Ditto. Brilliant points, Bitter.

And, no...I didn't think of them before and decided not to write it.

Well stated BB.

Very nice, indeed. I also don't think I have ever read a sentance containing the word "Pharasaical" before. Very accomplished rebuttal, BB.

Hot damn!

I know I told you before that I love your butt - this time I REALLY mean it.

Well said, BB.

It is too bad that some feel that the use of shame will put an end to the criticism. This attitude seems to transcend many organizations in town -- whether it is the school district, the village or in this case a church. Shame the critics into silence.

IMO, our community is very generous both with its time and money. Maybe it has been generous to a fault, in that things have gone too far that we have now to worry about our childrens' safety. There are many agencies who seem to be more about "giving a hand up, rather than a hand out" -- Bridge Communities, Sharing Connections are two that come to mind. These are groups that know how to preserve the human dignity. These groups also have a very strong and supportive volunteer base. They model the proverb about giving a man a fish and he eats for a day, but teach him to fish and he eats for a life time. Shame only holds us back.

quote:

They model the proverb about giving a man a fish and he eats for a day, but teach him to fish and he eats for a life time.

I though it was:

Give a man a match and he'll be warm for an hour.
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life!

Maybe I've been going to the wrong church...

Thank you Bitter Boy for your thoughtful response. Nicely done!

quote:

Originally posted by Yossarian:
Jombl-Thanks for the background, it speaks volumes to her agenda.

I couldn't agree more that the pastor & PADS have used the homeless to further their agenda, hence my questions about what does PADS offer to help the homeless and how effective have they been?

HOLD ON FOR ONE MINUTE!!!

I haven't read all the other posts after Jombl's and this one but let me clear up a couple of things:

1. My pastor has only been in GE for maybe four years...PADS was sponsored by our church LONG, LONG before she was our pastor.
2. I dont' know where you got your "Biographical sketch" of my pastor, Jombl, but I love how you put it here and it is assumed that your statement is fact.
3. I do not believe that it is in any way hypocritical to live a comfortable existence and still believe that we all have a responsibility to help those who are far less fortunate than ourselves.
4. I don't know anything about my Pastor's financial situation though I do know where she and her family live and it is a nice home. How she pays for it, where she and her husband got the money is really none of my (or your) damn business.
5. What I see here are a bunch of people reacting in a knee-jerk fashion to a PASTOR whose job it is, in part, to shake us up on Sunday morning so that we think a bit about our place in the world and what we do to help others. Choosing to constantly categorize many if not all of the PADS clients as drug-addicted, HIV infected, mentally ill, and child molesters is what has happened on this BB! I have tried to stay rational and reasonable with the tone of some people on this BB but really, the negative language, anger, hostility, and hatred toward a group of people (many of which are very decent, honest, hard-working people who have hit a bad place) who are in deep need of help (and yes, sometimes that help might involve some tough love but they didn't apparently have a family that did that) is sickening.

I never thought I'd say it, but I am truly, honestly, and officially done with this BB.

I posted my pastor's comments to provide you with another viewpoint, a Christian viewpoint, to think about why we are really on this earth.

I pray that none of you or your loved ones end up in a situation where they need something like PADS and are looked upon with such judgement and disdain.

I will always remain friends with some of you and certainly will try to be friendly with all of you but I'm going to keep my friendships and discussions in person at this point because I honestly believe some people say things on this BB that they would never dream of spewing from their mouths....

Come on Amy, don't be like that.

You post a sermon that clearly takes a shot at those who post on this BB, how did you think people were going to react? As a counselor you should know that when people perceive they are being attacked, they stop listening and start defending themselves. Your pastor is entitled to her opinion, just as we are, however most of us have left eternal damnation out of our posts.

I think what people are expressing is frustration with PADS to acknowlege THEIR rights as citizens. PADS refuses to engage people on this community in any kind of dialogue regarding their concerns. I don't see hatred towards the homeless, I see an organization that arrogantly pushes their agenda into whatever affluent community it sees fit, then damns those who question what their doing. The issue in my opinion is not the homeless, but PADS business model.

Amy:

Give me a break. There are things written on here every day that would likely offend one part of every single rational person in the world. That's the charm of this board and why so many people read it. It's like US Weekly, the Soup or Chelsea Lately (see, I've still got street cred). I think I know what pushed you over the edge but relax.

After all, what did you think would happen when you posted that sermon? You've seen the posts on this site - nobody on here ever writes sane, well-reasoned, intelligent & politically correct posts but me. And I barely chimed in on this issue.

BTW - The Illini are back!

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:

5. What I see here are a bunch of people reacting in a knee-jerk fashion to a PASTOR whose job it is, in part, to shake us up on Sunday morning so that we think a bit about our place in the world and what we do to help others.

This is exactly what I took from that whole rant. It's her job to shame these people into providing the funds/activites that keep the doors on the church open. I don't, for a second, believe that the majority of the people(deep down) in that church really participate in any of the PADS stuff. But, since they don't really live anywhere near the church, and don't see what happens on Sundays and Thursdays, they don't give a crap about their neighbors... NIMBY!!

I think these folks have good intentions (for the hour they are in church). And I am sure they are putting money in the basket to supplement any guilt they feel. But, that letter to the editor speaks volumes for what is really going on over there.

The reality is the reverand needs to create a "we're holier (read, better) than your neighbors" environment, because, otherwise, her attendence will be down and her business will go elsewhere. And, for good measure, if you don't believe as she does you are ungodly and a blasphomer.

It tis what it tis...

Oh, one more thing.

I've quit this board at least 16 times....Clam about 24.

I'll post September 23rd as the point.

I'll pound the under.

Only issue I have is that the Sermon left the church. You, and many others, are members of a church like me. If I do not like the tone or timber of a sermon, I will get up and leave. I do not take my Pastors opinions about a ministry within my church and broadcast it as gospel to the rest of the community.

Sermons and lessons can be learned using real world issues, but, if I were not a member of that church for a reason (too political, not conservative enough..etc.) why would I want to hear it pronounced to me as fact. I can appreciate your devotion and obviously innocent attempt to show a different side, but you have to see where some could find her comments offensive.

Amy, your perspective and insights in other issues are too well thought out and meaningful to give up on us now. Take a deep breath and turn the other cheek

BB, It's amazing how powerful the truth can be! Nice Job!

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Herbold:
Only issue I have is that the Sermon left the church. You, and many others, are members of a church like me. If I do not like the tone or timber of a sermon, I will get up and leave. I do not take my Pastors opinions about a ministry within my church and broadcast it as gospel to the rest of the community.

THAT'S what I was sayin'!!

quote:

I've quit this board at least 16 times....Clam about 24.

I have hardly played that stupid card as often as you have. I think I asked to be banned a few times. Would have helped my life in some way. You were the king of the emotional buh-bye. Idiot.

Amy will come back as something different. Perhaps "Aimee." Sadly, no one will be smart enough to figure out it is her. We are all that stupid.

quote:

was referring to the GE Safety folks who did, in my opinion, behave in an extremely inflamatory manner.

Yes...they were. They took a situation that needed fixing and turned it into an hateful scene. Wanting others to behave as you must is not the same as inciting fear, hate and disrespect. Funny both of these ladies, having felt the heat of the kitchen, have anonymously run for the hills. They aren't around any longer. Is their site still active?

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
[QUOTE]Amy will come back as something different. Perhaps "Aimee."

Naw - Amy's moved on to bigger and better things. I have no question she manufactured this excuse to leave our little pond as she builds her media empire...

I can just picture Amy sitting at her computer....finger twitching....just wanting to hit reply to all.

BTW - Counselors should be banished from schools. Who the hell needs a counselor? Isn't that what the parents should be doing?

BTWII - Doctors are clearly overpaid.

Fan-All done putting away your groceries from Trader Joe's already?

BTW-Have you put on some weight?