible for income tax exemption because of their charitable nature.  The exemption applies only to the organization's exclusively charitable, scientific, educational, literary, philanthropic, public safety, prevention of cruelty to children or animals, or religious activities.  Any strictly commercial activities of an otherwise eligible organization are taxable.  Another provision, 26 U.S.C 170, provides a federal income tax deduction for donors to exempted organiziations.

     Jesus recognized the authority of governments to make tax laws but he added that God also had requirements which must be met.  The principle is that civil authorities should be obeyed except when their claims on a believer's actions are superceded by God's claims.

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things which are God's"  Matthew 22:21 (also Mark 12:17 and Luke 20:25)

     The current United States administration has shown a tendency to attach "strings" to it's programs and policies.  I would suggest that churches strongly consider repudiating their tax exempt status in order to prevent possible governmental interference in their activities.  

     The church I attend has members of every race, nationality, and ethnic origin but we don't and probably never will, reflect the national percentages of these various groups.  Also, the vast majority of our members would oppose openly gay clergy.  Pressure (the threat of removal of the tax exemption) could be exerted upon us and others like us to change our policies and beliefs.

     One thing to consider: repudiation of the tax exemption would also remove the individual donor's tax exemption for donations to the church.

    

Lailat al Bara'ah

Lailat al Bara'ah: The "Night of Freedom from Fire" occurs overnight between the 14th and 15th days of the Muslim month of Shaban.  On this night Muslims receive divine blessings as they visit the graves of their loved ones and recite special prayers and verses from the Quran. 

Raksha Bandhan: This Hindu festival celebrates the special bond of filial love between a brother and sister.   

Another light bulb joke

How many Whirling Dervishes does it take to change a light bulb?

One.  If his aim is good, he just has to push straight up.

Religious Use of Twitter

     For centuries, religious people have written short prayers on pieces of paper and stuffed them into the cracks in the Western Wall (the Kotel) in Jerusalem.  As the technology developed, people outside of Israel began to send faxes and e-mails which religious Jews would dutifully carry daily to the Wall.

     Now, Alon Nil, an Israeli economist, has begun such a service based on the social networking service known as Twitter.  The free service is only three weeks old and already receives thousands of prayers a day.  Nil says he is overwhelmed but intends that no prayers will be lost and that every prayer will be placed into the Wall.

                      http://twitter.com/theKotel

                      http://tweetyourprayers.info

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, their religious beliefs, or their actions.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

 Sir Philip Mawer: (b. 1947, England) Anglican.  Advisor to British prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Hilary Hinton Ziglar: (b. 1926, Missisippi) (aka: Zig Ziglar) American motivati0onal speaker and self help author.

Ernie Chiaradonna: Universal Life Church minister, firefighter.  Member of the International Federation of Chaplains.  Specializes in performing non-denominational, inter-faith marriage ceremonies.

Frederick J.  Eikerenkoetter II: (d. 28 July 2009, California)  (aka: Rev. Ike) Minister who preached a prosperity gospel based on receiving material benefits.

Elizabeth Olson: (b. 1912 - d. 19 July 2009, Alabama) (aka: Sister Mary Joseph) One of the co-founders, with Mother Angelica, of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale, Alabama.  She also assisted in the founding of the Eternal Word Television Network, a Catholic cable and satellite network which reaches over 150,000,000 viewers in over 140 countries.

Victor Duang Deng (b. ca. 1979, Sudan) One of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” orphaned when armed gunmen destroyed his village, killed the men, and carried off the women and girls.  He walked to Ethiopia and then to Kenya, before being resettled in the United States.  He works for Make Way Partners, a ministry in Birmingham which runs several Christian orphanages in Sudan.  

 

 

Orthodox Fast Day

Today is the fast day observed by Orthodox Christianity to honor the Holy mother of Jesus.