SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - About 600 Christians who gathered Friday, Nov. 16, to learn how to help preserve religious freedom in America were told to boldly declare their beliefs, but to debate civilly.
Reynolds, an expert on culture, society and philosophy, was the featured speaker in the first of three conferences bringing people of different faiths together to learn how to work side by side to preserve religious freedom. The series is presented by the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, Rocklin's William Jessup University and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This first conference was held at The Church of Jesus Christ's Chapel on Temple Hill in Rancho Cordova.
"Can you imagine what the Washington Post would do to the presidential candidate who would dare to say that today?" Reynolds asked.
Reynolds drew from history – especially the Bolshevik revolution in Russia – to show the result of what happens to a culture and even entire nations when a society blocks religious rights.
He told about his great-great-grandfather leaving his family and farm to volunteer to fight for "Mr. Lincoln and liberty" in the Civil War.
If you lose your temper, you lose. He said to follow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you, no matter how unpleasant others may be.
Sometimes shut up. "When somebody is really suffering or hurting on an issue," he said, "they come to you and say, for example, 'Look, this sexual identity is central to my life and you disagree with me,' just sit and listen. You're probably not going to change anyone's mind." Reynolds said when he has had such disagreements, even with some in his own family, he tells them, "Here's what I think, and I'll tell you when I change my mind. … Because there's more to life than this and we've clearly expressed our views, and we should just move on." The relationship with family and friends is more important than the issue, he reminded the audience.
In closing, Reynolds told how Daniel of the Old Testament endured 70 years in Babylon, thanks in part to three or four miracles, but mostly because he was smart and cagey, having learned how to live among the Babylonians without having to compromise his core values and beliefs.
The next conference in this "Preserving Religious Freedom" series is planned for March 2019. For more on the series, including videos from local leaders on the importance of religious freedom, go to http://jessup.edu/religious-freedoms-with-a-civil-voice/.
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - With the election just weeks away, the Yes on Prop 6 Gas Tax Repeal Campaign has released government documents and records showing numerous examples of "epic levels" of waste, fraud and abuse of gas tax funds and other taxpayer resources at Caltrans and local transportation agencies throughout California.
The records and documents were obtained through the California Public Records Act (CPRA) process and cover only materials received back from the CA Dept. of Transportation (Caltrans), local transportation agencies in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, the Bay Area, and Sacramento. Other local government agencies also receive and spend gas tax funds - raising the question of how many more examples of waste of gas tax funds exist.
"These examples of outrageous waste of the gas tax and other taxpayer resources provide the best reason to vote YES on Prop 6 the Gas Tax Repeal Initiative," said Carl DeMaio, chairman of the campaign. "Our existing gas tax funds are being wasted and we demand that these revelations of outrageous expenditures be immediately reformed before we give these people any more of our taxpayer dollars," noted DeMaio.
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - There is a new option for Californians who missed the October 22 deadline to register or update their voter registration for the November 6, 2018, General Election. A new option known as conditional voter registration allows eligible citizens to register and vote on the same day, today through Election Day.
"If you are unsure of your voter registration status, you can quickly check it at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov," Padilla added.