The first third of Psalm 2 tells of nations and people and rulers plotting and taking counsel to fight God. When this sort of activity takes place, it can be believed that Satan himself is motivating these actions.
Some time ago I was in a Bible study and someone said that Satan hates God. Satan wants to hurt God but Satan cannot, so Satan hurts that which God loves. In modern times, that would be the church. The church is called the bride of Christ. Christ died for the church, Christ loves the churches and gave himself for it. So for Satan to hurt the church would be a great gain, and would cause pain for God, Satan thinks.
Ever since 2010 Cornerstone Fellowship, in San Lorenzo California has been in conflict with the Alameda country tax exempt department. Under federal law, churches do not have to pay property tax on their buildings or leased equipment. In California this is a benefit because many churches were built when their locations were just an orchard or a field. Now that California land has become scarce, property tax for commercial buildings has skyrocketed. Our church has been at this location since September of 1946 and has never paid property tax.
In April of 2010, a man from the IRS showed up at my church, unannounced, with a warrant signed by Lois Lerner. He demanded entrance to find evidence that we were not a church or a religious organization but a commercial endeavor or a political action committee. If he could prove we were a commercial endeavor, we would be forced to pay property tax for this year and all past years. Property tax for my church is $8,401 a year. The man came in, took pictures of the sanctuary, measured the sanctuary and left. In October of 2010 Alameda county declared that were were a commercial endeavor and cancelled our tax exempt status and sent us a tax bill for $8,401.00.
Every year since 2010 until now, I have had to fight with the Alameda County Tax Exemption department to prove that we are a church, a 501(c).3 non-profit and an American Baptist recognized church. Usually the fight has been over not filling a form correctly. I would miss dotting an ‘i’ or crossing a “t” and that would trigger and investigation and cancellation of our tax exempt status. Twice since 2010 county representatives have shown up at my church. I am forced to open every door while they take pictures and measure things and take notes. I have had government representatives in my church 3 times in the last 7 years.
On Friday, January 12, 2018, I received a call from Israel, the new head of the county tax exemption department. He has informed me that a full investigation is proceeding because we are a commercial, for-profit, business in competition with other businesses in the area (that is the law we are violating). During this investigation there is a lean on our church for $8,401 with fees and penalties piling up. There is nothing I can do to speed this up or prove him wrong. He won’t even tell me what commercial business I am involved in.
Alameda County is raging against God and my church is the target for the anger.
Some time ago I was in a Bible study and someone said that Satan hates God. Satan wants to hurt God but Satan cannot, so Satan hurts that which God loves. In modern times, that would be the church. The church is called the bride of Christ. Christ died for the church, Christ loves the churches and gave himself for it. So for Satan to hurt the church would be a great gain, and would cause pain for God, Satan thinks.
Ever since 2010 Cornerstone Fellowship, in San Lorenzo California has been in conflict with the Alameda country tax exempt department. Under federal law, churches do not have to pay property tax on their buildings or leased equipment. In California this is a benefit because many churches were built when their locations were just an orchard or a field. Now that California land has become scarce, property tax for commercial buildings has skyrocketed. Our church has been at this location since September of 1946 and has never paid property tax.In April of 2010, a man from the IRS showed up at my church, unannounced, with a warrant signed by Lois Lerner. He demanded entrance to find evidence that we were not a church or a religious organization but a commercial endeavor or a political action committee. If he could prove we were a commercial endeavor, we would be forced to pay property tax for this year and all past years. Property tax for my church is $8,401 a year. The man came in, took pictures of the sanctuary, measured the sanctuary and left. In October of 2010 Alameda county declared that were were a commercial endeavor and cancelled our tax exempt status and sent us a tax bill for $8,401.00.
Every year since 2010 until now, I have had to fight with the Alameda County Tax Exemption department to prove that we are a church, a 501(c).3 non-profit and an American Baptist recognized church. Usually the fight has been over not filling a form correctly. I would miss dotting an ‘i’ or crossing a “t” and that would trigger and investigation and cancellation of our tax exempt status. Twice since 2010 county representatives have shown up at my church. I am forced to open every door while they take pictures and measure things and take notes. I have had government representatives in my church 3 times in the last 7 years.
On Friday, January 12, 2018, I received a call from Israel, the new head of the county tax exemption department. He has informed me that a full investigation is proceeding because we are a commercial, for-profit, business in competition with other businesses in the area (that is the law we are violating). During this investigation there is a lean on our church for $8,401 with fees and penalties piling up. There is nothing I can do to speed this up or prove him wrong. He won’t even tell me what commercial business I am involved in.
Alameda County is raging against God and my church is the target for the anger.
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