EXPENSE SHEET
Please note that no donations are going to compensation. 100% of amounts donated by other than Tom Usher are going into the Land and Building Fund of the Christian Commons Project. It is anticipated that such will remain the case until there are sufficient funds in the Land and Building Fund to lease (temporarily) or to purchase land and until and until Church administration is a full-time occupation for the executive director and any staff. The following figures have barely changed; hence there has been no reasonable requirement for updates. If anything changes appreciably, we will endeavor to update the figures in a timely manner.
Tom Usher is working in addition to writing and operating the website. All of his earnings over and above basic living expenses (below) are being used to cover Church overhead (Internet, operating expenses, etc.) and then the balance is going into the said fund.
Living expenses, housing allowance, and Internet costs (does not include alms)
12 month period
Quarterly subtotals
Last updated: October 2006
US Dollars
|
10/1/05 -
12/31/05 |
1/1/06 -
3/31/06 |
4/1/06 -
6/30/06 |
7/1/06 -
9/30/06 |
TOTAL
|
|
|
Auto
|
|||||
|
Auto Registration
|
77.25
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
77.25
|
|
Fuel
|
18.33
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
18.33
|
|
TOTAL Auto
|
95.58
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
95.58
|
|
Bank Charge
|
7
|
0
|
14
|
0
|
21
|
|
Computer
|
|||||
|
Hardware
|
168.64
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
168.64
|
|
TOTAL Computer
|
168.64
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
168.64
|
|
Credit Card
|
|||||
|
Interest Paid Out
|
14.34
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
15.34
|
|
TOTAL Credit Card
|
14.34
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
15.34
|
|
Groceries
|
391.93
|
332.11
|
213.87
|
215.49
|
1153.4
|
|
Housing
|
1275
|
1275
|
1275
|
1275
|
5100
|
|
Insurance
|
|||||
|
Auto Insurance
|
154.33
|
154.29
|
154.29
|
154.29
|
617.2
|
|
TOTAL Insurance
|
154.33
|
154.29
|
154.29
|
154.29
|
617.2
|
|
Legal
|
11.97
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
11.97
|
|
Medical
|
|||||
|
Over-The-Counter
|
103.9
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
103.9
|
|
Prescriptions
|
215
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
215
|
|
TOTAL Medical
|
318.9
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
318.9
|
|
Other Exp
|
76.75
|
0
|
0
|
101.87
|
178.62
|
|
Supplements
|
0
|
0
|
19.52
|
0
|
19.52
|
|
T&E
|
|||||
|
Personal Travel
|
197.2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
197.2
|
|
TOTAL Personal
|
197.2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
197.2
|
|
TOTAL T&E
|
197.2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
197.2
|
|
Telephone, Internet, ISP
|
257.73
|
264.69
|
264.53
|
264.9
|
1051.85
|
|
Long Distance
|
18.19
|
17.73
|
17.25
|
0
|
53.17
|
|
TOTAL Telephone, Internet, ISP
|
275.92
|
282.42
|
281.78
|
264.9
|
1105.02
|
|
Utilities
|
|||||
|
Electric
|
124.41
|
66.91
|
63.68
|
21.19
|
276.19
|
|
TOTAL Utilities
|
124.41
|
66.91
|
63.68
|
21.19
|
276.19
|
|
OVERALL TOTAL
|
3111.97
|
2111.73
|
2022.14
|
2032.74
|
9278.58
|
Spreadsheets, charts, and graphs to expect
Eventually, ministers' personal expenses will be reflected as a single-line item as salary or wages based upon expense reports for the given period. Church expenses, rather than personal itemized expenses, will then be reflected in the financial statements shown on the website. Concerning communes and missions, the Church will also endeavor to place acquisition-, development-, and line-and-staff-cost estimates on our website.
As you may readily see from the spreadsheet immediately above, we have been living frugally during the pre-start-up phase.
From pre-start-up to start-up
The pre-start-up phase covered by the spreadsheet was consumed by writing the work, There Is No Such Thing as a Conservative-Republican Christian: Jesus is a small-c communist and Supplement. The start-up phase actually began with work on this website.
Naturally, as the Church moves deeper into start-up and begins to grow, expenses will increase in certain categories. We won't update the information though until there is a substantive change.
Audit notes
We'll address the categories in the order in which they appear on the Expense Sheet.
Our fuel use has been very light. We've been walking to the store, which is good for us and for the environment in general. However, Church business will require more time on the road.
Depending upon the type of work being done, spending on groceries can easily increase. Visitors will pick up. It's always correct to be able to offer something.
Our current housing is the most affordable in this market. We will remain flexible. Renting a house so that part of it may serve as Church office space may prove most economical for the next move up. It would save on commuting and would allow us to work better at odd hours without having to duplicate the equipment for a home office.
As we quoted the IRS in There Is No Such Thing as a Conservative-Republican Christian: Jesus is a small-c communist:
A minister's housing allowance, sometimes called a parsonage allowance or a rental allowance, is excludable from gross income for income tax purposes, but not for self-employment tax purposes.1
The Church will have to weigh these matters.
Travel may increase if the cost-benefit makes sense.
Long-distance telephone likely would increase. We'll be looking into a flat-rate service before long-distance expenditures skyrocket.
The category "Telephone, Internet, ISP" doesn't cover web-hosting fees, which we hadn't yet incurred at the time the Expense Sheet was generated.
Our electric rates are the lowest of any big city in the US and very green. Hopefully the rate won't increase too quickly. We don't have air-conditioning. There are only a few days per summer here when it gets that hot and humid.
You don't see clothing or any household furnishings on the Expense Sheet. We will need a few things in each of those categories if we're to carry on. You also don't see barber expenses. We've been taking care of that our self; however, time constraints in operating a thriving denomination may require shop visits.
We have no medical, dental, or vision coverage.
Lastly, there is the matter of taxes. A peculiarity of the US tax system is that "ministers" are self-employed. This is to avoid directly taxing the church. The minister pays his or her own Social Security and Medicare taxes if the church does not elect to pay them. The exact percentage to add to the expenses list to cover anticipated Income Taxes (including FICA) is not known at this point. The Church isn't required to do withholding on clergy. Also, estimated taxes aren't required the first year of such self-employment.
We'll add twenty percent to the Expense Sheet Total of $9,278 to cover Federal and State taxes and another ten percent as a cushion for increased expenses and inflation. That brings the monthly expense rate to approximately one thousand dollars.
| Expense Sheet TOTAL |
$9,278.58
|
|
30%
|
$2,783.57
|
|
New Estimated Total
|
$12,062.15
|
|
Divided by 12 months
|
$1,005.18
|
Reaching initial start-up break-even
You may also readily see that it isn't going to take much to allow us to work on the Church fulltime, as it deserves. A thousand dollars a month can be covered by a hand full of dedicated Real Christians who want to see the Church communes come to fruition.
According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics,2 we find that as of August 2006, the median and mean income respectively for those earners in the US who are fifteen and older is $24,325 and $35,499. Using the lower figure to be conservative, staying with no more than tithing, rounded to the nearest thousand, we find the following:
|
Annual median income
|
$24,000.00
|
|
Multiplied by percentage of income (tithe)
|
10%
|
|
Tithe pledge
|
$2,400.00
|
|
Monthly amount (tithe/12 months)
|
$200.00
|
|
Estimated minimum monthly break-even expenses at start-up
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Divided by monthly amount (tithe/12 months)
|
|
|
TOTAL number of persons tithing for break-even
|
5
|
|
Annual median income
|
$24,000.00
|
|
Multiplied by percentage of income
|
5%
|
|
Annual pledge
|
$1,200.00
|
|
Monthly amount
|
$100.00
|
|
Estimated minimum monthly break-even expenses at start-up
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Divided by monthly amount
|
|
|
TOTAL number of persons giving for break-even
|
10
|
|
Annual median income
|
$24,000.00
|
|
Multiplied by percentage of income
|
1%
|
|
Annual pledge
|
$240.00
|
|
Monthly amount
|
$20.00
|
|
Estimated minimum monthly break-even expenses at start-up
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Divided by monthly amount
|
|
|
TOTAL number of persons giving for break-even
|
50
|
We see that five people earning the median US income and tithing to the Church would cover the initial start-up expenses. Ten people giving half a tithe would cover those costs. Fifty people giving only one dollar to the Church out of each one hundred dollars they earn would cover the expenses. Of course, to grow into an office with staff and then communal property under cultivation and bringing forth for the sake of humanity and the planet will require the contributions of many thousands of people at this income level. Just one person grossing 1.2 million USD a year can cover our initial break-even with as little as one percent of his or her income — one dollar of every hundred. If a person such as that, or several, were to tithe, we'd have a thriving commune in no time with others on the way. There are people in the world earning a great deal more than that each year, as we are all well aware.
The following represents the typical number and size of donations we will need to reach bare bones break-even for the initial start-up phase.
|
2007 Pledge
|
Number of Donors
|
Subtotal
|
Cumulative Total
|
Cumulative Percentage
|
|
$1,200.00
|
1
|
$1,200.00
|
$1,200.00
|
10%
|
|
$900.00
|
1
|
$900.00
|
$2,100.00
|
18%
|
|
$600.00
|
2
|
$1,200.00
|
$3,300.00
|
28%
|
|
$425.00
|
3
|
$1,275.00
|
$4,575.00
|
38%
|
|
$350.00
|
3
|
$1,050.00
|
$5,625.00
|
47%
|
|
$275.00
|
5
|
$1,375.00
|
$7,000.00
|
58%
|
|
$250.00
|
7
|
$1,750.00
|
$8,750.00
|
73%
|
|
$200.00
|
7
|
$1,400.00
|
$10,150.00
|
85%
|
|
$125.00
|
10
|
$1,250.00
|
$11,400.00
|
95%
|
|
Under $125.00
|
9
|
$600.00
|
$12,000.00
|
100%
|
|
Totals
|
48
|
$12,000.00
|
During the research, writing, planning, and website development, capital reserves went down steadily and are exhausted as of June, 2007. Of course, it has been for the most worthy of all causes. In fact, for the only worthy cause: Love. God is love.
Being moved to make the sacrifice
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Mark 10:25
Open your heart. Save your soul by saving others who will save yet others.
Our Real Liberal Christian Church can make a solid start now with your personal self-sacrifice and continuing dedication.
Join Us.
Donate to this most worthy of causes (Jesus's cause).
Tithe or better if you are able, if the Holy Spirit gives you to do it, moves your heart to have the real faith to do it. Let us together bring forth the Christian Commons.
Please click the
button right now, and be as generous as you can. Thank you, and may God bless us all.
1 "Frequently Asked Tax Questions And Answers: Keyword: Housing Allowance." IRS. http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw86.html. (accessed: Wednesday, October 25, 2006).
2 "PINC-01. Selected Characteristics of People 15 Years and Over by Total Money Income in 2005, Work Experience in 2005, Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex." A spreadsheet. U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2006 Annual Social and Economic Supplement. U.S. Census Bureau. http://pubdb3.census.gov/macro/032006/pe rinc/new01_001.htm (accessed: Wednesday, October 25, 2006).
Unlike the large Facebook panels you see on other sites, when you "like" this right here, you are "liking" only the individual post and not the whole site. This gives you more flexibility in terms of what you are suggesting to others that you are endorsing.
Comments Posted (More often than not, the most action is in the comments.): 2 Comments ». Add Comment.
- The views expressed by Authors, Contributors, Commentators, and the like, are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Real Liberal Christian Church.
2 Comments on “EXPENSE SHEET”:
-
Tom Usher
Standing Comment, all posts and pages:
To all homosexuals and their supporters, condoners, promoters, accepters, confirmers, and the like:
Unless you have something completely new that hasn't already been refuted, don't bother. It won't show up.
Rehashing what has already been refuted is a waste of everyone's time.
I'm not interested in casting pearls before swine, giving the children's bread to the dogs, or rebuking a forever scorner.
Learn or go away: There is zero wisdom in homosexuality. Homosexuality is wrong. Nothing any homosexual or anyone else can say or do will alter it. No one needs the Bible to know it either. It's prima facie. There's no such thing as an unrepentant-homosexual Christian. There never has been and never will be. That's the way of it. If you don't like it, change.
Do site searches on the various topics concerning homosexuality to determine if your "point" has already been handled. Currently, I provide three different search methods. The "WordPress" search is still the most thorough.
The same can be done regarding militarism, capitalism, coercion, and many other main issues and themes.
TREATMENT, RUDENESS, POLITENESS, OFFENSE, TRUTH
Many times over the course of this website's existence, I've had commentators complain about how I've treated them and/or others. Much less frequently has anyone taken exception to those commentator's comments. I assume that's because for one, I appear to be holding my own.
Often, I have raised the fact that Jesus called certain people "serpents." I've often also mentioned how he cleaned the temple with whip in hand, not that he used it on anyone. It certainly doesn't say that he did, and neither was he charged with it in the kangaroo court of the serpents who ended up murdering him by proxy just for, among other wonderful things, speaking out and speaking truth.
If I say that those who are engaged in serpentine behavior are the New Testament "serpents," then why take offense at my saying it rather than standing with Jesus and me about it?
If others don't like it that I treat others or them the way I have in this regard, why don't they take it up with the serpents and/or their own consciences and God?
If I wanted to catch flies, I'd use honey. I don't want flies on this level. Human beings aren't to be on the level of flies. If the truth is bitter as vinegar, then ask yourself why and learn to taste it as sweet but not sickeningly so. Why attack the message and messenger, as the serpents did, and become a serpent by so doing?
The issue is not "name calling" on some bratty, childish level. When Jesus said "serpents," he was not being as a brat. His level was completely adult to adults and children. He dared say that the children understood the clear and plain truth before the adults who, afterall, had been abused and socialized by the serpents. He still calls adults back. Those who hear him and know his voice (truth) turn around and do the other required things together as well.
What is it for a human being to be more serpentine or reptilian than what God initially gave? What was and remains Jesus's point? What is the reptilian brain versus the vastly higher human brain with its cerebral cortex and frontal and temporal lobes and specific areas of altruistic sentiments and abilities? What are those higher areas before they are damaged, before the communication pathways to them and between them are diminished by evil that is always some form of abuse? How are those pathways reestablished or created where they never were in this fleshly life?
The snake lays its eggs. The eggs hatch. The snake parent doesn't nurture or raise the offspring. It's every snake for itself. Human parents and family are not designed to be that way. Humans hand down the learning of nurturing. Many people get better training than do others, and many people have a greater aptitude for learning and predisposition for the higher and highest virtues. Many are less abused. People can change for the better and best though, no matter where the starting point. They only can't if they don't — if they reject it.
Snakes, of course, also come in venomous varieties and in strangling varieties, etc., such that they have been attackers and even devourers of humans for eons, guilty and innocent alike.
Now, Jesus knew that most people could relate to what were, and still are, largely considered "good" parenting skills and "good" "family" relations. He regularly used those concepts to get people to consider the wider implications for the whole of humanity. He did know that many would refuse. He let them go. He didn't demand secular or false-religion legislation to rein them in with threats of violence and imprisonment. He was not and is not coercive. Even his Church is a voluntary place to be.
What he still teaches (through the written words in the New Testament and as those connect with the Old and also teaches through the Holy Spirit he definitely sent as he said he would) is, among many other things, that "good" is vastly better than has been commonly accepted and that real "family" is everyone left after all the rest have rejected the higher and highest good. He raised the standards far above the Old Testament and far above the "modern" standard.
The American Empire and the American people in general aren't even touching the hem of his garment, let alone even attempting to stand upright and side-by-side with him.
I point out that Jesus was, and is, a Real Liberal Christian. He is the one who brought back this censored truth that is the light. After he had spoken it and lived it and was murdered for doing so, the censors set about to re-censor it and did. They couldn't put it out though — couldn't completely extinguish the truth. I wouldn't be saying it now again with all credit to God, just as Jesus, if they had been able to completely block it.
I point out that each of those terms ("real," "liberal," and "Christian," along with "Church") are actually redundant terms — synonyms that are so close that they become one. The term "liberal" here is not the common usage, which common usage is a deliberate corruption of the term. There is no harm in real liberalism. There is no vileness in it. There is only beneficence. "Real" may be understood as the opposite of false-hearted, dark side, and dead of the Holy Spirit. Christian is both real and liberal in those senses. To arrive at living, doing, being those full senses requires what Jesus lives, does, and is in the highest. Finally, the Church is the whole.
Who are they who want to drag it down, censor it, work against it, lessen it, ignore it, etc.? Well, who sides with Jesus and who sides against him? Did the serpents side with him then? Do they now?
We call war-mongers "hawks." We call "peacemakers" blessed and "doves." Why do the hawks not take offense at "hawks" but do take offense at "serpents"? "Hawks" is not yet as telling to the general public, but I must tell you that all hawks are serpents. Why do some say, "Greed is good" but take offense at "serpents"? I tell you there is no difference between the selfish and the serpents. Why do people take offense at serpents when they do not take offense at homosexuality? I tell you the homosexual spirit also comes out from the dark side. It is a choice. It is harmful. Many are abused with it. Many never overcome it. Their very brain matter is transformed by it. Then they claim it is good when it remains confusion and definitely wrong and harmful.
Many arguments were put forth in support of tolerance. I understood that Jesus "tolerated," as in he did not execute wrath but rather told the truth and let the blind follow the blind (blind to the truth) into the ditch of their own making. I have watched while the movement has been corrupted into condoning what was once only to be tolerated. I have watched further while it has moved from condoning to promoting even to the youngest children to get to them before the truth does. I have seen evil at work, and I sound the alarm. I face censorship and other negative reactions for it.
As the American Empire claims to be a light to the world, it murders innocent babies by Hellfire missiles fired from predator drones controlled by armchair, video-gaming serpents in uniform. It tortures those who are not even suspects. It spies on its own without even probable cause or reasonable suspicion. It lies its way into wars for spoils and control. It neglects its poor, whom it treads down for the sakes of the superrich — for the sake of the massive flow of mammon from the bottom up (no trickledown — trickledown is a farce and always has been). All is claimed to be okay in America though — that America is headed in the right direction — because soon, even "don't tell, don't ask" will be a thing of the quaint past and homosexuals may be able to sleep together and have sex in the barracks with the "blessing" of the Empire while they practice murdering the innocent for the sake of homosexual, greedy plutocrats who own them and who, in turn, are owned by the dark-side spirit named by God and Jesus as Satan.
Whose side are you on? I speak truth to warn. I don't tell the secular government what to do other than occasionally to say what at least would be less hypocritical within their fallen, unenlightened system. I do so for spiritual reasons. What I want is the Christian Commons.
Now, if you submit a comment:
- Will it be twisting my words or taking parts or the whole out of context (the biggest picture)?
- Will it be with an eye to finding out first or attacking without knowing? What are your intentions? Are they good or evil?
- Are you with the takers?
- Are you with the oppressors?
- Are you for greed, selfish hoarding, violence, war making?
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. (Psalms 55:21)
- Are you for depravity and harming others and yourself sexually and psychically, torture, waterboarding, espionage, deceiving, and/or all or any of the rest of the evil spirit; or are you contrite with me toward the real God who is always peace?
- Will you submit your real full name or be cowardly without cause? (Some have some mundane fears? I don't seek anyone's unknowing, unwilling sacrifice.)
- Will you post on the post to which you refer, or will you slip over somewhere else thinking you'll barb me? You won't. You'll barb yourself.
- Will you "instruct" me, or will you look for mutual edification or spiritual growth?
- Will you complain, attack, and seek to come off as offended for others and/or yourself, or will you truly seek ultimate truth and impart real light here and to the world?
- Will you be nothing but an Internet troll?
What you write here against the Real Liberal Christian Church founded by Jesus Christ will mark you in the Biblical sense unless you show that you have turned and are repenting in time to escape the damnation of your own choosing. That's the way of it. Don't be tempted by the devil to stand opposed to the call of righteousness. Overcome such evil temptation. Help others to help yet others to come to righteous behavior through-and-through.





Monday, September 24, 2007 @ 6:49:06 PM (Pacific Time)
Hello Tom,
My husband and I have been looking over your website. We just thought we would pop in and say "Howdy" So how is it going?
Any prayer requests?
Bye the bye I was wondering if you would clarify RLCC's position on the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Feel free to use scripture
Thanks alot,
Loving You
Saijah & Quazi
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 @ 7:01:36 AM (Pacific Time)
This began as a post-comment-reply to the caring comment above by Saijah & Quazi, but quickly developed into a full-fledged post:
Clarifying the Real Liberal Christian Position on the Gospel of Jesus Christ