CARES Act Provides Relief to Individuals and Businesses

April 29, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Money Matters

Brought to you by: Community Partner Vision Financial Group

On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. This $2 trillion emergency relief package is intended to assist individuals and businesses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and accompanying economic crisis. Major relief provisions are summarized here:

Retirement Plan Provisions

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) from employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs will not apply for the 2020 calendar year; this includes any 2019 RMDs that would otherwise have to be taken in 2020
The 10% early-distribution penalty tax that would normally apply to distributions made prior to age 59½ (unless an exception applies) is waived for retirement plan distributions of up to $100,000 relating to the coronavirus; special re-contribution rules and income inclusion rules for tax purposes apply as well
Limits on loans from employer-sponsored retirement plans are expanded, with repayment delays provided

Student Loans

The legislation provides a six-month automatic payment suspension for any student loan held by the federal government; this six-month period ends on September 30, 2020
Under already existing rules, up to $5,250 in payments made by an employer under an education assistance program could be excluded from an employee’s taxable income; this exclusion is expanded to include eligible student loan repayments an employer makes on an employee’s behalf before January 1, 2021

Business Relief

An employee retention tax credit is now available to employers significantly impacted by the crisis and is applied to offset Social Security payroll taxes; the credit is equal to 50% of qualified wages up to a certain maximum
Employers may defer paying the employer portion of Social Security payroll taxes through the end of 2020 and may pay the deferred taxes over a two-year period of time; self-employed individuals are able to do the same
Net operating loss rules expanded
Deductibility of business interest expanded
Provisions relating to specified Small Business Administration (SBA) loans increase the federal government guarantee to 100% and allow small businesses to borrow up to $10 million and defer payments for six months to one year; self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and sole proprietors may qualify for loans

Prior Legislative Relief Provisions

Signed into law roughly two weeks prior to the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) also included relief provisions worth noting:

Requirement that health plans cover COVID-19 testing at no cost to the patient
Requirement that employers with fewer than 500 employees generally must provide paid sick leave to employees affected by COVID-19 who meet certain criteria, and paid emergency family and medical leave in other circumstances
Payroll tax credits allowed for required sick leave as well as family and medical leave paid There is likely to be a steady stream of guidance forthcoming with details relating to many of these provisions, so stay tuned for more information. We’re here to help and to answer any questions you may have.

-Bill Dowell

Registered Representative of ProEquities, Inc. &

Registered Broker-Dealer, Member FINRA & SIPC.

4505 Pine Tree Circle

Birmingham, AL 35243

205-970-4909

Vision Financial Group, Inc. is independent of ProEquities, Inc. This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party nor their affiliates.

April 29, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Miracle Moments

Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, mollymaid.com/birmingham

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

My mother memorized this Scripture when she was in elementary school – years before coming to faith in Christ, meeting her husband, or giving birth to her child – yet providentially placed in her heart. Even after memorizing the passage, the words would also be brought to her mind through the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Byrds in 1965.

My mom and dad married in 1976. As newlyweds, having children was a high priority for them. For seven years, my parents attempted to have a child. At a particularly difficult moment in that time, as my mother wrestled with her desire for a child and their thus-far unfruitful efforts, the Lord brought Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 back to her mind. It was the divine, earthly unexplainable peace that comes only from the illumination of the Holy Spirit. As unexplainable as the peace was, it was also clear: there is an appointed season and time for life to be formed, and my mom and dad were to trust in that.

It was in that peace that my parents walked in faith, until the Lord answered their prayers in 1982, with an August 1983 due date for me. However, an emergency visit in mid May of 1983 revealed very unexpected news: my mother was in labor, and I was on the way – ready or not!

Then came a whirlwind of information: doctors realized that my mother had a partitioned uterus, giving me approximately half of the normal room to grow. My mother’s body was triggering labor, as I had reached the limits of the space I was in. I was positioned to be a “breech” baby; turned around the opposite direction for delivery through the birth canal. The result was that her baby would be born within the next 24 hours, via Caesarean section, and approximately three months premature.

Understandably, while my parents had a peace about God’s timing in my birth, but there were still concerns, and their hearts were fearful. Survival rates for preterm babies in 1983 were encouraging, but they knew there could be many problems. I was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. My mother was in good health, but exhausted. All family and friends had been contacted. Prayer chains were activated.

Doctors enumerated a list of possible complications: underdeveloped lungs, vision problems, patent ductus arteriosus (a critical heart valve that closes upon normal birth), and various neurological issues. As my family and friends prayed for my health, they offered prayers in faithful thanksgiving, understanding that the Lord was in control and held both life and death in His hands. I was in NICU for two months, and my parents visited every day. As they got to know other families with babies whose situations were like mine, they learned many of these problems could be fatal or result in lifelong health issues. Miraculously, the Lord protected me from all of them!

In the coming months and years my mother looked back on those months in the NICU and was again reminded of the passage she had memorized in Ecclesiastes. Had my parents conceived and had me years earlier, as my mother had desired, the medical advances so critical to preterm birth survival rates would not have been in place. This was the season of my birth ordained by God. This was part of His plan, and His purpose.

I write this now as a healthy 36-year-old man. As God would have it, I was born May 14, 1983 and weighed in at 2 lbs.7 oz. and I left the hospital about a month ahead of my due date. My nickname my entire life has been “Speedy”, given to me by my mother’s father (who nicknamed everyone). He determined the day I was born that if I was male and born that day, I should be called Speedy, since I was in such a hurry. As cartoonish as the nickname sounds, it provides me opportunity to retell this story you’ve read, and recount one amazing example that God is indeed in control and ordains a season for all things, even those that seem “premature.”

-Tom “Speedy” Jones, McCalla, Ala.

Brought to you by: Molly Maids of Birmingham

mollymaids.com/birmingham

205-719-3777

If you have a miracle moment that you would be willing to share, please email [email protected], Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.

April 29, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Mission Makers

Brought to you by: Community Partner Sawyer Solutions www.sawyersolutionsllc.com

The Shelby Baptist Association (SBA) currently consists of 68 churches that have committed themselves to serving Christ together. In addition to encouraging and supporting one another, we seek to meet the needs of our communities and share the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We strive to partner together to accomplish the Great Commission locally and globally.

mission makers shelby baptist association person at desk IMG 1860 — SBA Chaplain Shelia Persons speaks to ministry center clients before they receive their food.

During this time of COVID-19 pandemic, our mission has not changed, but our methods have had to change. Whether or not you are part of our association, if you are a child of God, then you must not give up on our mission to share hope in a world where many are feeling fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. It is easy to feel overwhelmed as we are told to be “socially distant.” Now more than ever, we must take care of each other and work to minister to those in need. Where should we begin? God will give us guidance if we seek Him first:

Pray for the Holy Spirit to provide protection and wisdom as you seek to be obedient to the Lord.
Pray for the Lord to guide you to the person or group of people that you need to serve.
Remember your main assignments (Mark 12:28-33; Matthew 28:19-20):
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
- Love your neighbor as yourself
- Make disciples of all nations

Here is a list of low-risk/high-impact ministry ideas:

Make a phone or video call.
Send a letter, card, or care package through the mail.
Have groceries delivered.
Collect food and resources for ministries that help those in need (like our SBA Ministry Center).
Support local businesses by buying gift cards, calling in an order, or ordering online.
Create artistic, encouraging messages to send.
Host a “drive-in” event for worship or prayer.
Record a message, music, or video on a CD or DVD for someone that is not connected to the Internet.
Create a neighborhood library or pantry box to share books or food.
Sew face masks for at-risk individuals.
Help someone with yard work or a home repair.
Order flowers or a gift to be delivered with a personalized note.
Write an email or send an e-card.
Prayer walk through your neighborhood or community.
Create emergency care bags for the homeless.
Take or teach an online class to connect with others.
Offer to provide childcare for a healthcare worker, first responder, or another person that must continue to work.

For more information about SBA and its ministries, visit www.shelbybaptist.org. †

Brought to you by: Community Partner, Sawyer Solutions

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April 29, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Senior Scene

We’re committed to providing the same high level of care we’re known for. You can feel confident in referring a friend, neighbor, or church member. In addition to following our existing community disease outbreak protocols, we have implemented additional precautionary measures following guidance from the CDC, local health authorities and the Brookdale clinical team.

Our response includes these measures:

Activating an Emergency Command Center to help ensure regular communication with corporate leadership, field team members and vendors.
Providing communities with the tools needed to monitor residents’ health to detect possible health issues before symptoms manifest.
Updated and enhanced the cleaning protocols at our communities to address COVID-19.
Restricting visitor access and performing health screenings on anyone entering the community.
Rolling out a “virtual visit” plan, encouraging social distancing and utilizing video calling technology like FaceTime and Skype in order to combat social isolation and loneliness.

We’re here to help seniors and patients on a case-by-case basis, especially now. Don’t hesitate to call us with questions.

-Leanne Messer, Brookdale University Park

205-613-0688

Does the COVID-19 Pandemic have you experiencing many highs and lows emotionally? You are not alone. Join us Wednesday, May 20 from Noon-1 p.m. along with Lemeshia Agee Chambers, PhD as we discuss this very topic. Dr. Chambers will provide virtual attendees with a mental health discussion as it relates to our new “normal.” She will also address isolation, depression and stress as well as ways to successfully manage those feelings. Please email Leanne Messer at [email protected] if you would like the registration link for this Zoom virtual presentation.

Playing Music & Lifting Spirits at Brookdale University Park

Musicians Wayne and Margaret Alexander perform regularly for residents at Brookdale University Park. Good Friday they put on a particularly moving performance, literally moving from one courtyard to the next throughout the Brookdale Community. The couple gave eight courtyard concerts!

June 10, 2020April 29, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Our House

Brought to you by: Community Partner Hinkle Roofing, www.HinkleRoofing.com

There has never been an occasion when a DIY roof repair is a good idea. Even if you have all the time (and confidence) in the world, and regardless of the task at hand, always leave the job to professionals. In addition to being technically challenging and physically exhausting, the work is absolutely hazardous. However, the risk of DIY roofing projects isn’t limited to sustaining fractures. If you ask Hinkle Roofing, here are the other noteworthy dangers of risking a DIY roofing project.

1. Incorrect Installation. Roofing materials come with installation manuals, but it takes expertise to apply them properly. Do-it-yourselfers commit different mistakes without even realizing it. Without the trained eye, you wouldn’t know you botched the job until a leak occurs because of your workmanship error. Since you’re likely to call professionals to correct your rookie mistakes, you might as well hire them right from the beginning.

2. Lost Product Warranty. The warranty may be part of the product’s price, but its provider would invalidate it when the installation isn’t done right. Most residential and commercial roofing manufacturers observe stringent regulations regarding the application of their products. Failing to adhere to just one requirement could reduce your warranty to a worthless piece of paper.

3. No Workmanship Guarantee. Fixing your damaged roof yourself comes with the burden of accountability. Any blunder you make will be on you. On the contrary, hiring a professional contractor gives you the benefit of having a workmanship guarantee, which makes your installer responsible for installation-related failures.

4. Denied Insurance Claim. Experienced roofers would tell you that your insurer might not be happy to learn about your DIY roofing endeavors. If your insurance policy doesn’t include non-professional repairs, taking matters into your own hands can be a ground for your future claim’s denial. You might still appeal it, but it’s hard to justify that you didn’t contribute to the problem if you don’t have advanced roofing credentials yourself.

DIY roof repairs always come with huge risks and few rewards. Considering the stakes involved, entrust the job to one of the most experienced roofers in town: Hinkle Roofing. We’ve been maintaining local residential and commercial roofing systems since 1908. Call us at 205-324-8545 now to schedule an inspection of your home or business and to get a free estimate.

-Bob Baker

Owner/President, Hinkle Roofing

205-324-8545

www.HinkleRoofing.com

April 29, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

As Christians we are called to be people of peace. But how do we practically experience peace when there is so much to worry about? Where good and evil live so closely together, it is sometimes hard to believe God is sovereign without asking hard questions. Anxiety Interrupted grapples with the anxiety and doubts that creep in when we can’t answer our questions and helps us look to the promise God gives us through it all—that He holds us securely.

Rachael Dymski has an MFA in creative writing from Chatham University. She has taken classes in Christian counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary and is a contributing writer for the Gospel Coalition. Rachael runs a floral business and lives with her husband and daughters in Central Pennsylvania. Anxiety Interrupted is available from NewHopePublishers.com, your favorite book retailer, or in eBook format.

April 29, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

My mom has created works of art for as long as I can remember. Her painting featuring a cute little Cocker Spaniel has held a revered place in my kitchen for years. Although she doesn’t paint as much as she once did, she still graces the world with artistry, week after week, in the form of a church bulletin. I doubt there is a Christian alive who is as dedicated to producing a weekly church bulletin as my mother. For her, it isn’t merely a piece of paper. It’s a labor of love, worthy of hours of work and devotion. It’s a small church, so multitudes will not see it. Fewer still will appreciate or save it. But that is not the point. For her, it is the Lord’s work.

Author Andrew Peterson is also a singer/songwriter of worship music, including the song Is He Worthy?

In Adorning the Dark – Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making (B&H Publishing), writer/musician Andrew Peterson explores the relationship between artistic expression and the Christian life. We live in a broken world, one filled with far too much darkness. But God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. One of the many ways we can share that light is by creating works of wonder, mystery, beauty, and love. Peterson explains this calling in the following quote. “Somewhere out there, there’s another Tolkien…men and women with redeemed imaginations are sitting down to spin a tale that awakens, a tale that leaves the reader with a painful longing that points them home, a tale whose fictional beauty begets beauty in the present world and heralds the world to come.”

The act of creation should be a holy enterprise, regardless of the subject matter. When we create something good, we are reflecting the kingdom of God on this earth. Whether it’s a word fitly spoken, a song written in the depths of anguish, or a poem which extols the wonders of love, every medium of art can be a means through which the holy enshrines our simple, ordinary lives. Art is spiritual; we dare not approach it flippantly, even if it’s only a church bulletin.

–Darrel Holcombe, Owner
Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts
Colonial Promenade, Alabaster Call 205-663-2370 or click here to order Adorning the Dark. Curbside pick-up available.

April 28, 2020April 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

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Parenting Points

The other day I gave my daughter Holly permission to cut up magazines and use as much tin foil as she wanted, to create what I think will be a gorgeous mobile. I want to hang it over our dining table, if she’ll let me. It touched me to watch her snip and glue. I cheered her on in her wonderful mess, as parents do, no matter the age or stage of their child. In non-pandemic days, I can’t imagine Holly, a college student, would take time to build a mobile, and I wouldn’t have sat at the table and watched her (or been allowed to). These are the days of long pauses and strong pulls in different directions, of moments of confusion and seconds of clarity. No one really knows exactly how to be right now. These are especially tender days for parents, as we walk with our children through uncharted land. Families, we are in this together. So, here is a little of what I am trying to remember.

1. Put on your own oxygen mask. We’ve all heard that announcement on the airplane: “Please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others.” We wonder how we could possibly take care of ourselves first. But we might pass out and be of no use to anyone if we don’t do this simple act of self-care survival. Take care of yourself, and you will be a better parent. Sleep. Eat. Exercise. Firmly close your bedroom door when you need to. Read your Bible. Pray, even in bursts. Buy coffee whenever you have a chance, just in case.

2. Try not to compare. We have friends having basketball shooting competitions in their driveways and playing marathon sessions of Settlers of Catan while eating homemade pizza. When we compare, we usually give ourselves a failing grade. Your neighbour’s kid is learning Latin, and you’d just like Ben to learn to make his bed. It’s okay. Keep your eyes and heart on your own quirky, imperfect, wonderful family. Everyone will learn everything they need to survive in the world. It doesn’t have to happen in the next three weeks.

3. Embrace what this time does offer. What we have right now are long hours under the same roof, and that is the one thing we usually lack with our typical busy schedules. There is time to read out loud until someone begs you to stop, to try to play a game and finish it without a fistfight, and to find one movie everyone can agree on and then watch it through to the end. The gift of this time is having the time, and that is worth embracing.

-Karen Stiller

Author of The Minister’s Wife (Tyndale)

www.karenstiller.com

April 26, 2021April 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

TO SAY THANK YOU for reading and supporting the businesses and organizations that advertise with us and make spreading Good News possible, we have some Great Summer Read Giveaways for you and your family!

April 28, 2020 by Laurie Stroud

Publisher’s Note

I have received many gifts from my mother over the years including unconditional love, confidence that with God’s help I could do anything (within reason), hugs and shared tears when I did not meet “my goals” like the drill team in 7th grade, a loving touch when I thought I could not go another day before twin sons Jonathan and Trae were born right before Mother’s Day.

All smiles with mom and dad on my recent wedding day. Easy to see where my BIG smile comes from!
Photo: Marchele J Photo

However, it is the gift of a smile that brings her most often to mind. At the age of nine or ten, I went through “a stage” where a smile was hard to find. I often walked around in “contemplation.” Guess who noticed? Mom began to ask me a simple question, “Could you please put a smile on your face?” Of course, being the pre-teen I was, the more that question was raised the greater my “contemplation” grew. Then one day when I arrived home from school, my mother met me with a new thought. She said with a smile, “Did you know if you smile it causes less wrinkles?” From that day on, I began to smile- for all the wrong reasons. However, that enlightenment introduced me to a much more wonderful fact, smiling, even when you don’t feel like it, lifts your spirits, and it sure makes those around you feel a lot better!

Are you old enough to remember the campaign that proclaimed on everything from bumper stickers to buttons, “Smile, God Loves You!”? It is so easy to become muddled in the ‘tasks at hand” and lose our smile. Or how about the recent necessity of wearing masks in public? It has hurt my heart not to be able to see a smile or share one. But let’s not forget – God loves us- each one of us. He sees our special gifts, including our smiles, and He wants to make the most of them. Wow! That’s definitely worth a Big Smile!

Smile, God Loves You! Try it. It won’t be long before you have the chance to share your joy with someone who cannot help but ask, “What are you so happy about?”

-Laurie Stroud Franklin