Big Dream Blog

What Motivates You to Help?

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 22:06:24 GMT

When it comes to motivation to do something that needs to be done, the best motivators are intrinsic. In other words, the ideal is doing (or helping to do) what needs to be done simply because one has the inner sense that helping to meet the need is the right thing to do.

Extrinsic motivators, on the other hand, are the promise of external rewards for helping out (or the withholding of negative consequences for not helping out). When seeking help to meet a large group need, extrinsic motivators do not typically move the meter, because not everyone is motivated the same way. Some may find small prizes to be motivating; for others, only big prizes. Some may find simple praise to be motivating; for others, only public recognition. Some may find winning a trophy to be motivating; not so for others. Some may find not being punished to be motivating; others do not care about the threat of punishment. You get the point.

Here is the conundrum with getting families on board with school fundraising. If families support the need for raising funds for the cause at hand, they will naturally want to do everything they can to bring success to the fundraiser. They will be intrinsically motivated to help to the best of their ability. On the other hand, if they do not support the need for raising funds and/or do not comprehend the potential outcome if funds are not raised, they will (at best) put in the bare minimum of effort or (at worst) not help at all or even speak negatively about the need for fundraising. Likewise, donors are intrinsically motivated to give or they are not. Extrinsic motivators do not typically raise goal thermometers.

This is the bottom line. Since we cannot motivate others intrinsically (that's the work of the Holy Spirit), the leaders of nonprofits (including schools) must instead pray for intrinsically motivated helpers to step up. Even so, we can still provide extrinsic motivators, but not with the expectation that they will move helpers to help more or givers to give more. Instead, the purpose of extrinsic motivators is to help keep the need in the forefront and to try to add some "fun" to FUNdraising.

Winning in Business (and Life)!

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 01:26:38 GMT

In the world of nonprofit fundraising, it can be easy to fall prey to a discouraged spirit. The same is true of starting up a new business and figuring out how to go from zero customers to sustainability. For that matter, it can be discouraging for even organizations that have been around for decades to constantly have to reimagine marketing, especially when reaching out to a very specific niche.

The lattermost marketing challenge can be particularly difficult for a small Christian school that simply desires to accomplish well its mission. In the case of The Cornerstone Christian School , that mission is “To engage and educate young people to know and be transformed by Christ through the ways they think, act, learn, serve, and work together for God’s Kingdom.” It is not easy to navigate how to most effectively and affordably find and market to families who desire to partner with a school that will teach their children from a biblical worldview. As a 501(c)(3) that is designed to support Christian education by supporting this school, we at Cornerstone Educational Support, Inc. also experience a similar challenge.

The difficulty is particularly true now that we live in a world of information overload. Since the advent of the World Wide Web and email and texting and app push notifications and social media and so on, the over-sharing of knowledge has become the norm. Many people simply muffle the cacophony by quickly skipping past the word noise. This does not bode well for organizations that must communicate their mission in order to survive (both nonprofit and for-profit entities alike).

Here’s the thing. There is one God, and we are not Him. He alone is responsible for results. He simply calls us to be faithful to the steps He calls us to take (including pivoting when He calls us to change course), while trusting Him for the results. So, there are three interlocking keys to avoiding discouragement by what seems to be an insufficient result: (1) Seek God’s wisdom on steps to take (moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour, day-by-day); (2) Rely on the Holy Spirit for the empowerment to take those steps; and (3) Trust God for the results. Only then can we rise above discouragement and WIN at accomplishing what He has set forth for us to do, all for His glory. The same goes for both business and life!

Looking Ahead to Year-End Giving

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:18:45 GMT

As a public charity 501(c)(3), CES is responsible to pass the public support test. “In other words, [CES] must be supported by the general public. For that to be true, a significant amount of revenue (at least 33%) must come from relatively small donors (those who give less than 2% of the organization’s income), other public charities, or the government. That leaves 67% to potentially come from other, less diverse sources.” ( “Private Foundation vs. Public Charity: Spot the Difference,” by Greg McRay, EA, Founder and CEO of Foundation Group )

To help us reach this year's public support charity test, we are looking for friends of CES and CCS to help spread the word that we are challenging ourselves to receive 100 donations of $500 each (or 50 donations of $1,000) by December 31, 2024.

Keep in mind that many companies generously match the charitable contributions of their employees, and some may also match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses. To find out if your company has a matching gift program, check with your company’s Human Resources office to ask if they offer gift matching. Your Human Resources department will provide a matching gift form to complete and mail to Cornerstone Educational Support, Inc., 903 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040, or email to Tammy@CornerstoneEducationalSupportInc.org. Company matching programs give your donations twice the impact!

In addition, taxpayers who have already reached the age of 70.5 years or older may plan on making their charitable contributions directly from their traditional IRAs via qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), thus possibly reducing their taxable income. With other age restrictions being considered, these donations might also count as required minimum distributions (RMDs). A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from the traditional IRA custodian, payable to a qualified charity, such as Cornerstone Educational Support, Inc. QCDs are counted for the tax year in which they are taken and (if meeting the additional age requirements) might also count toward satisfying that year’s RMD.

Disclaimer: We are not accountants or lawyers, and this is not tax or legal advice. You will need to talk with your tax and/or legal advisor to see if you qualify and to learn how current federal and/or state tax laws affect you.

A Foggy Lens

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:51:37 GMT

The Cornerstone Christian School is a private K-12 (+ PreK) school in Manchester, Connecticut. All schools (whether public, magnet, private, or homeschool) operate according to a worldview. Even when the worldviews of the individuals helping to run a particular school do not mesh together, that in itself is a worldview. A relativistic worldview says that all worldviews are equally valid, with no one view being Truth.

What is a worldview, and why is it important? A worldview is the lens through which a person (or persons comprising an organization) sees and interprets what is happening in the world. That lens thereby informs and affects every thought and action of that person (or persons). In the case of an educational program, the prevailing worldview serves as the cornerstone of the program.

For public schools, the cornerstone is a relativistic worldview. For The Cornerstone Christian School, it is a biblical worldview. A relativistic worldview is subject to the cultural or political or “whatever” winds that are blowing through at the time. A biblical worldview, on the other hand, is rock solid, unchangeable, unshakable. How can we be certain that a biblical worldview does not change? Because it is based on God’s Word, and neither God nor His Word ever change. God is Truth (“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’” [John 14:6, NIV]); and Truth is absolute.

Imagine being a child who is learning in a school that does not teach according to the core value of a biblical worldview. That child will be taught in school that a biblical worldview is not absolute. Even if the child is taught a biblical worldview by the parents at home and Sunday School teachers on Sundays, imagine the conflict in the mind of the child, being taught one view at home and church and a relativistic worldview at school. At best, the child will have a foggy lens through which to view and interpret the world.

When constructing a building with a masonry foundation, the most crucial part of the building’s design is the placement of the cornerstone. This stone is placed first and serves as a reference point for all the remaining stones. The integrity of the structure is determined by the cornerstone. A weak cornerstone leads to a weak foundation, which leads to a weak structure. The cornerstone core value of The Cornerstone Christian School is teaching according to a biblical worldview. This value serves as the reference point for all its other core values (integrity, compassion, inquiry for wisdom, and service to community). Enrolling students in The Cornerstone Christian School helps build a firm foundation for the students. In turn, they become better equipped to recognize and embrace the Truth amongst the onslaught of relativism that they will inevitably encounter throughout their entire lives.

Supporting CES supports The Cornerstone Christian School, but the support does not end there. Since 1981, the school’s firm and biblically-based foundation has enabled and empowered its students to boldly walk in and share the Truth within their local communities, nation, and world. Supporting CES, which supports this small school with a big heart, supports sharing the Truth with the world.

Will you come alongside us in asking local and regional families to consider enrolling their students at The Cornerstone Christian School? Will you come alongside us in helping to support the school’s extraordinary and unbudgeted needs? Visit our Giving page for more information.

What in the World?!?

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:45:14 GMT

Have you ever watched a sci-fi movie, where a character goes into an underground bunker to take cover from a nuclear blast, only to come to the surface later to encounter wild changes? Or, how about one where a character undergoes cryogenic freezing and comes out on the other side many years later, only to face a crazily changed world? I am certain that if such sci-fi events were real, they would feel surreal.

The last time I added a blog post was back in May. Comparatively speaking, life was rather quiet back then, especially when considering the rising temperatures that have taken place recently within the US political climate (with ripple effects throughout the world). I feel like I stepped out from a bunker or woke up from a frozen sleep. The feeling is indeed surreal.

Thankfully, however, no matter what changes have occurred and will continue to occur all around us, God is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In addition, God is sovereign. No matter how unsettling family, local, state, national, and world events can be, God still sits on His throne of grace; and nothing gets past His loving and watchful eye.

CES will do well to remember this as we seek ways to make our nonprofit more effectively support The Cornerstone Christian School. With God being unchanging and sovereign, we can fully rely on Him to direct us on the path that He has ordained for us to walk. Lord, help us to hear and positively respond to Your promptings, so that we may best fulfill Your plan for us as a 501(c)(3).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17, NIV)

Cracked Pavement

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Mon, 20 May 2024 22:09:33 GMT

Through the years, I have heard many references to beauty arising from the ashes of life. The bottom line message is that no matter how challenging life gets, if we entrust the ashes into God’s sovereign hands, He will grow something beautiful from those ashes for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). When I was leaving church a few weeks ago, I noticed new life springing up through a crack in the parking lot pavement. At the time, I took the attached photo, as it made me think of the beauty from ashes analogy.

As I was recently scrolling through the photos on my cellphone, I came across the picture. This time, a different analogy came to my mind. I thought of CES, and how we have a heartfelt desire to spring forth blessings for The Cornerstone Christian School. Yet, we have an obstacle (like the pavement in the photo) that is blocking the full blessings (like the new plant) from coming through.

Regarding the plant arising through the crack in the pavement, God certainly is all-powerful and could have sprung up the new plant straight through the pavement if that was His will. Yet, He did not. Instead, He opened the way for multiple forces to work together to bring forth the blessing. First, a crack developed in the pavement. While this might have been discouraging to see at first, it was that very crack that provided an opening for seeds to be dropped. It was that very crack that paved the way for water and the sun to nourish the seedling that began to sprout.

Similar to the pavement being an obstacle to the growth of the plant, CES has an obstacle that is hindering us from pouring buckets of blessings over CCS. Our obstacle is the challenge of finding givers who give and who are likeminded with us on supporting CCS. Here is the thing. God is the One who springs forth blessings. The God who can use an imperfect pavement to make way for seeds to be dropped and water and sun to nourish the seeds into a growing seedling is the same God who can take our fledgling 501(c)(3) to raise up givers who give to Christian education.

If you are one of those givers, or if you have a possible connection to someone who desires to be used of God to bless many, please reach out to us so we may share with you or them the mission and vision of our nonprofit organization. We would love to work hand-in-hand to accomplish great things for the benefit of The Cornerstone Christian School and for the glory of the Lord!

The Symphony of Giving and Receiving

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 21:23:50 GMT

Have you ever thought of the harmonious balance between giving and receiving as being like a beautiful symphony? The Bible is replete with both. Nonprofits overflow with the need and opportunity of both. Life, in general, depends on the push and pull of both.

For CES to fulfill our mission, we depend on the generous giving of donors who are willing to partner with us in supporting The Cornerstone Christian School. For CES to fulfill our mission, we must receive so we may give. To successfully run this nonprofit, it is important to keep in balance both giving and receiving. If CES only ever receives but never gives, we have failed to fulfill our mission of helping to support The Cornerstone Christian School. If we only ever give and never receive… well, that is impossible. We cannot give what we have not received to give.

If sufficient individual donors do not step forward, and even if they do, we can seek grants to help support our mission. While grants can certainly be a useful tool, especially for fledgling nonprofits, it is important to do our due diligence and study the fine print, to make sure there are not burdensome conditions to the grants. Related to this, I heard an interesting parable the other day on WIHS-FM 104.9 Christian radio out of Middletown, Connecticut. Dr. Tony Evans was preaching during this particular segment. This is the gist of a tale that he shared to drive home his point.

Once there was a pig farmer who brought a slew of pigs to the market to be slaughtered. The butcher asked how the farmer obtained all his pigs. He said it was easy. He first invited all the little piglets in the area to come for free food. Those piglets brought other piglets. He offered free food day after day after day. Eventually, the mamas and papas of the piglets also started coming to enjoy the free food. Then one day the farmer added a fence to the north side. The piglets and pigs came again for the free food. Then the farmer added a fence to the east side. The piglets and pigs continued coming for free food. The farmer then added a fence to the south side. The piglets and pigs continued coming. The farmer then added a fence with an open door to the west side. Once all the piglets and pigs entered the pen, the farmer closed in the piglets and pigs to be able to bring them to the market to be slaughtered. Moral: What appears to be free may not really be free.

So, yes, our nonprofit can and will seek grants as additional sources of revenue. However, in addition to researching grants and their fine print conditions, we also must be sure to register to solicit in the state from where the grant comes.

The bottom line is that CES exists to support CCS. For us to support CCS, we need help finding generous givers who give, so that we may receive, so that we may give to CCS, so that the students and faculty of CCS may receive, so that they may be better equipped to give to their communities and the world. The rise and fall of receiving and giving goes on and on, all to the glory of the One who gave His all for all to have the opportunity to receive so that they may in turn give. Will you join us in the beautiful symphony of giving and receiving for the glory of God?

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV )

Flying Time

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 02:39:57 GMT

Time did not exist before God created it. Genesis 1:1 ( NIV ) tells us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The initial moment of creation marks the initial moment of time. God, who has always existed, lives outside of time; yet at His initiation of creation, He created time for man’s benefit.

Even knowing this truth, have you ever caught yourself saying, “I could get so much more accomplished if only I had more hours in a day!”?

The truth is that God perfectly created time in 24-hour increments. God did not need to create a better system of time and does not need to improve upon it now. However, it is quite possible that our use of time may need to be refined or perhaps even overhauled.

How do my thoughts about time relate to Cornerstone Educational Support, Inc.?

For the past few weeks, I have been wrapped up in the closing details following The Cornerstone Christian School’s winter fundraisers. This morning, it occurred to me that despite my goal of sharing weekly CES blog posts, I missed a couple... or so I thought. Imagine my shock tonight when I looked to see when I last posted and saw that it was four weeks ago!

That’s when time idioms and adages made their way into my thoughts:

Time flies.

Time waits for no one.

Lost time cannot be found.

How about this poem by Dr. Seuss?

How did it get so late so soon?

It’s night before it’s afternoon.

December is here before it’s June.

My goodness how the time has flewn.

How did it get so late so soon?

I am praying for CES to be able to make the best use of time. We have so many hopes and dreams for how we can help CCS reach its greatest potential. May we count on you to come alongside us on this journey?

Puzzle Pieces, Winds, and Water

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 17:15:38 GMT

I was listening to a Christian radio station this past Wednesday morning (WIHS FM at 104.9). The featured In Touch teaching by Dr. Charles Stanley immediately caught my attention. It was on the topic of what to do when God closes a door to something that you thought for sure He had opened.

The church that my husband and I attend has been looking for a new location for many months now. There have been a couple really strong leads, ones that the leadership thought for sure were from the Lord. In the end, those leads turned into dead-ends.

The summation of Dr. Stanley’s teaching is that God alone holds and is sovereign over all the pieces to the puzzle of life. We only see but a fragment of those pieces. He sees every single crevice and angle of every single puzzle piece. God sees what we do not see; He knows what we do not know.

So, if God closes a door — even a door that we were certain He had opened in the first place, we need to trust that He is redirecting us due to an abundance of His love and care. We need to trust that He knows that if we knew all that He knows, then we would not try to force our way through that door that He has now closed. We need to trust God to be redirecting our path toward a new door that He will open at precisely the time He wants it opened, because His plan and timing are always best.

Meanwhile, the previous morning, I was listening to the same radio station and caught a teaching by Dr. Tony Evans on his The Alternative program. In that teaching, Dr. Evans shared a testimony.

He had been part of a big gospel crusade being held at a stadium. A raging thunderstorm was heading their way and was projected to hit at the time the crusade was supposed to start, likely resulting in the crusade being canceled. A group of pastors got together to pray and “safely” asked God to intervene.

As the storm advanced, a woman nearby asked if she could pray with them. She proceeded to boldly declare to God that He controls even “the winds and the water.” She declared to God that He knew how much time, energy, and resources went into organizing the crusade. She declared to God that if He did not stop the storm from hitting the crusade overhead — thus leading to the crusade being canceled, then His name would be shamed because thousands who could have heard the gospel would not hear the gospel. She then called in faith for Jesus to address the storm so as not to shame His name but instead to glorify it.

Dr. Evans continued his testimony by saying that he and his wife witnessed with their own eyes the parting of the rain clouds over the stadium. They literally split in two, with storm clouds raining down on both ends and sides of the stadium but not overhead. Everyone attending the crusade remained dry.

These are my takeaways from these two “teachings” and how they can be applied to Cornerstone Educational Support, Inc.:

Though God opened the door for CES to be conceived and birthed, He has not yet opened doors leading us to public funding that will enable us to fulfill our mission. We need to not get discouraged but to instead continue moving forward, all while listening intently to any redirections from Him. We need to be careful not to force doors open that God has called to be closed, while trusting Him to open the doors He wants to be opened in His perfect timing.

We need to ask God to help us come alongside Him by putting aside any of our plans that are not from Him and that will not bring glory to His name. We need to trust that God is sovereign and is more than able to control "the winds and the water" that threaten to overcome CES. We need to boldly and confidently declare to God that since CES was initiated to help CCS victoriously run the race to which God has called the school since opening its doors in 1981, that since CES is His 501(c)(3) and not ours, and that since He paved the way for CES to exist, that we trust Him to bring the results that will most glorify Him.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever... He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed" ( NIV , Psalm 107: 1 & 29).

Sucked into a World of Worry... Not

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:59:44 GMT

I have a family member who has survived a battle with cancer. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

I have another family member who is currently battling cancer (a resurgence of the same kind of cancer that she previously battled over 20 years ago, only it’s more aggressive this time). Still, God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

Last Wednesday, a different family member passed away after a brief but intense battle against cancer. Even still, God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

Also this past Wednesday, another family member passed away after a long health battle. Yet still, God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

God’s goodness does not change according to our circumstances. Our circumstances do not determine God’s goodness. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

Not only is God good all the time, but He is also worthy of our praise all the time. Our circumstances also do not dictate God’s worthiness of our praise.

When I was a fairly new follower of Jesus, my husband and I struggled to pay our bills. In fact, our dismal financial situation at the time led me to submit my life to the Lord. Even after giving my life to Jesus in 1991 (and my husband not long after me), we still had to walk through the challenges of the consequences of our prior poor financial decisions. After all, God did not promise to remove the consequences. Instead, He promised to lead us through them. We just needed to trust and follow Him.

One morning, not long after giving my life to Jesus, I was terribly anxious about not being able to pay the mortgage. In the midst of that anxiety, the Lord placed on my heart the Bible passage at I Thessalonians 5:16-18, which says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV).

I remember responding to the Lord, “How can I be joyful about not being able to pay the mortgage?”

The Lord answered, “My Word doesn’t say to be joyful about. My Word says to be joyful in.”

I paused then asked Jesus, “How?”

He impressed on my heart, “Name one blessing I have given you.”

I thought then did.

“Name another,” He repeated.

Again, I did.

After several back-and-forth moments, I was dancing around the house and singing praises to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

How does this relate to CES? As a new 501(c)(3), we are still getting our feet wet regarding how to best meet the support test as a public charitable giving organization. As I pointed out a couple posts ago, overall charitable giving (for nonprofits in general) has decreased over recent years. Even — and perhaps especially — as a new nonprofit, we are feeling the impact of that decrease. If we were to lack awareness of God’s goodness all the time, regardless of our circumstances, it would be easy to get sucked into a world of worry. Instead, we do know and trust that God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. God is worthy of our praise all the time. All the time, God is worthy of our praise. So, we shall trust Him to lead us to the perfect funding in His perfect timing, because He is a perfect God.

If a Tree Falls in a Forest...

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 17:23:03 GMT

In light of CES’s current campaign to help advance CCS’s computer system, my last couple blog posts have shared about the value of keeping up with technology in today’s world. This week’s post tackles the same topic but from a different angle.

A week ago, a couple of my sisters were visiting. One mentioned a challenge that was put forth by a yogurt company. According to the challenge, folks could apply to be one of ten contestants chosen to win $10,000 each by being willing to unplug from their Smartphones for 30 days (in exchange for an old-fangled flip phone for that duration of time). The point of the challenge was agreeing to live a simpler life for 30 days.

When my sister shared the challenge, I unhesitatingly announced that I could do it. My husband insultingly laughed — long and hard, clearly not buying my self-assessment of my ability to unplug. Frankly, I did not think it would be too hard to do, as I mainly use my phone to do research; type notes; send/receive texts, emails, and Teams messages; and as a GPS (since my sense of direction stinks). Truthfully, I could do all those tasks using my laptop (permitted in the challenge), with the exception of having to buy a “real” GPS for navigational purposes (also permitted). I came very close to applying to be a contestant, even if just to prove to my scoffing husband (to whom I’ve been married 39 years and love dearly) that I could do it. The deadline for applying was this past Wednesday the 31st.

The day before the deadline, I had to call 911 for a family member and followed the ambulance to the hospital located a couple towns over from where we live. While there, my Smartphone’s home security Ring notification went off. I went to the Ring app, expecting to see an Amazon delivery back at the house. (I shamefully admit that Amazon and I are besties.) Instead, I was flabbergasted to see a live video of official-looking vehicles parked along the street directly in front of our house, as well as a police officer stealthily making his way past our front door while holding some kind of long-armed assault weapon in fire-ready position. He was furtively heading toward the wooded area to the side of the house.

It took a moment for my brain and my eyes to sync together. After all, we live on a quiet street in a basically rural (still somewhat agricultural) town. Realizing my husband was back at the house working in his office in the basement and knowing he also has the Ring app on his phone, I called him to find out what in the world was going on. He immediately answered and said he was on his way upstairs to find out and would call me back.

I turned my attention back to the live Ring video. I saw the officer turn to his left, presumably toward my husband, who had likely walked outside the side door and toward the front of the house. The officer waved his hand as if to say “Back off!” and ran in the direction from where my husband (not in view) would have been coming. My husband called me a couple minutes later and told me the officer motioned for him to go back inside the house and subsequently ran to the side door to tell my husband to lock all the doors, go downstairs, and stay there as something was going down with a neighbor. The officer wanted my husband to stay safe if things went south.

The next few hours in the emergency room were spent watching the unfolding Ring drama, in between ER testing procedures and long periods of waiting to learn results. By the time we left the hospital, the police presence back at home had dissipated and all was once again peaceful on our quiet little street. (In case you are wondering what caused all the hullabaloo, a neighbor apparently had a mental health crisis.)

When I got home, it occurred to me that if I applied to be an unplugged contestant for 30 days, and if another Ring incident were to happen during those 30 days, I would be in the dark instead of seeing the live, play-by-play details of the unfolding drama. Would that be a bad thing? Not necessarily, I suppose. In fact, how do I know for certain that similar scenes hadn’t occurred hundreds or thousands of times in the past when we were not home, before we fairly recently got the Ring?

What’s that philosophical question? If a tree falls in a forest but nobody is around, does it make a sound while falling? Somewhat similarly, if an officer with a drawn assault rifle slinks past our front door while I’m not home, do I need to know it ever happened? Is ignorance blissful? Is the yogurt company onto something about the simplicity of life?

In the end, I opted out of engaging in that philosophical study. I decided $10,000 was not a high enough reward to unplug for a month. Perhaps my husband’s guffaw was justified after all (but don’t tell him I said that ��).

The bottom line is that many of us have become quite dependent on advancing technology in today’s world. While we all need to choose how closely we want to walk in step with the technology in our personal lives, it is still the responsibility of educators to provide adequate tools for students to learn what they need to learn to make that choice for themselves when they one day embark upon the world of “adulting” (as the younger generation likes to say). Here at CES, we are grateful to be able to help CCS advance its technology through our computer upgrade campaign.

As with all things, including the advancement of technology, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (I Corinthians 10:31, NIV )

Deep Diving a Rabbit Hole

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 18:52:10 GMT

Disclaimer: This post is presented for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as tax, legal, or any other professional and/or political advice.

Having read that overall charitable giving has decreased in recent years, I’ve been curious lately about the impact of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)” on that decrease. That is, when TCJA was signed into law in 2017, the standard deduction was almost doubled; but this also eliminated many/most itemized deductions for those who take the standard deduction. The itemized deduction of charitable giving is among those eliminated when taking the standard deduction. (There was a temporary allowance of $300 for single filers and $600 for married-joint filers, but that has since been eliminated.)

My curiosity triggered my deep dive into a rabbit hole of Internet research. Specifically, I’ve been wondering if there is a direct correlation between the decrease in charitable giving and the elimination of the deduction for charitable giving when taking the standard deduction. If yes, is it because of the loss of an incentive for giving? Are there other factors that have played a role in the decrease (like economic uncertainty)? If there are multiple factors, how are researchers able to quantify the impact of each one?

My curiosity then led me to wonder if anyone has proposed legislation to permit the allowance of a charitable giving deduction for those who take the standard deduction. (Hint: Research the bipartisan “Charitable Act.”) This research then led me to discover that many aspects of TCJA will sunset in 2025. I did not know this. (Refer to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service’s [CRS] “Reference Table: Expiring Provisions in the ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’ [TCJA, P.L. 115-97]” dated November 21, 2023. *See the link below.)

Since I was already deep in research, I burrowed further into my rabbit hole to find out if CES, as a nonprofit, is permitted to mention this matter in a blog post, since our 501(c)(3) status prohibits us from engaging in certain political activities. I learned the answer to that question is yes, as the “Charitable Act” and the CRS report are bipartisan/nonpartisan; we are not endorsing any candidates; and we are not encouraging legislation one way or the other. 501(c)(3) organizations are actually encouraged to engage in nonpartisan activities that benefit the public at large without taking one side or the other (for example, by educating the public on civic issues), to the extent permitted by law. This blog post is simply meant to educate the reader regarding the referenced topics and to encourage the reader’s independent research.

I learned a lot as I researched the mentioned topics. In particular, I learned (yet again) that starting a 501(c)(3) is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot to navigate in the nonprofit world to ensure compliance. This brings me full circle — though in a somewhat convoluted way — to last week’s blog topic of the advancement of technology. If not for the Internet, I would not have been able to readily research these topics. As much as I resisted technology at first several decades ago, I have grown to deeply appreciate its value in my everyday life. Helping CCS’s students improve their technology skills with a computer upgrade is critical to their educational advancement. With or without a tax incentive for giving (another full circle back to the beginning of this post), the real reward for giving to help our computer upgrade campaign is knowing we’ve each played a role in helping CCS advance its students in this technology-driven world. Thank you for coming alongside us in this effort.

*Link to CRS Report:

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47846#:~:text=Under%20the%20TCJA%2C%20the%20personal,%240%2C%20effectively%20suspending%20the%20provision.&text=Expires%2012%2F31%2F2025%20Personal,amount%20would%20have%20been%20%244%2C150

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV )

Our World of Technology

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 05:32:20 GMT

I still remember when my husband and I bought our first home computer. The oldest of our six children was four years old at the time, so it was 33 years ago. We paid $400 for that second-hand computer. My husband worked with technology, so bringing home a PC was quite exciting to him. I, on the other hand, did not relish the idea of having a home computer. It seemed so unnecessary to me. When the opportunity was presented to my husband to buy a friend’s older computer (the friend was upgrading), my husband presented the opportunity to me. We talked. He shared the pros. I shared the cons. He won. We bought the computer.

It did not take long before I learned some important facts about having a home computer. First, how did we survive before technology came into our home? Second, our 4-year-old quickly surpassed my technological abilities. Third, how DID we survive before we got a home computer?

Since that time three decades ago, technology has advanced far beyond what it used to be. My family experienced many more technology-firsts over the past 33 years. We first got the home computer, then the Internet, then cell phones, then the Internet on our cell phones, and the list goes on and on. So much of our day-to-day living is heavily reliant on technology. Seriously, how did we survive before technology entered our daily lives? Keeping up with technology is not only not unnecessary, but I dare say it is critically necessary.

Over the years, The Cornerstone Christian School has gratefully received refurbished computers for their computer lab and classrooms. These have been a big and beautiful blessing. Yet, the PCs are coming to the end of their lifespan. Upgrading is not only not unnecessary, but I dare say it is critically necessary.

CES experienced great joy last Friday in being able to present the school with a Computer Upgrade Grant for $8000. We are also in the midst of a capital campaign to continue supporting the school in reaching its 5-year technology strategic plan. We value your partnership. We covet your prayers.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6, NIV )

The Crown Jewel of Giving: Joy

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 16:18:51 GMT

I read an inspirational story on Facebook the other day. It was supposedly written by Katharine Hepburn about a time when she was a young child. According to the story, Katharine and her father were in line to buy tickets to the circus. Ahead of them were two parents and their eight children. When it came time for the big family to pay, the man did not have enough money, leaving him in the awkward position of having to tell his family they could not go after all. As the story was told, Katharine's father did not want to embarrass the man in front of his own family by giving him a handout. Instead, Katharine’s father took his own $20 and dropped it on the ground near the man, then tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the money, while encouraging the man to pick up the money that he appeared to have dropped. Understanding what Katharine's father had done and grateful for the kindness, the man picked up the money and was able to buy tickets for his family. Meanwhile, Katharine and her father got out of line and went home, as her own father had dropped his own ticket money to help that family.

It was certainly a feel-good story about the power of giving. In fact, Katharine purportedly ended her story by saying, “Although we didn't get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than [what] seeing the circus could ever provide. That day I learnt the value to give. The giver is bigger than the receiver. If you want to be large, larger than life, learn to give. Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything. The importance of giving [and] blessing others can never be over emphasized because there's always joy in giving. Learn to make someone happy by acts of giving."

Being the perpetual “Doubting Thomas” that I am when it comes to Facebook claims, I searched the real source of the story. Apparently, it has been making the rounds on Facebook since at least 2017 as being attributed to Katharine Hepburn. According to several veracity checkers, however, the real story originally appeared in 1995 as “The Circus” by Dan Clark in the book, A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul (stories compiled by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen).

I have a couple takeaways from this story. First, take what you read on Facebook with a grain of salt. Do your research. What a shame that someone felt the need to attach a celebrity’s name to a touching account of the value of giving to try to add power behind the story. The account was powerful enough on its own. Second, the untruth of the story’s authorship does not negate the truth of the power of giving. The sense of joy for the giver that comes with the giving of gifts is quite palpable.

The premise behind starting Cornerstone Educational Support, Inc. is "Impacting Education by Inspiring Giving." Yesterday, CES experienced great joy in presenting a letter to The Cornerstone Christian School, representative of an $8,000 computer upgrade grant being given to the school. In the words of Paul at Acts 20:35 (NIV), “…the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” CES knows this to be true. Will you come alongside us in experiencing this same joy by helping to support our mission?

A Dog and a Pig's Ear

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 14:43:36 GMT

About five years ago, the loss of my family’s puggle left a hole in our hearts a few months shy of her 16th birthday. I have many fond memories of our sweet Jazmyn. Among all my sweet memories is one particular “life lesson” memory.

There was no swaying Jazzy, as we affectionately called her, to give up her pig’s ear that night. She was mission-minded, and her mission was guarding that pig’s ear. She was determined to stay the course, and stay the course she did.

I fruitlessly tried sweet-talking her into giving up that pig’s ear. I tried cajoling her into a swap to help get her mind off the pig’s ear. I tried shaming her into realizing the folly of her ways. She doggedly (this adverb lives up to its name!) held onto that pig’s ear, with no intentions of letting go.

The determination and focus required to launch a new 501(c)(3) are a lot like that of Jazzy that night. She alliteratively persevered with patient passion to meet her end goal — keeping that pig’s ear. Likewise, we persevered with patient passion through the process of launching CES. Like with Jazzy, giving up was never an option.

Has the Lord placed a vision in your mind (not necessarily of launching a 501[c][3])? Has that vision been bubbling up inside you like a wellspring of water ready to rush up from the depths like a geyser? Do you keep trying to push it down because you doubt it can come to pass? If the vision is indeed from the Lord, He will move mountains to give it the wings of an eagle. Simply trust Him with the process... but also be ready to be like a dog with a pig’s ear. ��

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5&6, ESV ).

(Photo of Jazzy, credit to Danielle)

366 Blank Pages

tammy@cornerstoneeducationalsupportinc.org (Tammy Choleva) — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 19:11:40 GMT

I read this morning that Brad Paisley once said, “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” With this year being a leap year, we each get to add an extra page to our books. ��

This got me to thinking about this new nonprofit. On New Year’s Day of 2025, what will the 366 pages of our book of 2024 look like? Will it read like an adventure book (fun and exciting!)? A horror story (please NO!)? A children’s story (not the genre for which we are aiming, but nothing against a great children’s story!)? A documentary (hopefully not the ho-hum kind!)?

The truth is that only God sees with 20-20 foresight. Another truth is that no matter how carefully we plan out and write the outline and subsequent pages for our book, “Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV ).

Do those truths mean we should not lay out plans or continue to hope and dream? Absolutely not! After all, this nonprofit was built on a dream… a big dream! What they do mean is that we need to write the outline and pages for our story with open hands and not closed fists. We need to write as working unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). We can do this by prayerfully seeking His wisdom, by making adjustments along the way, and by trusting Him for the results as the story’s pages unfold.

May our story of 2024 be one on which we can look back with awe and wonder and be able to say like the psalmist, “…the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes…” (Psalm 118:23, NIV ).