January Letters to the Editor

Finally Someone Got It Right About The LifeBridge Project
Dear Editor,
Wow! What a terrific article. You have hit the high points, pointed out the flaws and helped readers understand what is at stake with this huge LifeBridge project (“Jim Spencer: Separation of Church and Real Estate,” November).

I was a petition circulator in September, gathering 722 signatures, talking to folks and realizing how people need to be heard by our representatives. You phrased it well when you referred to our elected officials as politicians. That’s what this has come down to—politics and money.
Ironically, the church worship center isn’t even going to be built until 2020; city council gave them that time frame in the annexation agreement. Now isn’t that the strangest thing you ever heard: a church building an events center, upper-end homes, condos, senior living centers, commercial areas, and the last thing on their minds and construction agenda is a church sanctuary?

That’s bizarre.

Again, great job on helping everyone understand what is really going on. I appreciate the editorial staff at The Yellow Scene for allowing this information to be printed. You’d be amazed how often information is stifled, regardless of what side of an issue one is on.

Thanks! You’ve said it better than anyone so far.

Norma Hockett-Figgs
Longmont

On The Other Hand, Spencer’s Off On LifeBridge
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to Jim Spencer’s article (“Separation of Church and Real Estate,” November). Mr. Spencer, I don’t agree with your assessment that this annexation proposal is as you describe it. Doug Wray’s sounds bites, “I get a mansion in heaven, not here,” are good news fodder but seriously misstate what the project and LifeBridge are about. This church is one that is putting its hands where its mouth is and following one of Jesus’ primary teachings: Put others before yourself.
This group of believers truly gets out into the community and helps where no one else will, lifts up those who need it most and serves others when no one else is looking. Your article sheds no light on this community-oriented congregation but mocks the church’s efforts to do more with quips of GOD and PUD statements. No matter what happens with this project, LifeBridge and other area churches will only increase their service towards others. I am personally in favor of supporting others in our community, and maybe a vote of 6-1 on the council is really six seeing actions before words.
Eric Jepsen
Longmont

Churches Shouldn’t Be Big Business
Dear Editor,
All across America, churches—typically megachurches—are engaging in what are fundamentally business activities. There’s a theme park in Florida, a lovely beach pavilion and boardwalk in New Jersey, a sports center in Alaska, a merchandise mart, and a “Village” in North Carolina. These are not unlike Longmont’s recently annexed 348-acre LifeBridge church’s mixed-use development. LifeBridge plans waterfront estates, a grocery store anchor, a sports arena, an assortment of other housing, restaurants, shops, schools, and the list goes on.

These churches have a penchant for organizing their business activities under tax-exempt entities (like 4C).

And it appears that labeling an activity as a “ministry” is sufficient to make it tax exempt.

Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple.

There’s a lesson in that, one too many churches are obviously ignoring. There’s lots of money to be made and usually the ministers behind these projects will readily admit that they hope to convert the unconverted to Jesus and a specific Biblical interpretation.

In January, Longmont has the opportunity to repeal the disastrous actions of the previous city council and say, “No, not in my city!” I trust they will do just that.

Kaye Fissinger
Longmont

In Search Of Error-Free Copy
Dear Editor,
In your October issue of The Yellow Scene, it is apparent to me that your editor and writers should familiarize themselves with the dictionary. In your article about the Great American Beer Festival, you advise your readers to clean their palette. While this is sound advice if the reader is an artist, beer tasters would probably do well rather to cleanse their palates. Later on, in your Cuisine Scene column, your headline informs us that the new Nine75 restaurant either caters to Arab chieftains or serves them up on a platter. I am not sure which. But, it certainly doesn’t convince me that it therefore is a chic place to dine. Yours in search of more correct use of the English Language.
Stuart Maybee
Longmont

Editor’s Note: Umm, yeah. We wish we had something clever to say in our defense. Since we don’t, we’ll just own up to the errors.

I Endorse Your Endorsements
Dear Editor,
I totally agreed with on your endorsements for candidates and issues (“Pick Your Candidate,” November). Your analysis was insightful and clear, and I appreciated the amount of effort you took.
Marci Bowman
Longmont

Editor’s Note: Thanks for noticing; it took a ton of hard work and a whole lot of espresso.

We Love The Pumpkins, And The Yellow Scene
Dear Editor,
Thank you for the Pumpkins and More passes! I will be looking for them in the mail. We read your magazine at work and receive it at home as well—keep up the great work! The articles are always interesting and you keep us up to date on our own community (and they well written—many newspaper and magazine articles are choppy and seemingly unedited). And it never hurts to giveaway free totally cool stuff!
Thank you again!
Megan Elenbaas
Westminster