I Am Thankful,,, you will be too... Watch This... Soldiers Deck of Cards

A Veterans tribute with just a pack of cards and a beautiful ending.

Thanks for all the views! Your comments mean the world to me.

Thanks "Gordie" for sharing with us all.

THIS IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR THE NEW YEAR AHEAD.

THIS IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR THE NEW YEAR AHEAD.

 

I grew up in the 40's/50's with practical parents.
A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it.
A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, vacuum cleaner in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things... a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress.  Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room,  I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So.... while we have it... it's best we love it..... and care for it... fix it when it's broken.... and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage.... and old cars.... and children with bad report cards....... and dogs with bad hips... and aging parents..... and grandparents. We keep them because they're worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep.  Like a classmate that moved away or a best friend we grew up with.. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know are special......and so, we keep them close! I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way. Now it's your turn to send this to those people that are "keepers" in your life. Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.  Keep them close!     TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK ON THAT DAY..  1... God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation. 2... God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 3... God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask how many you helped to clothe. 4... God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it. 5... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability. 6... God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. 7... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your neighbors. 8... God won't ask about the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your character. 9... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell. 10... God won't have to ask how many people you forwarded this to. He already knows your decision.     Submitted by: Rufus

Maine Christian Civic League PAC Violation Determination This Morning‏

The Maine Ethics Commission voted this morning (about an hour ago) 2 - 2 to find no violation of PAC reporting on the part of the Christian Civic League of Maine's Christian Action League PAC ('doing business as' Marriage Matters in Maine' currently) in their 42-day Post-election report from last month.  McKee (who proposed the motion) and Amero voted for this motion and Duchette and Matheson voted against it (Commissioner Healy was not present at the meeting).

 

The Commission then motioned and voted 2 - 2 to find a violation by the League's PAC in their PAC reporting, with Duchette and Matheson voting for this motion and McKee and Amero voting against it.

 

The Commission's initial staff recommendation to the Commissioners was to not take any action on my complaint/request.  After the Commissioners asked questions of me, then Conley, Jr. (Executive Director of the League), then State Rep. Ray Wallace, Jonathan Wayne (Ethics Commission Executive Director) amended his staff recommendation to ask the Commissioners to make a decision upon my complaint/request (reversing his initial recommendation).

 

The Commission's staff verifed afterward for me that the end result of these decisions will be for the Christian Civic League of Maine to be forced to publicly amend their most recent Marriage Matters in Maine PAC reports, and the Commission's staff will report back to the Commissioners at their next meeting as to what additional 'corrective action,' if any, was taken by the League due to their PAC violation(s).

 

Susan Cover (of the Kennebec Journal) and Susan Sharon (of Maine Public Broadcasting) were in attendance, along with a camera crew from WMTW (Channel 8 - ABC).

 

Mike Hein

Augusta

207-485-3396

National Christian leaders support Maine Christians stand for natural marriage and religious freedom‏

Christian Civic League of ME

70 Sewall St. Augusta, ME 04330
Carroll L. Conley, Jr. Executive Director, (207) 659-6447, clcll@yahoo.com

Carroll Conley, Jr., Executive Director of the Christian Civic League.

National Christian leaders support Maine Christians stand for natural marriage and religious freedom

January 25, 2012.  A coalition of nearly 40 national mainline and evangelical leaders stand with Maine Christians who believe that natural marriage between a man and a woman and religious freedom are inseparable.

Their open letter released last week, clearly states that religious freedom for all Americans hangs on a Christian’s ability to uphold Church doctrine and Scripture concerning marriage.

“Unnatural marriage, as seen in cases across the country, will curtail religious freedom.  If unnatural marriage is put on the referendum, then all Mainers who trust that their government will uphold religious freedom will, once again, come to the voting booth to keep our current marriage laws.

Our Founding Fathers recognized and created protections for God-given individual rights and freedoms.  Removing Judeo-Christian values from our legal system brings America closer to becoming a secular society like Europe is becoming and China already is,” said Carroll Conley, Jr., Executive Director of the Christian Civic League.

This is lovely; an Irish blessing and photos of Ireland

This is lovely; an Irish blessing and photos of Ireland.  The speaker is Roma Downey, who played the part of the angel on "Touched By An Angel" a few years ago.  Her diction is so articulate, precise and crisp.  Well worth wateching and listening to.

Turn up speakers and enjoy

As the piece starts, the pictures of Ireland are amazing,

but wait until you get to the two spoken parts!

http://www.andiesisle.com/ThisBlessingIsForYou.html

Submitted by: Friends of Rainbow Bridge

John 3:16 For God so loved the world...

Pro-Life Event/Maine GOP Caucus Training Protest (Saturday AM, 1/14/12)‏

 I'll be warning both pro-life Catholics and Maine's legislators (see attached sign pic) about the current, corrupt leadership of the Christian Civic League of Maine (also known by the Maine Family Policy Council) tomorrow morning at both the Hands around the Capitol pro-life event (prior to the 10am mass at St. Mary's Church in Augusta) and the Maine Republican Party caucus training (prior to 11am at Jewett Hall at the University of Maine at Augusta).

Specifically, I'll be informing legislators of the currently pending Maine Ethics Commission complaint (see attached) against Carroll L. Conley, Jr. (Executive Director of the Christian Civic League of Maine) and the tax fraud committed by Rev. Robert K. 'Bob' Emrich (Board of Directors Chairman of the Christian Civic League of Maine) regarding his now-defunct Maine Jeremiah Project.

Additionally, I'll be informing the pro-life event attendees of Conley, Jr.'s tolerance of abortion under certain circumstances, his unwillingness to proclaim a 100% pro-life stance, and his recent comments on abortion.

  

Please contact me by phone (Saturday morning) or e-mail (Friday night or Saturday afternoon) for any comment on my informational advocacy.

Mike Hein

 Augusta, Maine

(207) 485-3396

 michael.g.hein@gmail.com

 

Christian, Did You Know?

Carroll L. Conley, Jr., Executive Director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, publicly supports exceptions to a total ban on abortion: "In those areas, such as marriage and abortion, we want to make sure to maintain compassion" and "Conservatives will scream and scream and scream about abortion..."

He supported Maine’s 2005 gay rights law and supports civil unions.

On December 14, 2010, Conley, Jr. signed a consent decree with the Maine Department of Labor's Workers' Compensation Board Abuse Investigation Unit (AIU Case #48861K) admitting to personally failing "to obtain or maintain approved workers' compensation insurance coverage" as required by Maine State law.

The Workers' Compensation Board Employment Rehabilitation Fund ordered Conley, Jr. "in his capacity as Executive Director on behalf of the Christian Civic League of Maine" to pay a "civil penalty" "pursuant to 39-A M.R.S.A. 324.3" (the Maine statute which Conley, Jr. violated).

Rev. Robert K. "Bob" Emrich divorced his first wife, Sarah Emrich, while pastor of the Baptist church in Sangerville, Maine in the 1990s. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where she and Bob Emrich are from.

He moved to Plymouth, Maine with his current wife, Debbie Emrich, and currently pastors the Emmanual Bible Baptist Church there.

His Maine Jeremiah Project (founded by Bob Emrich in 2006; Employer Identification # 20-4844506) had its 501(c)3 non-profit tax-exempt status involuntarily revoked by the I.R.S. on May 15, 2010 due to not ever filing the required annual federal 990 tax return since its inception.

Emrich was made Chairman of the Christian Civic League of Maine Board of Directors in 2011.

In March, 2011, Emrich announced a "merger" with his defunct, disgraced Maine Jeremiah Project and the Christian Civic League of Maine (after its tax-exempt non-profit status was involuntarily revoked). On June 9, 2011, the I.R.S. first publicized its involuntary tax-exempt status revocation of Emrich's Maine Jeremiah Project.

Christian Civic League and Maine Jeremiah Project merge press release

by MPBN Capitol Connection, March 17, 2011

www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150212723779852

(Ed.'s note, items on file as mentioned above)

The Year Twenty-Twelve What Does It Mean?

2012: The Year Of The Hand of God In America

By Bob Russell on Jan 05, 2012 in Opinion, Politics

As we start a new year some thoughts come to me from something my pastor’s wife said Sunday morning, January 1, 2012. She recently did a study on the number 12 and its significance in Scripture. It reminded me of the deep importance of God in the development of our nation and the importance of God in the coming year. This is what she said:

In the Bible “12″ represents God’s perfect government and Divine authority. To write “12″ in Hebrew two Hebrew letters are used … “yod” which signifies hand or outworking and “beth” which signifies house. “The outworking of the household in harmony under Divine authority.” I am claiming this for each household and our house of worship that we will see God’s authority extended to our territory from our homes and churches.

OH YEAH! AMEN!

Before I started my writing career 18 months ago, I was inspired by a series of documentaries I watched about the founding of our nation and how our founding fathers placed so much importance on Divine Providence. I saw how their faith in God and their devotion to Biblical principles guided them in their pursuit of liberty and freedom for all, not just the wealthy, elite group in which most of them belonged.

Our nation was founded by men who believed in God very strongly and prayed every step of the way; through the years of protesting to King George of England about their grievances; through the horrible years of the Revolutionary War when death, suffering, fear, and want were the order of the day; then through the 11 years it took to actually form a nation, write the Constitution of the United States of America, and have it ratified by the various states.

A lot more reading here.

Christian Civic League (Maine) Files 2010 IRS 990 Return Late‏

Things of note from the recently filed 2010 IRS 990-EZ return for the Christian Civic League of Maine (Employer Identification Number 01-0044660), which is attached in two parts:

 

The filing was prepared 10/4/2011 by Edwards, Faust, & Smith, (Bangor, Maine) CPAs, and they had an extension to file, which ended 10/31/2011.  It was not signed until 11/7/2011 by Conley, Jr.  It was filed late, received by the IRS on 11/14/2011.  It was scanned 12/7/2011 by the IRS, and sent to me 12/14/2011 by IRS.

 

Three of the five listed Board of Directors members are no longer current/active: Alfred J. (Al) Cooper III (139 Congress Street, Millinocket, ME 04462 207-723-9867 Home, 207-731-7965 Cell t3r8lake@myfairpoint.net), Mrs. Christiana Poole (544 River Road, Newcastle, ME 04553 207-563-1232 Home 207-380-9252 Cell jepoole@roadrunner.com), and Rev. Samuel Moore (Sam) Logan, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 279 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101, P.O. Box 79, Waldoboro, ME 04572 207-828-2102 Work 207-607-1801 Cell Frlogan7@aol.com).

 

See the Board of Directors attachment for additional contact information for the other current Board members and Executive Director.  

 

All Board members and the Executive Director have listed the P.O. Box (5459) of the CCLM as their address in the filing, which was odd.  It is odd, too, that Rev. Robert K. (Bob) Emrich is not listed as a Director in 2010.  My understanding is that he was a member of the Board of Directors that year.

 

The $23,715 in compensation for Conley, Jr. (from Page 2) was a partial year salary only.  He began employment in late July, 2010 and so that figure represents salary for only five months.  Annualized, his salary would have been $55,620 without any additional benefits included.  Per the attached Board meeting minutes from 2010, Conley, Jr. is allowed an additional $27,000 in benefits and paid expenses in addtion to this income.

 

On Page 7 (overall) of the form, in Schedule O of the 990-EZ, the "Primary Exempt Purpose" of the League is listed as: "To make the public aware of ethical issues so that good laws can be enacted and impartially enforced." 

 

I have never, in my years of working at the League previously, heard of this 'primary purpose' before, like someone (the CPA?) was just making it up.

 

Finally, I requested from the IRS a copy of the Christian Education League's 2010 990 return also, at the same time as this return, but have not received it as yet (two business days now after receiving this CCLM return).  The CEL (Employer Identification Number 01-6018966) is the 501(c)3 counterpart non-profit corporation to the CCLM, which is a 501(c)4 non-profit corporation.

 

This could potentially indicate that the CEL has not yet filed its required 990 return for 2010.  Some enterprising person or reporter should inquire with them about this.  

 

Mike Hein

Augusta, Maine

Maine's Christians Team Up with Casino Backer Mendros‏

As is often the case with news these days, what is left out of this article today (below) is as important, or more important, than what is being reported.  The veteran reporter, Mal Leary, is being beyond charitable ('sloppy,' might be a better description) in not reporting on the very checkered recent past of Stavros Mendros.  The connections, though, that Leary misses in the article are incredible, and incredibly important.

 

Mendros, as recently as 2006, was under investigation by, and in collections with, Maine Revenue Services for not having filed individual State income tax returns for many consecutive years in the late 1990's and early 2000's.

 

Plus, Mendros was the principal and co-owner/developer this year of the failed proposed Lewiston casino project.  Mal Leary had to be aware of this, but only reported that Mendros was "a former lawmaker and owner of a company that conducts petition drives."

 

Conley, Jr., of the Christian Civic League of Maine, is keenly aware of Mendros's gambling ties and his very recent gambling interests.  Conley, Jr. joined last month and this fall with a coalition including the pro-gambling Friends of Oxford (Maine) Casino to oppose the Mendros/Lewiston casino project.

 

In addition, a recently installed League Board member, Scott C. Mitchell (www.cclmaine.org/our-leadership/), was the former campaign director for Mendros in his failed Congressional bid from 2002.  That tie between Mendros and Conley, Jr. (through Mitchell) is left unreported in the article.

 

More importantly, Mal Leary does not mention that the very young Matthew James Boucher

 

 

 

(see attached pic from last year, Matthew is on the right), who is quoted prominently in the article, is yet another recently installed League Board member (per an e-mail alert sent by the League last month at http://ericrussell.bangordailynews.com/2011/11/05/faith-and-the-race-for-maines-house-district-24-seat/).  The reporter only identifies Boucher as an "Ellsworth City Councilor."

 

That Conley, Jr. has thrown in again with the likes of casino backer Mendros is surprising and disappointing to be sure, considering Conley. Jr. being the leader of the Christian Civic League of Maine, which was founded in 1897 upon opposition to gambling. 

 

But more surprising and disappointing is how poorly investigated (and completely unreported by Mal Leary) the deep, direct connections are between Conley, Jr., Mendros, and Boucher. 

Group pushing mandatory sex offender sentences in Maine

By Mal Leary, Capitol News Service

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/12/14/politics/group-pushing-mandatory-sex-offender-sentences-in-maine/

December 14, 2011

 

AUGUSTA, Maine — A coalition of groups, individuals and lawmakers wants anyone convicted of a sex crime against a child under age 12 to serve a mandatory sentence of at least 25 years in prison. If the Legislature fails to pass such a bill in the session that opens in January, the coalition plans to collect signatures to put the issue on the ballot in 2013.

 

“We really need to take them off the street because the recidivism rate is so high,” said Ellsworth City Councilor Matthew Boucher, a member of the coalition. “They will in one form or another hurt hundreds of children over their lifetime. We really need to get a grasp on this; it’s really about protecting our children.”

 

Even as its members hoped the Legislature would take it up this session, the group filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday to begin the process of putting the issue, often called “Jessica’s Law” after a similar measure in Florida, on the 2013 ballot. Petitioners must get 57,277 valid signatures, 10 percent of the votes cast in 2010 for governor.

 

“We are ready to go forward and collect the signatures if the Legislature does not pass this during this session,” said Stavros Mendros, a former lawmaker and owner of a company that conducts petition drives.

 

Lawmakers have rejected the proposal twice, adopting a law in 2006 that set a 20-year sentence as a “benchmark” for judges to use in setting a sentence and requires a judge to explain why he went below or above that target sentence.

 

Boucher said sentences that have been actually handed down average between seven and eight years and are woefully short of the penalties he says are warranted for sexual abuse of children.

 

“We need to put these people away so they can’t prey on any more children,” he said.

 

Carroll Conley, executive director of the Maine Christian Civic League, agreed. He said the league is supporting the effort to pass the tougher penalties both in the January session and through a petition drive if that is necessary.

 

“We believe that any society has as its first responsibility to protect children,” he said. “This law is talking about adults committing sex crimes against children. We need to protect our children from predators.”

 

Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, House minority leader, has opposed the legislation in the past and said it would face opposition if allowed into the session. She has not heard any request to allow the bill into the session.

 

“We passed our own version of Jessica’s Law by an overwhelming, bipartisan majority,” she said. “I would have to be convinced that is not working,”

Rep. Anne Haskell, D-Portland, the lead Democrat on the Criminal Justice Committee and a former co-chairwoman of the panel, said mandatory sentences are a bad idea with unintended consequences.

 

“I am not a supporter of mandatory penalties,” she said. “I believe the judges ought to have the discretion in sentencing.”

 

An example of an unintended consequence could be a situation in which a victim has been seriously traumatized and can’t testify, and instead of some punishment through a plea bargain, the perpetrator could be freed to offend again.

 

Rep. Tyler Clark, R-Easton, also a member of the coalition, said he supports the coalition efforts and will support the measure if it is allowed into the session. He serves on the Appropriations Committee and acknowledged any measure with a price tag will be difficult to fund as millions of dollars in spending cuts are being made.

 

“In all of government, there needs to be priorities,” he said. “That includes crimes.”

 

Sen. Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls, co-chairman of the panel, said he would support the bill if it is allowed into the session. He said he is not part of the coalition, although he supports its goal.

 

Mendros said he believes the measure will be allowed into the session and that there will be enough support to pass it. But no one in Senate President Kevin Raye’s office was aware of a request. Raye is chairman of the legislative council that would have to vote to allow consideration of the after-deadline request for a new bill.

 

“If we have to get the signatures, I think we will get them in plenty of time to file and get it on the ballot,” Mendros said.”We are better organized than we were last time.”

 

In 2009, Mendros led an effort to put the question on the ballot for 2010, but collected only about 30,000 signatures, well short of the minimum. He also said the measure has the support of Gov. Paul LePage, but the governor’s legal counsel, Dan Billings, said he could not confirm that.

Michael Hein

Augusta, ME

Best email of the day - God Bless America

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty-five feet away. I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying: 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot. I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.' He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him. The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman. When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine, too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?' He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal ....... He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card. He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off. For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.' I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because one of us needed help.. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America . Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them, and who continue to support them. America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war.  America is at the Mall. Remember, Freedom isn't Free. Thousands have paid the price, so that you can enjoy what you have today. LET'S DO THIS: JUST 19 WORDS: GOD OUR FATHER, WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES; AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY;AND PLEASE PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS, AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS, WHO ARE DEFENDING THOSE FREEDOMS. AMEN This prayer is so powerful. Pass this prayer to 12 people, including me.  THIS IS BEST EMAIL OF THE OF THE DAY!!!!

A (Failed) Call for Civility from Rev. Emrich in 2010‏

Please see (below) current Christian Civic League of Maine Executive Director Carroll L. Conley, Jr.'s article from January, 2010 lauding Rev. Robert K. (Bob) Emrich for Bob's civility.  Conley, Jr. and Emrich were both on the Board of Directors of the Christian Civic League of Maine at this time, and Conley, Jr. was also the Bangor Baptist Church's school guidance counselor at that time, too.

 

Conley, Jr. became Executive Director in July, 2010, while Emrich went on to become Chariman of the League's Board of Directors in 2011.

 

Then, please note (also below) the good reverend Emrich's uninitiated e-mail to me just some five weeks after Conley, Jr. heaped praise upon Emrich for his "civility."  Emrich was a State Representative candidate at this time (March, 2010), and he went on to lose in the GOP primary just three months later to a pro-gay marriage Catholic attorney, Ken Fredette.  

 

This kind of incivility by Emrich toward me (twofistedmanofgod@mail.com, I was the League's Administrator at the time, in 2010) must have been big news to Conley, Jr. who "never heard or read of anything [Emrich] has said that was a personal attack" (from Conley, Jr.'s column), although I do not seem to recall Conley, Jr. mentioning his disappointment to me with Emrich about these remarks at the time...

 

Mike Hein

Augusta, Maine

A Call to Civility

by Carroll L. Conley, Jr., Saint John's Valley Weekly

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Y6oJraRQ7EsJ:www.svweekly.com/joom1511/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_phocadownload%26view%3Dcategory%26download%3D31:the-svweekly-january-28-2010%26id%3D2:recent-editions%26Itemid%3D5%26start%3D40+&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

January 28, 2010

 

Bob Emrich’s recent announcement that he is seeking the Republican nomination for the District 25 seat in the House of Representatives has elicited expected positive and negative responses.

 

As Emrich puts it, "I’m not surprised by the negative comments; I just hope that the negativity does not become the focus of this campaign."

 

As an observer of Bob Emrich’s civic efforts during the same-sex marriage issue, I find the personal attacks upon his character both unfounded and counterproductive. When it comes to public discourse in regard to an issue with which both sides hold such deep, passionate convictions, it is all the more critical that personal attacks be absent from the process. And for the record, I find too much of the rhetoric coming from conservative Christian voices to be counterproductive as well. More importantly, I find some of the inflammatory language to be totally inconsistent with the principles of Biblical Christianity.

 

Bob Emrich may say things with which his opponents totally disagree, but I’ve never heard or read of anything he has said that was a personal attack. As a matter of fact, his decision to establish Maine’s Jeremiah Project was to distance himself (and other like-minded conservative evangelicals) from Christian individuals and groups whose conduct was vulnerable to the public perception of hatred. Due to his commitment to oppose gay marriage in a respectful, humane manner, Bob Emrich was (and still is) being hammered by folks on the left and the right who would say anything to advance their agenda or cause.

 

With all this negativity, I asked Bob why anyone would subject themselves to the slander, obscene and threatening phone calls, things being thrown at his home, and even being intentionally blocked in a parking lot?

 

"I truly believe we all need to serve the public good. If I have the opportunity and ability to have a positive influence upon my community, then I have a responsibility to do so. I know there are going to be controversies and disagreements within the process, but I hope that we can agree to disagree in a civil manner," responded Emrich.

 

It is interesting to note that, just recently, Pastor Emrich wasc ontacted by the Maine Civil Liberties Union in regard to legislation dealing with solitary confinement. He accepted their petition to join them in investigating the matter of prisoners’ fair and just treatment.

 

"As much as I may vehemently disagree with the ACLU on many issues, as a Christian I am concerned about those that are incarcerated being treated humanely. We may differ on what is or is not humane, but conservatives must participate in such matters. For too many years, our lack of participation has made us appear to be uncaring."

 

The very fact that the MCLU would reach out to Bob Emrich and assume that he would engage in this process demonstrates his viability as a candidate and a public servant. As much as his far left and far right opponents may desire to define him as an ideologue by personal attack, I believe the constituents of District 25 will stand with him above the fray of such pettiness and the politics of personal destruction.

 

Carroll Conley currently serves as Director of Advancement at Bangor Christian Schools.

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bob Emrich <bemrich@midmaine.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 6:22 PM
Subject: FW: Temporary Victory in Maine (Transgendered Guidelines)
To: twofistedmanofgod@gmail.com

Cowardly, divisive, false, and slanderous are only a few of the words that come to mind when I read your email.

You have every reason to be ashamed. Even apart from your cowardly attacks against me, you are dishonoring the organization you pretend to serve and even worse you dishonor my Lord. 

From: Mike Hein
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 10:39 AM
To: Mike Hein
Subject: Temporary Victory in Maine (Transgendered Guidelines)

Monday afternoon's public meeting of the Maine Human Rights Commission regarding the proposed transgendered schoolchildren guidelines resulted in a minor, and possibly only temporary, victory for decency and morality.  The five Commissioners voted 4 - 1 to put off voting on accepting or rejecting the guidelines proposal until after public hearing(s) are held on the matter.  There was no date yet set for the hearing(s), but it could be as late as May.  The one vote opposed to this decision came from a Commissioner who wanted to vote on the proposal yesterday, and vote to reject the proposed guidelines!

All it took was for about two dozen concerned citizens to turn out to the public meeting (where they were not allowed to speak by the Commission) and for several of them to stand up and yell at the Commission about their opposition to this and to then walk out of the public meeting.  There was a lot of media there.  Print accounts of the story are at:
www.kjonline.com/news/sex-orientation-bias-guidelines-await-feedback_2010-03-01.html
www.bangordailynews.com/detail/138022.html
www.sunjournal.com/node/806519
www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=126662

Television news/video of the story are at:
www.myfoxmaine.com/dpp/news/20100302-hearing-held-on-transgendered-students
www.wmtw.com/education/22709245/detail.html

The most disturbing development surrounding the issue, however, came from the Maine Jeremiah Project's Bob Emrich, who sent an e-mail alert to his group of supporters on Saturday, ahead of the meeting, encouraging Maine's Christians to not attend the public meeting.  His e-mail alert text can be read at http://politics.mainechristianblogs.com/2010/02/27/maine-jeremiah-project-message-february-27-2010-2/ 

Bob seems completely off the reservation here, essentially telling Christians to sit-this-one-out and to shut-up-and-stay-home.  I can only speculate that his bizarre stance was due to one or both of the following:

a) Bob was a co-leader of the gay marriage repeal effort last year with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine.  He worked very closely with Maine's Bishop Malone and the Diocese, the same Bishop Malone and Diocese who supported the homosexual rights law in 2005 which this whole transgendered issue arises from (that 2005 law included both "gender identity" and "gender expression" protections).  Since Bob probably anticipates working again with the Catholics later this year on the homosexual marriage issue again (EqualityMaine is vowing to submit homosexual marriage legislation again late this year), Bob had good reason not to go against the Roman Catholic Chancery on this transgendered issue now.  The Diocese has been completely silent on the transgendered schoolchildren proposed guidelines issue. 

and/or

b) Bob is running for State Representative as a Republican in Maine House District 25 (an open seat this year in a Republican district, due to term limits), and his recently announced Republican primary opponent is none other than Ken Fredette, who sits on the Maine Human Rights Commission, who is deciding the transgendered schoolchildren proposed guidelines issue.  Fredette (despite being a pro-gay marriage Catholic) stole the show yesterday during the public meeting (see the video news accounts), taking the strongest stand against the proposed guidelines, saying this was a legislative issue that the Commission should not be handling.  Fredette was the Commissioner who voted to kill the guidelines yesterday.  Bob would have reason for not wanting a lot of people to show up and see his GOP primary opponent shine in the spotlight as a hero for morality and decency.

It was beyond disappointing to see Bob Emrich act so publicly in such a politically calculating and shortsighted way.  He even (without naming us) criticized the League as "sound[ing a} careless alarm" by encouraging people to attend the meeting.  It's amazing to see this "FRC Watchman on the Wall" and, more importantly, ordained Baptist minister of the Word of God tell Maine Christians to shut up and stay home on such an important matter.  Sad and pathetic.

Mike Hein

Divorced Bob Emrich To Lead Maine's 2012 Marriage Campaign‏

The divorced tax cheat (see attached article and www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/11/on-divorce-valid-questions-and-bob-emrich.html), Rev. Bob Emrich, created this thread on As Maine Goes on Tuesday (11/15/11) evening:

 

www.asmainegoes.com/content/here-we-go-ads-oppose-natural-marriage

 

Most likely, he returned from evangelizing in Uganda earlier this month (or will be there later this month).  

 

Thus, the "urgent" voice mail request Christian Civic League of Maine Executive Director Carroll Conley, Jr. left for my pastor last week to have Emrich and Conley, Jr. meet with me and my pastor this past Tuesday morning (which did not happen due to the pending Maine Human Rights Commission complaints I still have pending against the League).

 

Importantly, Emrich talks in the As Maine Goes posting he created about the upcoming marriage campaign as though he will be leading it ("This is going to be a long campaign."), including conducting a phone interview with the San Francisco Chronicle this week ("I just received a telephone call from the San fransico Chronicle for a story regarding ads to start next week in Maine.")

 

I do not see where the Chronicle has yet published such an article, but it may be upcoming still later this week or month.

 

Mike Hein

Augusta, Maine

Skeletons in Bob Emrich's Closet?

www.svweekly.com/joom1511/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8310:emrich-joins-family-research-council

Wow!  According to the anonymous comment by "myvoice" on this article (linked above), Emrich was forced out of his church in Sangerville some time ago and was left by his first wife:

"I just asked why he was removed from the Sangerville church and why his first wife left him? I he has nothing to hide why remove the post? I didnt accuse, i just asked a simple question. Eventually it will all come to light. God hates liars."

I don't know who posted that, or if it is true (and I pray that it is not), but if so, then EqualityMaine or "marriage equality proponents" could easily derail the marriage referendum battle next year (which he will lead again) by verifying and exposing that.

I wonder what information longtime Sangerville, Maine resident and former Maine State Trooper (and close personal Emrich confidant) State Rep. Paul Davis has about this, if any?

Also, it's odd that in my comment on the same article, the word "Emrich" itself is 'bleeped' out with asterisks by the website moderator.  Like "Emrich" is some verboten word!

Michael Hein

And like this doesn't tie in with Lisbon.  Davis and Crafts when they first became legislators made a big stink over how the Maine Warden Service utilized their resources.  They were both on the Maine Inland & Fisheries Wildlife advisory board and got their "knickers" in a knot about the new camp going in up North.  Their hunting ground once a year to go "play woodsman".   So they come back and inquiries were made statements were in the newspapers,(do your own research) and these two Crafts and Davis kind of made themselves look, well let us just say not so professional.  This is all at the time while Crafts is learning how to be a better liar, we mean politician, Praise the Lord Huh Dale!!!   There are a few other things that one will find when researching.  So Crafts, Davis, both start riding LePage's drama ride for mug shots and voila, Crafts gets reelected, now he has his life time health insurance that he only wanted when re campaigning and yet he still has an in with the Maine Attorney General.  

Lisbon you may never know what the hell has been going on, but you better pay attention to what does go on.

Peter Reuter

The Lisbon Reporter

"Question 1": Maine's Marriage Documentary Review‏

For publication, with my express permission:

 

I went to Waterville's Railroad Square theater Wednesday, November 2nd, for the 7pm showing of "Question 1" documentary film (www.q1-themovie.com).

 

This is only an average film, by most most measures; not as ham-fisted as one might anticipate, but also not as compelling.  It could have been very easily 30 minutes shorter than its 90+ minutes run time.

 

There were only a dozen people in the theater, which could have held ten times that number.  There were no previews prior to the movie.  The first images one sees of the film are of a home video of EqualityMaine's 'out' lesbian Darlene Huntress from 1986 when she was the maid of honor at her (straight) sister's wedding (was there any other kind of wedding in 1986?).  It sets up the movie as a sympathy plea for the plight now of those not being able to marry within their gender.

 

Huntress and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine's Public Policy Director, Marc Mutty, are the people most extensively interviewed for the film.  There are supporting role interviews with Robert K. Emrich (Stand for Marriage Maine), Jessie Connolly ('No on 1' Campaign Director), and volunteers for both sides.

 

The documentary begins in the Spring of 2009 at the Augusta (Maine) Civic Center Judiciary Committee public hearing where the marriage bill was considered and moves to the People's Veto campaign rapidly.  The several months between Gov. Baldacci's signing of the bill into law and the collection of the 100,000 signatures to get the People's Veto on the ballot take all of just a minute or two of the film's time.  The film lurches from spring to late summer in an instant.

 

The People's Veto campaign is broken into stages: 30 days out, 15 days out, two days before the vote, Election Day, and the aftermath of the vote (spoiler alert!) to uphold traditional marriage.   I thought the filmmakers strong suit was detailing the vote on Election Day.  Both sides have intimate details and interviews from the principals involved; real behind-the-scene observations.

 

The images that stayed with me are the contrast between the blur of activity and action the 'No on 1' campaign had (raising $3.8 million in donations, tens of thousands of calls, thousands of volunteers, etc) in the weeks prior to the vote versus the quiet, almost serene, atmosphere of the 'Yes on 1' side.  You could hear a pin drop in the 'Yes on 1' campaign offices; the hum of office copier is the only thing breaking the silence.  The 'No on 1' campaign offices have young people  talking over each other in large phone banks, and the din is broken by loud announcements of their progress in the hundreds of calls they've made just that day.

 

Ultimately, though, the documentary degenerates in the last 20 minutes into a sob-fest for the 'No on 1' side, with late Election-night emotions running on and on for what seems forever.  Really, it's overkill, bordering on emotional pornography.  Lots of f-bombs, too, are heard night of the vote from the 'No on 1' side, especially from the campaign leaders. 

 

It's jarring, because the rest of the film is largely family-friendly.  It's also unnecessary because the film goes to incredible lengths throughout to show the viewer that the 'No on 1' side is more heavily invested in the outcome of the vote.  Why the gratuitous language at the end of the film?

 

Additionally, what is with Mutty and his incessent drinking?  The movie documents three extensive scenes with him with a hard liquor drink or beer bottle in his hand.  There are two additional scenes where he references buying a six-pack of beer or getting a drink (of alcohol) with Rev. Emrich.  I understand Catholics generally have only minor prohibitions against excessive alcohol drinking, but it's noticible throughout how lax Mutty is on that front.  The guy clearly has a drinking problem; enough said, perhaps.  

 

A prophetic moment is offered by Emrich toward the end of the film where he states off-camera that the results of this vote to affirm traditional marriage will move Maine to be more conservative in the upcoming few years.  Just a year after he said that, Maine voted to change control of its House and Senate and Governor from Democrats to Republicans for the first time in decades.  Rarely is such a prediction so clearly borne out so quickly.  

 

"Question 1" is only about Stand for Marriage Maine vs. No on 1/EqualityMaine.  No other groups are represented or interviewed.  Even Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, Maine Richard Malone gets practically shut out of the film.  An important press conference by Americans for Truth's Peter LaBarbera, MassResistance's Brian Camenker, and Maine Grassroots Coalition's Paul Madore late in the campaign (just a few days prior to the vote) goes completely unnoted. 

 

However, an underattended 'No on 1' rally in Portland held in ideal weather conditions at noon on the day before the vote gets extensive coverage in two pivotal scenes toward the end of the film.  It's as though no other groups existed on either side that had anything to say on the matter.

 

Overall, I'd tepidly recommend the movie, but only for posterity.  I would not pay money to see it again, though.  I suspect the very limited release in Maine this year (a one week in Waterville, one show in South Portland, one show in Portland for the whole month of November) is to generate 'buzz' for it to be released on DVD next year. 

 

Copies of the film then will, most likely, be given out liberally as campaign promotional items to voters (potential EqualityMaine supporters) since the measure will be on the ballot again for November, 2012.  Like it or not, Mainers will be asked to re-consider their decision from just two short years ago.

 

Mike Hein

Augusta

Woman And A Fork

Woman and a Fork
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly..

'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply.

'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket andthey saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share.Being friends with someone is not an opportunity, but a sweet responsibility.
Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND...and I'll bet this will be anEmail they do remember, every time they pick up a fork!

And just remember...keep your fork!

The BEST is yet to come!


God Bless You

From a very special friend of The Lisbon Reporter