Showing posts with label hurricanes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hurricanes. Show all posts

10 May 2020

Get to Know the Blog Publisher With These 5 Random Facts

I have been publishing this blog for over 5 years and the stats say My Blog Stop! has over 1200 subscribers.  The thought has occurred to me that perhaps my readers may want to get to know me a little bit.  Well!  Here goes!




(1)  I’ve never been to heaven or Oklahoma.  But I do like The Beatles.  (I make corny references to songs and movies in a regular conversation all the time.  LOL.)


(2)  When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I misspelled a word once because I had copied the way my father spelled it.  My teacher marked me wrong and told me my father was WRONG!  I talked back to her … in defense of my beloved father …and was sent to the Principal’s office for being rude and discourteous.  (Although the principal laughed and said she understood because she knew my dad.  However, she still had to punish me because I couldn’t be allowed to get away with talking back to the teacher in front of the other students.  I took my punishment defiantly and proudly. ðŸ™‚ )  About 10 years later I visited my father’s country and what do you know?  That’s how they spell that word in his country.  So!  My dad was RIGHT!!  I felt so vindicated. LOL.  Wish I could have shown my teacher. ðŸ™‚

(3)  Growing up in Miami, Florida, I experienced a lot of hurricanes.  The hurricanes did not upset me. What upset me was the fact that the names of the hurricanes were all FEMALE.  I never complained openly about it though.  But I guess somebody complained because when I got older they started giving the storms MALE names.  Hurricane Bob (1979) was the first hurricane with a man’s name.  (Fun Trivia) Bob was not a memorable storm.  Hurricanes Cleo and Camille KICKED BUTT!!  I remember them!

(4)  We have several video games in our house.  I have never played a video game.  Not by myself or with any of my kids.  I don’t know how to work the controllers.  LOL.

(5)  I had a father, 7 brothers, 1 husband and 5 sons and to this day, I do NOT know how to tie a necktie.  Frankly, since I wasn’t going to be wearing them, I never saw the need to learn.  Besides!  Why should I bother to learn?  They sell those clip-on neckties with the tie knot already done.  ðŸ™‚  That was my flawless logic and I was sticking to it!  Then one day, one of my daughters said she was putting together an outfit that reflected her personality.  She asked if she could borrow one of her dad’s neckties and if I could help her tie it.  I didn’t see that coming!  She had to figure out how to tie that tie herself.  LOL.  ðŸ™‚


Original content source: Virily.com



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23 September 2017

Texas Churches Sue to Gain Access to Federal Disaster Relief Coffers

So according to my Facebook Memories, this blog post ~ Should Churches be Tax-Exempt? ~ was shared September 23, 2016. (It was published April 2016 and the updated and republished April 2017.) Whereas it is an interesting discussion, the tax-exempt status for churches is not really a current topic for debate.

This year (September 2017), we in the USA, were hit by 3 hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, and Maria). After it was over, people did what they always do! Go back home and try to salvage what they can salvage and rebuild what needs to be rebuilt, etc., etc. Usually, many organizations and individuals get involved in charitable efforts, donating their time, money and energy. In other words, nobody waits for the government to knock on the door and say “I'm from the government. We're here to help.”   That's a fact.

That FACT has generated a news report I heard about 1 or 2 days ago on the radio. Evidently, the QUESTION to be debated is not about tax exemption for churches but:

  • "Should churches (and other faith-based organizations) receive government funds from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for their assistance which they provide as relief for hurricane victims?”

The news report said that some churches (in Texas) had already filed a lawsuit wanting FEMA funds for their efforts.

SUING? Seriously?



Here are some Information References for further details:

Bailey, Sheryl. “Health Care : Sens Propose Bill That Would Allow FEMA Help for Churches Newburgh Gazette.” Newburgh Gazette, 21 Sept. 2017, newburghgazette.com/2017/09/21/sens-propose-bill-that-would-allow-fema-help-for-churches/
The churches note, "Ironically, although FEMA partners with churches to provide shelters and distribute aid to disaster areas, the PA Policy Guide prohibits those same churches from applying for or receiving such relief". … houses of worship were deemed ineligible for the grants under the 1988 Stafford Act.”


Green, Lauren, and Patrick Manning. “Texas Churches Suing FEMA for Equal Access to Nonprofit Relief Funds.” Fox News, FOX News Network, 14 Sept. 2017, www.foxnews.com/us/2017/09/14/texas-churches-suing-fema-for-equal-access-to-nonprofit-relief-funds.html
"President Trump seems to agree. He tweeted last week: 'Churches in Texas should be entitled to reimbursement from FEMA relief funds for helping victims of hurricane Harvey (just like others).'"


Kruzel, John. “How the U.S. Funds Disaster Recovery.” PolitiFact, Tampa Bay Times, 14 Sept. 2017, www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/sep/14/how-us-funds-disaster-recovery/.

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My Thoughts?

As a faithful Christian, I don't see the need for this discussion no more than there was a need to debate tax the exemption status. The Bible says: As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10) There is no additional language or verses anywhere in the Bible that says: “And make sure you get funding or reimbursement from the government for carrying out this command of Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.”  

Of course, one could stretch a scriptural “interpretation” and say that going to court and suing to receive FEMA funds is just the good Lord's way of returning the blessing for the kindness shown by 'our church' to others who were in need.  "The Lord helps those who help themselves."   

I think it's a stretch.  But if they're wrong the Only One they will answer to on Judgement Day is the Lord in the Divine Court where all final decisions are made.  +++ 
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