Reglion

A Godly rebuttal to Tyner’s columns

For many years, the Bainbridge Review has provided Tom Tyner with a weekly space to publicly air his ramblings on life (mostly his life) with the community. Recently, his column increasingly contains his take on theology, primarily in a manner of mocking smugness over those who believe in the God of the Bible.

In the sense of fairness, and in recognition of the many islanders who hold a very different perspective, I would present the following with regard to Tyner’s continuing comments over God and heaven.

God, who created everything, looked down upon humans who through their own disobedience to Him are in a state of sin, which is disobedience to God. Knowing that they could never, by their own actions, redeem themselves from that sin, He sent His Son to earth to proclaim God’s love for them. Then, in the act which defines sacrifice, He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, the most humiliating and painful death possible under the Roman Empire. With the supernatural act of the shedding of His blood on that cross at Calvary, he paid the price for the sin of every person who will repent and believe in Him, a free gift available to all people.

A religious and sincere leader of Jerusalem came to Jesus as he preached this good news 2,000 years ago, and asked “ What does this all mean?” Jesus answered, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

When he told his followers that he would soon be leaving to prepare a place for them in eternity, they asked how they could know the way to follow him there. He replied, “I am the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father except through me.”

Chief Justice Earl Warren, perhaps the most liberal chief justice in our history, said in February 1954 in an interview in Time:

“I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the Spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses…Whether we look to the first Charter of Virginia…or to the Charter of New England…or to the Charter of Massachusetts Bay…or to the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut…the same objective is present…a Christian land governed by Christian principles. I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under law, and the reservation of powers to the people. I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I like also to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country.”

Phil McCrudden

Rose Loop

Election ‘08

Cooney’s a proven leader, prophet

Governments in Bainbridge, Kitsap and Olympia are in varying degrees of meltdown and befuddlement. Truth be told, our 23rd Legislative delegation of Appleton, Rolfes and Rockefeller chart toward more abysmal finances and clouded vision. This delegation has delivered on wild-eyed extravaganzas on global warming, missing ferry boats and new taxes.

Larry Cooney, a 23rd Legislative District candidate, is a shining star on our political horizon. Cooney has vast experience managing private enterprises dedicated to helping people at the human-service level. He knows what it is to raise money, to make budget and to serve loyally the people government often allows to fall between the cracks due to wasteful and inefficient government.

It is time to break the cycle of returning tired and inattentive elected leaders to a job they clearly can’t or won’t do. Ms. Appleton has been on the public payroll for far too long. Elect Larry Cooney as a proven leader who is a prophet calling for fiscal responsibility and a truly caring government. Cooney equals positive change.

Crosby J. Olsen

Soundivew Drive

Dorn should be state’s next SPI

In her 12 long years in office, Terry Bergeson has become a defensive and myopic bureaucrat who has systematically isolated the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The defining force of her administration has been to make the WASL the be-all and end-all of our education program. In the process she has alienated parents, legislators, and local school districts.

Randy Dorn’s positive leadership skills and proven ability to build bridges to connect the state’s Top Educator with all sectors of our community will promote a more efficient public school system.

I’ve known Randy Dorn for 20 years. I’ve admired his success as a high school principal and learned from his training programs on teamwork as well as creative management systems. I urge you to join over 50 state legislators of both parties, public school employees of Washington and the Washington Education Association and help elect Randy Dorn.

Jay Webster

Madison Avenue

Appleton works to support families

I am voting for Sherry Appleton to return her to the State Legislature to represent the 23rd Legislative District. Sherry has consistently supported education, the environment and working families.

She has also worked on our behalf to try to get passenger-only ferries and to keep ferry fares affordable.

Sherry Appleton has promised to work to put a cap on interest rates charged by payday lenders. Payday lenders are a scourge in poor areas, preying on young, low-income families and military families. It makes me very sad when I think of young families having to borrow money for gas and milk to get to payday, while the wage earner in the family is serving in the military, the thought that they could be paying up to 300 percent interest annually. In fact, I am sick of it.

Linda Gabriel

Poulsbo