You know what I think about Pads????

Oh crap, it's still 9/11. Too tired to wait till after midnight.............

Back to the discussion.

PADS volunteers-Why is it that PADS appears to be indifferent to the concerns of the GE community? There have been phone calls that are not returned and well thought out letters sent to PADS leadership requesting a dialogue to discuss coomunity concerns, but little or no response. Forget fringe groups like GE Safety, I'm talking about myself & those I know personally who just want to have a regular forum with a "neighbor" to discuss our concerns. And it should be a two way dialogue, I'd like to know if PADS has concerns about the community in which they operate.

How could a regular dialogue with PADS not be of mutual benefit?

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You make my point. Nothing about damnation or even people being blasphemous or non-Godly was said it that sermon or any other I've heard. Actions and thoughts are blasphemous. No attack on the people.

How can you write this in good faith?

Pastor Daniels said, and I quote, "Friends, the PADS program is not in danger in DuPage County as long as each and every one of you is willing to remember why we do it. Do not allow a vociferous minority to strive after a blasphemous ideal of perfection for our village that leaves us in poor spiritual health."

I find it disingenuous that you and GER attend church on Sunday and do not associate the word “blasphemous” with damnation, particularly in the manner with which it was used, a spiritual context. May I remind you that while the Apostle Paul practiced his ministry, he was forced to deal with teachers who he thought were damaging the faith of others or leaving them in poor spiritual health. In 1 Timothy 1:20, Paul tells Timothy that he "delivered unto Satan" rebels, Hymenaeus and Alexander that "they might be taught not to blaspheme."

Pastor Daniels’ words were calculated. Her principle is quite clear.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bitterboy,

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Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:

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But - there is no reason anyone in that or any other church should really care about my opinion.

Amen!

But ... oughtn't a sincere christian love his neighbors - even those who disagree with him on a certain issue?

Go to Hell, Dinsdale.

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I find it disingenuous that you and GER attend church on Sunday and do not associate the word “blasphemous” with damnation...

If you'd like to start a discussion about sin, salvation, and damnation, perhaps you should start another thread. Or, feel free to stop by most any church on Sunday morning and get a feeling for the difference between doing bad things and being damned. There I go with those holier-than-thou thoughts again.

Here's an interesting question. What if you are an atheist? Can you still do good works and help others if you don't believe in a Higher Power? I hope Higher Power is supposed to be capitalize.

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How could a regular dialogue with PADS not be of mutual benefit?

Of course I do and I have always said this. It doesn't mean that the program should shut down because this has yet to happen. I don't know why it hasn't happened, I only know that, as Russ and I have experienced, that there is a lot of good that comes from providing these human beings shelter and a meal. I do what I want to do with the program because of the good I have seen over the years with it, and will always provide support to it as long as it is in operation.

My advice is this: Instead of picking on a local Pastor who truly is doing what she feels she has been called to do, why not start dialogue with the PADS officials at their offices in Wheaton? This, in my opinion, would be the proper place to start.

And Bitter, please, you are sooooo not a Pastor. It's not your job. It IS Lillian's job and she does takes it just as seriously as anyone who has a mission and goals, as we often do in any position we may hold. BLASPHEMY does have a definition that doesn't even come close to being 'damned.' Maybe you feel Lillian was saying you're 'damned' out of some guilty thoughts? Food for thought.

The definition of blasphemous is impiously irreverent. Breaking that down further, it means lacking in proper respect or seriousness towards God. Not sure where you get 'damned' out of that, the definition is clear, no matter how it was used in her sermon.

Who said PADS should be shut down?

Hurry up and answer. I am running out of time.

And somebody address that atheist question...tout de suite!!

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But ... oughtn't a sincere christian love his neighbors - even those who disagree with him on a certain issue? Confused

Wow, just by agreeing with your statement, now you're not loved by me? Amazing you got that out of one little agreeing Amen! You were calling some of your neighbors actions 'distasteful.' Is that love? No, you just don't agree...far from not loving.

Just an FYI, I have, and will always, help any neighbor, when they are in need. This is where the sincere Christian is in me, but hey, it was there even before I called myself a Christian...imagine that!

You can hate the behavior, but still love the person.

Ask my wife.

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Originally posted by Clamato:
Here's an interesting question. What if you are an atheist? Can you still do good works and help others if you don't believe in a Higher Power? I hope Higher Power is supposed to be capitalize.

Nobody is answering because nobody knows what the hell you are talking about.

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Here's an interesting question. What if you are an atheist? Can you still do good works and help others if you don't believe in a Higher Power? I hope Higher Power is supposed to be capitalize.

Hey, as I said before, I was helping out with PADS and other areas in our community long before I ever was baptized and became a member of a church. So the answer is, yes you can.

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Who said PADS should be shut down?

As I stated before, there are quite a few that have verbally told me this around town. Just look to our Glen Ellyn Safety gals, Clam...there is your answer.

Those biatches are prolly scared of their own shadow. I hardly think a splinter group like that is indicative of what even 1% of Glen Ellyn feels.

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Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:

My advice is this: Instead of picking on a local Pastor who truly is doing what she feels she has been called to do, why not start dialogue with the PADS officials at their offices in Wheaton? This, in my opinion, would be the proper place to start.

They won't call back either. I've left numerous VMs and requests on their "contact us" form where they state: Thank you for your interest in DuPage P.A.D.S. Please fill out the fields below to request information or to provide comments. If you want us to contact you by phone, please include your phone number.

I just wanted to see if there was anything they could do to keep their wards off my driveway and walk while they are waiting for the typically late volunteers to let them in the church. The one time I DID get a response, from someone at the church, they said "If it bothers you, call the police", when I asked if we could meet with my other neighbors they said "sure" and would call me back to arrange a meeting. Never happened.

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Those biatches are prolly scared of their own shadow.

They may very well be, Clam...but producing a website like they have done is a whole hell of a lot more than any of us on this message board have done to make our point. This is the scary part and it spreads fear and misinformation, IMHO.

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This is the scary part and it spreads fear and misinformation, IMHO.

Which is exactly why PADS needs to work with the GE community-offset the BS with some PR.

But ignoring this communities request for dialogue just opens the door for rumor & speculation. If PADS wants the community to care about the plight of the homeless, then PADS should care about the concerns of the GE community. I'm really struggling to understand why their behavior (or lack of it) seems to indicate they just don't care-unless your homeless.

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But ignoring this communities request for dialogue just opens the door for rumor & speculation. If PADS wants the community to care about the plight of the homeless, then PADS should care about the concerns of the GE community. I'm really struggling to understand why their behavior (or lack of it) seems to indicate they just don't care-unless your homeless.

Hey, I agree with this, and I've always said that I agree that there needs to be more/better communication.

I am a volunteer. I also volunteer at The Morton Arboretum. If there were issues with the neighbors of the Arboretum, I would let the Arboretum work it out with the neighbors, but I would still volunteer my time here even if their were some issues that needed to be worked out, because I believe in their mission, just as I believe in PADS mission.

Those ladies making their point? Setting up that website was the single most destructive thing they could have done. Dumb @sses could have worked behind the scenes for change they are hoping for...the wrong kind of change, IMO...but they wanted to be activists. Albeit activists that are terrified of being identified and avoided the press when questioned...and pressured website admins to protect them from "exposure." This after spreading their names all over town via e-mail. This is not what this town needs. Their site is nothing more than a black eye. And before anyone stands up for them, stands up for their cause...don't bother. They haven't the nuts to stand up for themselves.

My activism was simply to bring parties together and make rules and ordinances that could and should be followed by all. Banning individuals from any part of the village was never my intent...never anyone's intent. For the record, yes, I was one of those that helped author and signed a letter to the village and various church groups. Not the slightest bit ashamed to put the subject on the table. It brought parties together for open discussion. Discussion that, perhaps, many were unhappy to be having. That many thought was distasteful, inappropriate. I have said it before...so bare with me...as taboo as it is to address any problem associated with assisting those in need, it is doubly so to ignore the issue and hope it goes away. This village, as much as I bully and make fun of it, means a lot to me and my family. I will always do what I can to aid her. If that makes me a bad guy, so be it. I need zero additional friends.