Thought for the Day

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JULY 4,  2020

"America will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

Abraham Lincoln - 1809-1865 (Lincoln led the United States through its most difficult time in its history---the Civil War)

"We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it."

William Faulkner -1897-1962  Faulkner was one of America's great writers and receiver of both the Nobel Prize for literature and twice the Pulitzer Prize.

I have chosen these two quotations, from two most reputable men, to celebrate our independence.  Both are squarely on target.  The only way we can be destroyed is from the inside---if we lose sight of those values and principles upon which we founded this nation.  We have been challenged many times, but over and over, we have risen to the occasion and stood strong for our base values and their improvement.  And the only real way, the only clear way to do this is to practice them.  We are being challenged once again in our time and we need to reach deep down into ourselves and renew and re-establish our ties with those principles which have brought us this far over the past 244 years.  We need to live them, we need to invite all our citizens to live them. They are one and the same as our 

JULY 3, 2020: 

"I feel it's a responsibility for anyone who breaks through a certain ceiling...to send the elevator back down and give others a helpful lift."

Kevin Spacey  1959- American actor, producer and singer.

I came across this little piece of advice and was attracted to it.  For me, it reinforces the golden rule of the gospel in a modern secular manner.  Although his life has been checkered with harrassment charges, it does not detract from the value of these words. He has received multiple honors and awards prior to the allegations. While he has his faults, as do we all, we can still learn some truth from him.  We, all of us, who have made any gains in our lives should pass along our experiences and insights to those who are struggling on the path.  "Do unto others!"  It is a simple, but most difficult challenge. But it is, and shall always remain, a central, if not the central, thrust of the Christian faith.

With the new tax code, it has become more difficult to find deductions that exceed the standard amount allowed.  But, are you aware that the IRS has established a procedure whereby you can reduce your taxable income by a special technique that involves charitable gifts that do not count toward your taxable income?  For example, if you have a traditional IRA that requires you to take a required minimum distribution that is added to your taxable income each year,  IRS code Sec. 408(d)(8)) allows you to have your investment firm deliver a charitable gift from your required minimum distribution to appropriate agencies such as churches, designated charities, etc.  You do not touch that money and consequently, it is not included in taxable income for tax reporting purposes.  This has become a popular technique for reducing the tax obligation to the IRS while satisfying charitable obligations.  If you would like more information please contact your financial advisor or our Treasurer, Bill Raduege, through the church office at 715-588-7150.