1. Weeks like this kind of show the strength of a relationship. All I have to say is that I married well.
2. Today Brian and I did something we have never done before: we agreed to pay for a service we are physically able to do ourselves. Usually cheap wins out over convenience, but a bout of monumental crud followed by an allergic reaction followed by a positive pregnancy test followed by, followed by ... means we will have many people in our house a week from Saturday, and unless we pay someone to do it, our kitchen will continue to have stripes of rejected ideas (remember the cobalt blue countertop dilemma?) and Asher's room will remain un-cute. So we hired someone to paint the rooms. In this moment, it's worth every dime.
3. I have not read anything of value since Asher's birth. I've read mostly children's books and stories so insignificant that I can't even remember the titles three months later. Let me rephrase that - some of the children's stories I've read have been great. But I'm ready for grown-up books again. Any suggestions?
4. The Senate Finance Committee is looking into the finances of several "prosperity gospel" preachers. Click here to find out more. Don't get me wrong; I believe the prosperity gospel is contrary to the gospel of Jesus, and I am not defending their message. But can the Senate do that? Call a religious institution into question if they aren't breaking laws? My understanding is that the question is about oversight. Is the oversight of a religious institution's finances under the jurisdiction of the Senate? Mary? Anyone?
11 comments:
I just finished "Pillars of the Earth" which is wonderful if you like historical novels.
Just finished *Julie and Julia*, which is a good light read. (Good thing I've finished, b/c I want to read your mother's book now.) Heavier selections below
Recently published:
*This Boy's Life*
*Time Traveler's Wife*
*Saturday*
*The Solitude of Thomas Cage*
My favorites of all time:
*Giovanni's Room*
*Parable of the Sower* (Octavia Butler -- and then pretty much anything else by her)
*Tender is the Night*
*What Maisie Knew* (if you have the mental space for Henry James right now)
I've got more, but I'll leave you with those.
A great literary escape would be Shadow of the Wind.
Excellent book that my aunt stumbled upon and passed to me. Two thumbs up!
"The Time Traveler's Wife" was pretty good. I would recommend it just because it is an interesting concept...I've been reading a lot of Jodi Picoult lately, but if I remember correctly, I think that you don't particularly like her...But "My Sister's Keeper" is another one that is an interesting concept...you might like that one, if you haven't read it. (though I think it actually HAS been made into a Lifetime movie! HA!) Have you ever read "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant? GREAT book. That's on my "must read" list...
SO, this is almost the EXACT blog post that I mentioned on my recent blog post that I've been working on. I haven't had time because of exams, but we studied 501(c)3 in my health law class this week in connection with Hospitals and after studying the statutes I'm almost convinced the majority of churches should not be tax exempt. You can disagree with me later, but maybe just wait until I have time to get a post together about it.
In any case, there should definitely be oversight if they do have the tax exempt status. I don't think it matters whether it is the IRS or the Senate. Churches can choose whether or not to have the status (as mentioned) so if they do they should comply.
Lane and I discussed this last night and he told me Covenant (our old church which was my primary case for why there shouldn't be tax exemption) was not tax exempt. I think that's pretty admirable. If you aren't really going to comply with 501(c)3 then you should just pay taxes.
Anyway, hopefully I can get my post together soon.
I don't have much to say about the tax exempt thing except that I take a nuanced view...I think churches should be tax exempt on some activities and not on others...tax exempt on things like running a shelter or soup kitchen or other charitable activity...not tax exempt on things like youth trips to six flags. Just my two cents. This of course, would mean every church in the world - big or small - would need a pretty darn good accountant.
Funny that 'Emily' (sorry, I don't think I know you) mentioned Giovanni's Room, because I just had to read several of James Baldwin's novels this week for a class, and I have to say I was ogling over the pages. He is, perhaps, one of the greatest American novelists ever and I can't believe he's not taught more in high schools. I'm guessing its because of his strong inclination towards the black power movement and his stance towards violence during the civil rights movmement, but I have to say he is now one of my favorite writers of all time, so I would suggest either Giovanni's Room or Go Tell It on the Mountain, which are both incredibly powerful books.
Ok, when Emily and Lane both tell me a book is one of the best, I'm going to read it. I'll check out "Giovanna's Room."
Carrie, "My Sister's Keeper" is the only Picult book I've read. I wasn't crazy about it. But I loved "The Red Tent." I called Valerie at midnight once when I hit the plot twist. I obviously did not know the biblical story.
I seriously do not know enough about what it means to be tax-exempt to have a meaningful opinion to offer. Which is why I asked.
Hi. I am Mary's friend, A, that also just learned about tax-exempt organizations in our class. I hope you don't mind my commenting. I also feel it necessary to disclaim that I am not a Christian.
I agree with Mary and Valerie (Hi Valerie!) that if a church applies and receives non-profit status, they should be subject to oversight.
I disagree with Lane's more nuanced view because taxation is not that clear cut. For example, tax-exempt churches in the city of Boston save millions of dollars a year in property taxes (that is money that could go to schools, fire depts. etc). As of right now, the tax code doesn't operate to tax 1/3 of a property tax because a church does some things that are tax-exempt and others that are not. You're either tax-exempt or you're not. So, if a church is truly eligible for tax-exempt status, meaning that they have a charitable purpose and provide a community benefit, then they can apply for tax-exempt status and are subject to continuing oversight to keep their status. But, if a church is really just a social gathering space akin to a country club for fall festivals and retreats to Six Flags, it is hard to argue that is giving any benefit to the community at large. If that is the case, then they should not be tax-exempt and the money they pay in property taxes could go to schools, fire departments, police, and other civic organizations that rely on taxpayer funding.
Looking forward to your post on this, Mary!
So, the second half of the comment section of this blog post is turning into the entire thing I was going to post about. We'll see if it is still worth it after this.
There were a few other things I was going bring up. But if I wait long enough, they will probably all get said here.
I heard "Pillars of the Earth" was phenomenal....I just read A Thousand Splendid Suns. Great.
I thought that was the picoult book that you had read. to me, sister's keeper was one of her better novels, so if you didn't like it, you probably won't. =)
i can't believe we've never talked about the red tent before...and I've even re-read it recently...i thought you would like that one.
any book recommendations YOU would pass along?
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