Phil,
I love it.
That one needs to be published in the mainstream somewhere.
Vinny
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 7:28 PM
Subject: Church Today


> That's Why We Pay Taxes
>
> The Church Today
>
>
> By Phil Scovell
>
>
>
>
>
>
>     The church has changed.  A woman in need of a wheelchair is
> referred to a government agency because, after all, why should a
> church have to pay for a standard wheelchair for 500 dollars, or
> an electric wheelchair for several thousand dollars, when a
> government agency will buy it?  Besides, isn't that why we pay
> taxes?  Of course, if she now needs wider doorways in her home
> and a ramp up to her front door, or special adaptive equipment for
> her car so she can continue to drive, the church certainly
> shouldn't have to pay for that when the government can and should.
> A blind man, who needs new prosthetic eyes for cosmetic purposes
> and to improve his overall facial appearance, shouldn't expect the
> church to be responsible since his insurance company can pay the
> 6,000 dollars for the eyes and the thousands of dollars required
> for the corrective surgery.  Isn't that why we pay taxes?  The
> husband, whose wife dies of cancer, can in no way expect the
> church to pay for his wife's burial even if he doesn't have any
> coverage to pay for the funeral home and cemetery plot.  I mean,
> this isn't what the church does.  Besides, that's what insurance
> companies are for.  So what if the guy can't afford the premiums?
> We preach the Gospel, for crying out loud, not insurance policies,
> and we can't be expected to do socially oriented things.  Besides,
> isn't that why we pay taxes?  The bipolar man or woman, or the
> bulimic or anorexic or PTSD, or OCD, or General Anxiety Disorder
> individual, or the Personality Disorder person, or the mentally
> ill in general, most certainly can't rely on us to help them.  I
> mean, after all, this isn't a hospital we are running here and
> most certainly isn't a psych hospital; that's for sure.  Besides,
> isn't that why we pay taxes?  You people with CP, MS, MD, CA, FM,
> PG, ADD, ADHD, DID, UA, VD, DUI, diarrhea, habitual masturbatory
> problems, marijuana addiction, alcoholism, mental disorders,
> baldness, foot fungi, suicidal tendencies, skin rashes, tooth
> decay, sexually abnormal fetishes, and gas can't expect the church
> to do what only the hospital can do for you.  We preach the Gospel
> and minister to only the spiritual needs.  You know?  Salvation?
> Well, there is one other thing.  Two, really.  You must give us 10
> percent, once you are saved, of course, and you must attend every
> time the doors are opened.  Otherwise, rely on the government for
> everything else.  thank you Jesus and praise the Lord.  Isn't it
> about time to take up the offering?