tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29935828302772240752024-03-14T10:10:02.276-05:00Synergy Ministries, Inc.Consulting - Counseling - Pastoral Services and ResourcesDon G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.comBlogger1561125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-78573953989831073292017-10-09T15:47:00.005-05:002017-10-09T15:47:43.490-05:00New DOJ Guidance Includes 20 Key Principles on Protecting Religious LibertyIn a set of memos by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has just issued extensive guidance on protecting religious liberty.
The first memo is directed to all executive departments and agencies and covers 20 critical areas. It begins by stating, “Except in the narrowest circumstances, no one should be forced to choose between living out his or her faith and Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-38432599623785853202017-10-09T15:39:00.005-05:002017-10-09T15:39:58.182-05:00District Court Calls Minister's Housing Allowance UnconstitutionalA ruling has just been issued by a Wisconsin federal district court calling the minister’s housing allowance unconstitutional.
This decision does not come as a surprise as the same judge issued a similar ruling back in 2013 before the case was dismissed by a higher appeals court on the technical grounds of standing. Judge Barbara Crabb writes in her latest ruling, “I adhere to my earlier Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-25141905377118814562016-07-19T20:04:00.001-05:002016-07-19T20:04:20.529-05:00What the New Overtime Rules Mean for ChurchesThe Department of Labor announced in May an update to overtime regulations. The ramifications for employers are significant. Nonprofits, including churches, are not exempt from these rules.
Except for those in ministerial positions, employees who make less than $47,476 yearly (or $913 weekly) must receive overtime pay starting December 1, 2016, according to the DOL’s new regulations. Currently, Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-49999254575247844792016-06-16T00:53:00.001-05:002016-06-16T00:53:26.151-05:00Prayer Request for SynergyPlease help us pray for Synergy Ministries. We are in need of office facilities to accommodate the counseling center as well as ministry functions. We are asking God for six donors who can give $5,000 each.
God knows the Great Commission work that is being done through Synergy Ministries. He knows the lives that have literally been saved through Synergy Counseling Center.
Our mission and our Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-42399939393902910842016-05-04T09:17:00.002-05:002016-05-04T09:17:51.039-05:00Why We Pray for America
The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of America’s heritage and is as relevant and critical today as it was at the first call by our Continental Congress in 1775. Established in public law by a joint resolution of Congress, signed by President Truman in 1952, then amended to designate the day under the 100th Congress and President Reagan in 1988, it states that:
“The President shall issueDon G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-84047716747657672522016-04-17T00:09:00.002-05:002016-04-17T00:09:25.691-05:00A New Bible Study Series in Fort Payne, ALSeveral have asked about starting a Bible study again. If we meet for one hour on Sunday afternoon's, would you attend? (Please comment below.)Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-78010337214755254842014-05-06T10:37:00.005-05:002014-05-06T10:37:55.489-05:00Federal Government Files Latest Brief in Clergy Housing ChallengeThe lawsuit by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) challenging the clergy housing exclusion proceeded this week as the government filed a brief in the Seventh Circuit defending the constitutionality of the law and arguing that FFRF lacks legal standing to bring the case.
After reciting the history behind the longstanding clergy housing provisions now found in Section 107 of the tax code,Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-49015543686132411492013-12-24T23:32:00.003-06:002013-12-24T23:32:47.071-06:00Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-13287359856052211702013-04-14T18:09:00.001-05:002013-04-14T18:09:10.733-05:00A Healthy Church
In the second and third chapters of John's Revelation, we find the letters dictated to the seven churches. Here, in a uniquely direct way, we have the Lord's assessment of health indicators for local congregations.
What strikes me is that some of the usual indicators—evangelism, stewardship, church planting, attendance are not evident. In a quick scan of these two chapters, the indicatorsDon G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-59867481821835018762013-04-14T18:03:00.002-05:002013-04-14T18:03:25.417-05:00Sources of Congregational ConflictDon G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-22182578968135359452013-01-28T13:28:00.003-06:002013-01-28T13:28:47.987-06:00Cleveland, TN Opens New Airport; Remembers COGOP History
Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority Chairwoman Lynn DeVault told a quick history of Hardwick Field during her opening remarks as the master of ceremonies as the new Jetport was dedicated. She said the original airport was a grassy field owned by the Church of God of Prophecy. The church flew white airplanes from Cleveland to mission fields throughout the Appalachians (The White Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-43770961168271485572012-12-28T15:51:00.002-06:002012-12-28T15:51:34.958-06:00Pastor Andy Stanley and Church Mourn Loss of Staff in Car Crash
Pastor Andy Stanley and the thousands who attend North Point Community Church are mourning the loss of one of their staff members who died in a car accident Tuesday night.
The Alpharetta, Ga., megachurch made the announcement Wednesday, tweeting, "Our hearts are broken."
Celeste and Ryan McCormick, both 27, were involved in a collision with another vehicle in Alabama. Celeste, who was a Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-47145498768092785992012-12-28T14:38:00.003-06:002012-12-28T14:47:30.896-06:00Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini Imprisoned in Iran
A 32-year-old Iranian who is a U.S. citizen and a Christian convert has been imprisoned without notice of any formal charges while visiting his family in Iran, according to his wife and attorneys in the U.S., who are now hoping that a media campaign will help set him free.
The Rev. Saeed Abedini, who lives in the U.S. with his wife and two young children, was making one of his frequent visitsDon G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-28305214726634996792012-12-22T14:43:00.002-06:002012-12-22T14:43:25.159-06:00Merry Christmas
Don & Yvonne BrockFrom our home to yours.
Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-31304193756182303522012-12-22T00:24:00.000-06:002012-12-22T00:24:03.076-06:00Leadership Development in 2013
As the year winds down, it’s a good time to reflect on what you've accomplished and learned as a leader and what you’d like to focus on for the coming year. Creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a great way to capture those actions and increases your chances of keeping your commitments to yourself.
Senior leaders often hire executive coaches to help them create their Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-49920211295339103422012-12-17T13:39:00.002-06:002012-12-17T13:39:31.053-06:00Why Does God Allow It?
While being interviewed live on a radio station this morning I was asked, “Why does God allow tragedies like the school shooting to happen?” I have given the question more thought since.
The problem of evil and suffering is the question of why God allows it. Pain and suffering in themselves are not evil. God can actually use them to help us grow. Even death, from one Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-26642512273686473962012-11-29T23:54:00.001-06:002012-11-29T23:54:55.055-06:00Housing Allowance
The housing allowance is the single most IMPORTANT TAX BENEFIT available to ministers. Do you understand the limits and FOLLOW ALL THE RULES to ensure the housing allowance is calculated correctly? Do you know what RECORDS MUST BE KEPT to substantiate the cost of everything excluded from income as housing expenses? Are you Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-943750950872275772012-11-29T23:49:00.000-06:002012-11-29T23:49:11.090-06:00Senate Report on Religious Organizations Accountability
First Commission Report to be Issued December 4
The first report of the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations is scheduled for release to Senator Charles Grassley, member of the Senate Finance Committee, on December 4, 2012.
The initial report, culminating from the work of 80 nationally-recognized professionals, will cover all of the issues under Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-11818405359474412622012-11-29T23:46:00.000-06:002012-11-29T23:46:03.565-06:002013 Standard Mileage Rates
2013 Standard Mileage Rates Up 1 Cent per Mile for Business, Medical and Moving
The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Click here to read more.
Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-20223793811096617882012-11-26T00:02:00.001-06:002012-11-26T00:04:15.771-06:00Death Announcement - Molene Clark
Please pray for Martha Herston and her family. Martha's mother, Molene Vaden Clark, 87, died Saturday, November 24, 2012 at Helen Keller Hospital. She was born in Itawamba County, MS. to Carl Turner and Clara Mae Pounders Vaden. She was a member of Mt. Olive Methodist Church and was a special education teacher at Red Bay School for 14 years.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-21237530295084097962012-11-21T18:55:00.003-06:002012-11-21T18:55:56.027-06:00Practicing Gratitude
When Thanksgiving arrives, just as the number of turkeys, stuffing mixes and cranberries seem to grow exponentially, so do the conversations about gratitude. We get to feast together on wonderful food, surrounded by friends and family, and say thanks for life, health, and one another.
This year, feast on gratitude.
Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-69380970905629964352012-11-12T16:22:00.003-06:002012-11-12T16:22:37.061-06:00TwitterFollow Don Brock on Twitter @DGBrock.Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-31784809035462931342012-11-11T10:54:00.002-06:002012-11-11T10:54:35.022-06:00Pray For Israel
Israeli forces returned fire into Syria today with some warning shots, according to the Jerusalem Post. "The IDF fired a warning shot at the Syrian military on Sunday, after a Syrian shell landed in the Golan Heights for the second time in recent days."
Israel has not fired at Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
"In the midst of Syrian infighting, a mortar shell fired by the Syrian Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-31901427558045659292012-11-11T10:27:00.002-06:002012-11-11T10:27:12.177-06:00What Search Committees Are Looking for in a Pastor
A few years ago, Pulpit & Pew Research on Pastoral Leadership shared a fascinating report: "What do Lay People Want in Pastors?"
Demonstrated competence and religious authenticity.
Search committees want pastors who have the ability to do the work required and a genuine religious life that brings together both "head and heart."
Good preacher and leader of worship.
Regional leaders and Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993582830277224075.post-65772523078436215192012-11-03T18:39:00.002-05:002012-11-03T18:39:58.783-05:00Schuller vs. Crystal Cathedral
Schuller and his wife, Arvella, seek more than $5 million. Meanwhile, the outcome of the trial will have an impact on creditors who have been waiting to be paid since the Crystal Cathedral Ministries filed for bankruptcy in 2010.
"We're just hoping that it's soon over, so we can just move on," said John Charles, chief executive officer of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries. "It's Don G. Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10537034858971952500noreply@blogger.com0