Polk Co. law enforcement forms Christian fellowship group
Dec 10, 2009 | 1469 views | 39 
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(Melody Dareing/thepolkfishwrap.com)
Heaton wasn't speaking to a church group. Rather he was talking to a group of law enforcement officers and personnel gathered at the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The group, which amounted to around 13 people with some going in and out to answer calls, met for the first time Wednesday as the Polk County Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers. Their mission is to create a fellowship where the common bond of faith in Jesus Christ helps law enforcement deal with the daily stresses and problems that comes with their jobs.
"Police officers are under a lot of stress," said James Little, who initiated the informal meeting. "We're trained not to let our guard down. When we come together as a group, we can let our guard down in this type of setting."
Little said that time to allow for honest talk and emotion about their jobs and life is a stress reliever that officers need. The other function of the group is to encourage one another in their faith, he said.
"Some of us have been in law enforcement long enough to know it's hard to be a Christian police officer, but you can do it," Little said.
Heaton, who offered an address to the group, talked about the advantages of this type of organization. He said the immediate benefit is for individual officers because it keeps them accountable and in touch with others.
"When people get isolated, they get into trouble, in the department, internally," he said. "They imprison themselves and can't get out of it. When you've got Christians you fellowship with, people who know what it's like in law enforcement, you've got strength."
Quoting Psalm 91, the chaplain said he knows police officers face times of rumor and criticism but they need to remember that God is "a great defender."
"He will defend you. The truth will come through. You don't have to open your mouth," he said.
Heaton said a group of Christian officers can also be an outreach to others, both believers and non-believers, in the department facing unique challenged and to the community when they deal with the public on an everyday basis.
Little said the group, which will meet voluntarily once a month, plans to get a chapter charter. The first step to doing that was electing officers. Those elected were James Little, president, Jamie Newsome, vice president, and Rhonda Flemister, secretary.
One effort the group is promoting is to fully use the sheriff's office chaplaincy program. Sheriff Kelly McLendon said chaplains are available 24 hours a day for on-scene counseling with victims or for an officer facing a crisis. Newsome said he has used chaplains in several situations, where they were able to meet a family's needs when he had to concentrate solely on his job as law enforcement.
Heaton said the chaplaincy program started two years ago and now has nine chaplains cover all of Polk County.
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Joking aside, another reason why certain religious types have no business raising children.
Article says "a sketch of Jesus on the cross created" BUT the name at the top on the cross looks to read "Jaler" or "Jalen".
And the stupidity of school officials, don't get me started. Hey TAUNTON, Mass., want to trade school officials and sheriff departments.
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Massachusetts second-grader sent home for crucifix drawing
By The Associated Press
December 15, 2009, 5:35PM
This drawing, released by Chester Johnson, of Taunton, shows a sketch of Jesus on the cross created by his son as part of school work, in Taunton, Mass. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. The 8-year-old boy was sent home from school and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after he was asked to make a Christmas drawing and came up with what appeared to be a stick figure of Jesus on a cross, the child's father said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) TAUNTON, Mass. -- An 8-year-old boy was sent home from school and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after he was asked to make a Christmas drawing and came up with what appeared to be a stick figure of Jesus on a cross, the child's father said Tuesday.
Chester Johnson told WBZ-TV that his son made the drawing on Dec. 2 after his second-grade teacher asked children to sketch something that reminded them of the holiday.
Johnson said the teacher became upset when his son said he drew himself on the cross. Johnson, who is black, told WBZ he suspects racism is involved. He said he thinks the school overreacted and wants an apology.
Johnson told the Taunton Daily Gazette, which first reported the story on Tuesday, that his son gets specialized reading and speech instruction and has never been violent in school.
An educational consultant working with the Johnson family said the teacher was also alarmed when the boy drew Xs for Jesus' eyes.
A call to Johnson was not immediately returned.
The boy was cleared to return to school on Dec. 7 after the evaluation found nothing to indicate that he posed a threat to himself or others. But his father said the boy was traumatized by the incident and the school district has approved the family's request to have the child transferred to another school.
"They owe my family an apology and the kid an apology and they need to work with my son (to) the best of their ability to get him back to where he was before all this happened," Johnson told New England Cable News.
The father said in the days before the incident the family had gone to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, where there are crucifixion statues.
"That was fresh on his mind," he told NECN. "And that was a good thing that he saw."
Superintendent Julie Hackett said she could not discuss an individual student and did not address the drawing specifically or the teacher's reaction to it, but did say the school has safety protocols in place that were followed.
Hackett did not return multiple calls from The Associated Press on Tuesday.
In June 2008, a Taunton fifth-grade student was suspended for a day for a stick figure drawing that appeared to depict him shooting his teacher and a classmate.
Advice: Document, document and document. Names, ranks, times, places and everything.
I have already answered your questions, but will one last time...
1. Other people's religion (or politics, views, lifestyle or anything else) has never interfered with my job. It's their business, no threat to me and if they want to talk openly about it, I'm ok with that.
2. No one attends religious gatherings on the job that I know of. The police officers, from what I do know, were on a lunch break. Others in the private sector, I am aware, meet before work or at break. So no slack-taking needed.
3. I have been in a minority in the workplace at most of my jobs. I have never lied about myself...never wanted to even if it was uncomfortable.Being true to myself was more important. Also, I was willing to take that risk because I had confidence in my abilities.
4. That's life. I won't always feel comfortable. However, I usually find people fascinating and love to listen even if I disagree.
5. I don't really avoid any topic. Politeness is the key though. I have left the room to do something else on occasion.
6. That has happened to me in that I wasn't hired once because of my faith. I decided to invest positive energy into finding a job elsewhere than fighting a lawsuit I probably couldn't win and where wouldn't be happy in that job anyway if I did win.
I hope the rest of you have found this entertaining. My points in all of this are these: People screaming tolerance usually are the most narrow-minded and when political correctness goes awry, it leads to a loss of freedom for everyone.
Micopo, have a Merry Christmas!
Advice: Document, document and document. Names, ranks, times, places and everything.
I initially spoke of Christian and Muslim because they are the predominant two that are fighting AND I used the Liburn, Georgia skirmish as an example. BTW you know as well as I that had the Liburn situation been a First Baptist wanting to build in Liburn then not a word would have been said.
Also elsewhere in these forums I have made the same same statements about all religions being equally despicable PLUS I have stated and still say that I wish all, (Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc.) would hurry up and kill each other off so the rest of us could get some peace. So nothing has changed, no bait and switch here.
Education is the key to peace, not religion. Not rogue employee groups meeting and expanding. Probably what we will see in the next election is this group announcing that they support this or that for sheriff. I have a problem with that as well.
You've moved beyond just talking have religious meeting in the work place to absolute false accusations. I strongly protest your statement below as it is total false accusation. Religion has it's place. THAT'S WHAT THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT. I disagree with work place meetings. You think they are fine. We disagree so nothing you or I say will change the other opinion.
My personal views on religion are supported by my claims of what history has shown just as you deny the same.
As to the fear factor well you are right. I fear that as them coming into a work environment as a meeting group that it abuses tax payer paid resources and the public trust.
You know my position on this matter of meetings. Don't make it something that it is not by spreading your false accusation poison.
You mentioned Christian and Muslim specifically, but then said all religion. I noticed you didn't mention Jewish...but assume they are included in your rant against all religion. So, I am guessing you want to regulate and control them also. I don't think they would like that so much...judging from how that has worked for them in the past.
There is one primary difference between you and me and it isn't religion. It's fear. I do not fear those of other religions nor do I fear unbelievers. They are no threat to me, my faith or my life. I can live with them, work with them, listen to them and talk to them just fine. They have the same freedoms I do and that's OK with me.
You apparently have a great deal of fear. You are afraid of anyone who doesn't believe as you do and that is truly a shame...and scary..because that is how tyranny is born. And, mark it, regulating and controlling groups based on religion is tyranny.
Yes, the government has watch lists. However, they target individuals who have exhibited certain behaviors no matter what their belief. They have a reason to watch them. With you, you simply want to target groups of people for no reason other than they believe something you don't agree with.
2. No you didn't but unlike you I really don't give a crap.
3. BS. You've done it in your posts. That tells me that you do it everywhere. I do not "spew your hatred" (there, see, you do it). Otherwise simply don't say it. Spewing and spreading hatred is what your type does when folks don't thump the same book.
4. Never seen any group wanting to take over work places like the type in question. Even labor union negotiate. AGAIN, churches are the purposes.
5. Fortunately for the rest of us the work rules and judicial system govern. Not your rogue groups. Otherwise you nuts would bring back the deathly crusades and deathly inquisition.
"you want to "neutralize" them because their beliefs are "dangerous."
Not true at all. I'm their beliefs are THEIR beliefs. It's what they, the extremists, do with those beliefs that are dangerous. The beliefs are no more dangerous than any other fairy tale, such as Harry Potter. Oh and the fascist (you misspelled it as facist, I make typos too) government you speak of would and will exist if these types are not controlled to some degree. AGAIN, it's THEIR beliefs and as such they should keep those beliefs to themselves. In the aspect of this paragraph I feel that anyone violating our country's laws pertaining to separation of church and state should be punished severely. That is not being done and our laws, our jury boxes, our judicial system have all been warped by these types. Individually they should be allowed to vote as they like but it goes beyond that and needs more control.
AGAIN I DON'T JUST APPLY ALL OF THIS TO Christians BUT TO ALL RELIGIONS. LIKE I SAID BEFORE I FIND Christians AND Muslims (and all religious groups that impose) DESPICABLE. That's each as it's own group and jointly. Because had you been born in a Muslim country then you would thump the Koran.
As to this article when published it was loaded as "push.htm" and so is a appropriately titled file. That's what "they" do push, push, push, push. Then deny, deny, deny, deny, deny when cornered or caught.
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"I've been kicked out of better places than this." Barbara Stanwyck
1. You did comment on the Matt verse...you used it to back up your argument that Christians should never speak of God in public. Out of context.
2. I did answer all of your questions. You just don't read my post except what you want to extract for your own hatred.
3. I have never attacked non-believers, not even you. I will defend your right to believe whatever you want. BUT...you also can't prevent me from expressing my beliefs. And that includes OUTSIDE THE CHURCH. Our Constitution allows for freedom of speech and religion everywhere in this great country..not just in churches..just as it allows you to spew your hatred on these boards and in your personal life.
4. Those in other professions are also free to meet as a group for whatever purpose they want on their lunch breaks.
5. As far as keeping each other accountable, they are referring to a higher standard that what is on the office guidelines.
So, let's revisit your comments. Christians shouldn't socialize with each other at work or in public. We shouldn't speak to non-Christians either because they might be offended by our comments. So, you are proposing each Christian should be totally alone and isolated. It sounds like you want to "neutralize" them because their beliefs are "dangerous." Hmmm...let's see...has that been done before...oh yes..every facist government has tried that with one group or another.
No where did I say that anything "is running wild and rampant in offices everywhere". What I say is one incident is too many and one in any work place, not just YOUR offices. Like Your "out of context" thingy it is your defensive and denying mind wanting to put things in other folks mouths that are not there but actually came from and are in your own.
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"I've been kicked out of better places than this." Barbara Stanwyck
Just saying.
To reword that so that YOU can understand it: I Didn't EVEN comment on it. (NOTE THE I) Geez.
It's not more that's taking anything out of context, it's you. Yep, all I did was post it but you, you chose the meaning that you wanted me to interpret. That's why there are so many versions of YOUR bible. Because people read into it what THEY want. What ever fits THEIR agenda.
You accuse me of not answering your questions so I used auto search on this page to find ALL question marks. That means DENOTING A QUESTION.
I used it 19 times, you used it 8 times. So here are your questions with my answers to those that are inded questions.
"Judgemental?" NA
"Talking down to people?" NA
"Criticizing?" NA
"Are you against those of a like faith encouraging one another to live by the moral standards of that faith and hold each other accountable in those standards?"
A: No certainly not and that's what their meeting places are for, CHURCHES. Usually open three times a week and pastors available 24/7.
"Now, why are you so concerned about the motivation of those who do good as long as it promotes kindness, honesty and help in the community?"
A: See now right there we disagree. The fact that I come here protesting is fact that it is promoting discord. Many people preferring to be left alone in this area simply stay silent AND OPPRESSED. IN FACT, discord, oppression and a bunch of others undesirable things follow religion(s) around when said religion(s) (pick one) try to impose their agendas onto others. Give 'em a inch and they take a mile.
"So what bothers you most, the fact that these officers want to encourage each other in such a stressful job, that they want to find ways to better help the community and other officers, or that they want to promote the morals they believe in among each other and keep each other accountable?"
A: Answered under another question. As to "keep each other accountable" that is to be addressed by employment rules and the judicial system NOT by some rogue employee group.
"As far those concerned about being "forced" to listen to Christians' views...think about this...how many times have Christians been forced to listen to the open vulgarity of others, dirty jokes, off-color comments and the like...and have had to sit quietly through it because it was the "tolerant" thing to do?"
I give up, how many times? No really, I think back about those on the job jokesters I've known through the years and most are known religious persons and bet that most are. But your insinuation "to listen to the open vulgarity of others" is that the non-Christians are the offenders. I find that offensive. The biggest molester (and thankfully only) of teen age girls I knew in my life was a minister that was NEVER prosecuted, now deceased. Christians are NOT the answer, they (like most religious peoples) are the MAIN problem. ""tolerant" thing to do"(?), you don't know about tolerance until you have lived among religious nuts in the bible belt as a law abiding, decent non-bible thumper.
Answered your questions. Look around on my NINETEEN and see if there are any that you CARE to answer although we both altready know your answers, deny.
You do know that your posting here and yor attacking "non-believers" here have totally invalidated your statement "I have never known or had that happen in any job". You just don't realize it because they were "tolerant". I'm not.
You can take one Scripture and use it out of context. You obviously know that because you do it quite well. Although many Scriptures are teachable and encouraging in and of themselves, the Bible, its chapters are meant to be understood as a whole unit for its truest meaning.
BTW, you---once again---did not read my post because I did comment on the verse. You, however, have always avoided my questions.
Yep, they are supposed to live it, not spout it.
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"I've been kicked out of better places than this." Barbara Stanwyck