Thank you.
Yes, I'd like more info on your group........
Thanks,
The separation of church and state was established to protect the church from the state, NOT the state from the church. This country was founded on Christian principles. All are welcome to live a life of freedom - including Christians. That is what makes America the greatest country in the world - our FREEDOM.
I will attend the Prayer Breakfast in support of my beliefs. You have the right to have an event in support of yours. But please don't shut ours down because you disagree, just don't come.
Your right...I believe that I will email each of those on your list and tell them how much I support this program and that I plan to attend.
Our constitution guarantees we won't have a state sponsored or state run religion, it has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not our leaders chose to participate in religious activities such as the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. Our legislatures both state and federal begin with prayer and blessings as do a number of other government activities none of which violate the Constitution.
Perhaps instead of spending your time attacking events such as this you might want to spend some time studying our nations history and it's documents. It might spare you some embarrassment over your misinterpretations of our Constitution.
Dear Ms. Weste:
I want to express my concern to you about your participation in the so called Mayors Prayer Breakfast and about the fundamentalist Christian bias of this function.
As a practicing Jew and active member of the Santa Clarita community, I do not appreciate political figures supporting what I consider to be religiously exclusivist functions that in essence demean other denominations living here in the Valley.
Be aware that your support of this function (and this Dunamis Group) insures that I (and many others like me) will go out of my way not to support your future candidacies, should there be any.
You've made a politically disastrous move aligning yourself with these fundamentalists.
I believe in the Constitution of the United States. Therefore I am asking you to disassociate your public role as our Mayor from this group of religious evangelicals bent on telling all of us how to live. I ask the same of the Council.
The Dunamis Group has no right to do so and you have no right to give them a public platform from which to do it. I am worried that they will take city funds to further their private goals. I am also worried that they will brow beat Council members to vote in certain ways - or else. The "or else" being a threat to undermine any members' re-election bid(s) by rallying their congregations to oppose anyone who doesn't toe their line
If you, and other members of the Council, attend Church with them, good for you. That is a personal choice made for personal time. The last time I checked, many of the citizens of the City of Santa Clarita, who you work for, are not Evangelical Christians. We don't appreciate our city government being infiltrated by religious organizations - of any particular belief - who want to influence government policy along their narrow religious views.
I implore you to tell the Dunamis Group to stay away from City Hall.
On the web-training Dunamis Vision Company, LTD. page, they have a motto from 1 Corinthians 4:20, "For the Kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power." Isn't this a bit "preemptive" and military-like, in context to the word "dynamite"? I always believed that the "pen is mightier than the sword". And the mention of "power", diminishes our Freedom of Speech clause.
Apparently this Dunamis (Doo-nah-mis)is an evangelical Amway-type organization. they may be trying to establish a buy/sell block to include "believers" and to exclude "non-believers". My Amway impression seems coincedental. Yet, the Amway family founded the Heritage Foundation. The son-in-law of one of the Amway founders formed Blackwater Security. Dunamis seems to be a network of irrelevant products; and like Amway, is mostly pep-talks and fanatical encouragement.
Dunamis has more of the earmark of a cult than a mainstream relegion; and they could at sometime turn to terrorism, persecution, or in a harm of intimidation. Would a Dunamis employer be an equal opportunity employer? I don't think so. Although the member list on our local Dunamis site does not have any viable business, it would be wise not to do work with these people. Unfortunately, suggestion may be the same philosphy as Dunamis; but it is more productive, to work with rational business people.
Look up all the various sites on google that come up under Dunamis. Either there is a great copyright infringement, or the individual sites are all in the same mindset. "Dynamite" is a violent and forceful word. Dunamis may be a very dangerous cult.
I share your concerns.
A few weeks ago an elementary school held an "appreciation" church service in the school for it's teachers and it was reported in the Signal quoting the principle saying that the spirit of Jesus Christ is alive and well in our schools, teachers and students.
I visited a friend in Castaic and along the streets were sandwich placards announcing the weekly Christian services being held in the elementary school he lives across the street from.
In Elite magazine there was an article about a ministry that holds it's services at Valencia High. Actually, there are two. My concern was is it legal to hold services in publicly funded schools? The news reporting is so cavalier about it that it is seemingly legal to do so. But I'm unclear as to if that is indeed the case.
I called the Hart district and inquired as to how one does that. Apparently you need to indemnify the district with two separate insurance policies, you need to be an actual organization recognized by the state, but the school board makes the final decision. Just my personal opinion but the person I spoke to was very cautious even when I represented myself as a Christian looking for a venue for a bible study group but her final comment was "good for you". But I am still unclear as to if it is legal or correct, even if a fee is charged.
In thinking about this issue it has occurred to me that the best way to confront it may be to embrace it. Have a pancake breakfast with Christians (all sects), Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists (all sects), Atheists, Agnostics, white, brown, black, yellow, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and have the entire city council there. For a politician, it is very hard to play favorites in front of everyone else.
What is the theme? We know what the Dunamis' agenda is. So what do we want to accomplish? How about why we can do this in Santa Clarita, USA: a celebration of diversity in a democracy. Instead of polarizing, globalizing on a community level. Encourage open dialogue on community concerns and a sharing of beliefs.
Just a thought. I be more than willing to be involved. Apparently I already am. LOL
Colley wouldn't say who the other members of the PAC were, and the papers let it drop? When the info was given to the Daily News about Colley, I figured they would go the extra mile and expose Scott Wilke, but the Daily News AND The Signal stopped with Colley, giving Scott Wilke a free ride for some reason. And since Wilke is McKeon's rep, would have been nice if McKeon was given a few words of notice in the papers.
Also, Frank Ferry and Ed Colley are best buds, and Frank knew all about this hit mailer business. Frank is determined to make Ed Colley a councilman, because puppets are what the Repub machine revere above all else and Ed Colley is nothing more than a puppet front-man used by Buck McKeon and Scott Wilke. Why let Wilke and McKeon get away with nary a mention? I know The Signal wouldn't go there, because they support the Republican machine; f they don't, Auto Row threatens to pull advertising. The Sig is OWNED , lock stock and barrel, by Auto Row, but I don't know why the Daily News stoped at Colley. Maybe you can "go there" in a column. I see no reason why all this hit mailer business should just be ignored now, since Colley still has a seat on CLWA. An elected representative who gets involved with hit mailers should be "asked" to resign his seat. Instead, Colley is being "hailed" as a hero by the Repub machine.
Maybe a prayer breakfast might be just what these sleazy hit mailer twits can use. Hit mailers certainly fall under the category of "bearing false witness" so maybe Wilke and McKeon and Colley and Co. have seen the error of their ways. Colley was quoted in a paper as refusing to give the names of the other PAC members, so obviously they know they should be ashamed. If they are so full of "integeity," as the name of their PAC claims, why do they hide behind the Colley puppet, afraid to be identified. The fact that they don't want their names publicized proves they know that wasn't a nice ETHICAL thing to do, and NOW they are going to PRAY???
I am hoping Smyth doesn't get a chance to plop down in that assembly seat, and the only way this can be prevented from happening is to keep the truth about him and the Repub machine out in the open. Smyth is a clone of Pete Knight, and Smyth plans on moving up and away, with Frank Ferry close behind. They are just the kind of mindless puppets the Repub machine wants.
Getting the word out to Simi and the San Fernando Valley is very important. The anti-homeless/gays/pro-choice Smyth is a nobody there, but Mr. GQ is real good at getting voters, even Dems, to forget the truth about him.
PS:
If the White House can spend billions of dollars, causing "color revolutions" and influencing the countries of Ukraine, Belarus, Lebanon, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Venezuela,........... (Possibly the recent Canadian election), why wouldn't a group like Dunamis be a way to take futher control of a percieved dissidence in the United States?
For what you said, it seems that the Mayor can't attend a Christian Prayer meeting that is promoting Christ and good virtue to the city, to avoid making America a new Iran. But a mayor like the San Francisco mayor can promote homosexuality and not afraid of making America the next Babylon! You may argue that homosexuality is freedom. But Christianality is also freedom, and it IS Religious freedom! I just don't understand why you are so against Christians just because you are not.
May God bless you.
Be yourself . . . . but be your best self.
I dont remember if I t/t you about my talk with Messine last week. He was respectful, but I knew not to say anything about myslef becasue I suspect the guy is sick! I tld him what I had witnessed last yr and that it was wrong and Un-American. He agree, or seemingly so agreed that Smyth had turned it into a FC/Evangelical event. Is the interfaith council doing anything? The Nat'l Organization for Sep of Church and State?
Being in error on this one would be like the biggest mistake you ever made.
I chose Christ. Only upside!
Your opinion means nothing to me.
Stop spinning this as a "City trying to save the world for Christians" issue as you know damn well that this not the case and that your rants are politically motivated. Perhaps if you stopped all of your public spewing more people in this community would give more serious consideration to supporting future democratic candidates
You heard me say so did others that this will not be an evangelical event..
Isnt this a form of Intolerance..???
I wanted to share with you an unsolicieted email i recieved today, I don't know how this organization obtained my email address, but none-the-less it was unsolicited information I did not request!
I am a good christian and I fully support the Mayors upcoming prayer breakfast, when our community is working diligently to bring together unity, for those of us who believe in our (various) faith(s) to join together, I believe an email such as this may give a different perception all together.
I doubt there is much that can be done with regard to this type of unfortunate email being sent out....... I felt it necessary (as I am sure many others will too) forward this to you and share my support for this upcoming event.
thank you for allowing me a moment of time,
In regards to the Mayors prayer breakfast i realize that it is a pretty traditional thing to do and all but as an agnostic type of person i would like to know if this Dunamis group is the sole sponsor of this event and do you agree with their mission statement? Believe me i have no problem with religion or faith and all but i prefer that my elected officials not use it as their sole basis in regards to decision making. Keep up the good work.
What's wrong with this picture?
If you look closely at the picture above, you will note that all the M arines pictured are bowing their heads. That's because they're praying.
This incident took place at a recent ceremony honoring the birthday of the corps, and it has the ACLU up in arms. "These are federal employees," says Lucius Traveler, a spokesman for the ACLU, "on federal property and on federal time. For them to pray is clearly an establishment of religion, and we must nip this in the bud immediately."
When asked about the ACLU's charges, Colonel Jack Fessender, speaking for the Commandant of the Corps said (cleaned up a bit), "Screw the ACLU." GOD Bless Our Warriors, Send the ACLU to France.
Please send this to people you know so everyone will know how stupid the ACLU is Getting in trying to remove GOD from everything and every place in America. May God Bless America, One Nation Under GOD!
What's wrong with the picture? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
GO D BLESS YOU FOR PASSING IT ON!
I am sorry but I am not breaking this one.....Let us pray
Prayer chain for our Military...please don't break it
Please send this on after a short prayer for our soldiers ... please don't break it
Prayer
"Lord, hold our troops in Your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen."
Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.
There is nothing attached. Just send this to all the people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you, please .... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine &others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.