Of art and museums
Re: “Portrait of the statewide art scene,” Oct. 8 Colorado Sunday story.
While I appreciated The Post’s article on other museums throughout the metro area and state, I’m taken aback that nothing was highlighted on the Western Slope or the San Luis Valley. The San Luis Valley, in particular, has a buzzing modern arts scene. The area, after all, boasts Crestone, the Adams State College art department and proximity to Taos.
Hopefully The Post won’t abandon the idea of spotlighting art in other areas of the state. Again, thanks for trying.
Diana Murphy, Denver
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I am an artist and have been a member of the Denver Art Museum for 40 years. I feel devastated. After less than two minutes on the fourth floor of the new Hamilton wing, I had to leave. Art is visual, and the visual disorientation of the walls made me so nauseated and dizzy I could not enjoy the fabulous art, no matter how hard I tried.
“Hubris” is the word that comes to mind whenever I recall my experience. It is more important for some to show off the Hamilton shell than for everyone to enjoy the art housed within that shell.
At least now I know what it feels like to have a handicap that excludes me from a public building and a huge part of my life as an artist.
Candis Cebula, Golden
Payday loan industry
Re: “Not making it from payday to payday,” Oct. 8 editorial.
I operate a financial education business in the Denver area focused on teaching people basic personal finance. Payday loan shops are in the business of making people who are struggling poorer. Virtually nothing is being done to remedy the problem of predatory practices in the financial services industry. Credit counselors are losing their non-profit status for not acting in the public interest. The public sector says they have no funding for financial literacy education. Corporations will not own this problem even as it costs them millions in lost time, productivity and turnover. Finance should be taught in the public schools, but teachers are focused on CSAP. Fifty percent of students report relying on their parents for financial advice, yet less than 20 percent of parents feels competent to give it. Even viewed in the most selfish of terms, this problem affects all of us. Property values fall due to foreclosure rates and taxes will rise because the U.S. Congress will not sit by and watch the aged starving in our streets. SIt is time that people give this issue more than lip service.
Michael Hobbs, Thornton
Super Slab proposal
Re: “Cruel irony in highway name,” Oct. 8 guest commentary.
Gary Wockner’s column correctly describes the threat to wildlife posed by the Super Slab project and the hypocrisy underlying the developers’ decision to re-brand it as the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express. Wockner erroneously states, however, that “the parkway would require the purchase or condemnation of more than 5,000 privately owned parcels of land.” To be effective, opposition to this proposed land grab needs to be fully informed, and it is, therefore, necessary to correct this.
The Super Slab developers plan to locate a toll road, railroad, and utilities within a 1,200- foot-wide, 210-mile-long right- of-way carved out of a 3-mile- wide corridor they were required to designate by legislation. There are about 4,000 parcels within the 3-mile corridor, which runs though seven counties. A 1,200-foot-wide right-of way would require the acquisition of somewhat fewer than all 4,000s, with the precise number dependent on the route chosen.
The Super Slab is a speculative venture that has and will disrupt the lives of residents of the High Plains, bring strip development to rural areas and do nothing to serve its stated purpose of relieving congestion in the Interstate 25 corridor. The stakes are high, and correct details are important to the debate.
Rick Brown, Kiowa
The writer is a board member of the High Plains Coalition for Responsible Transportation Policy.
Farmers markets
Re: “Fresher is better, and here’s why,” Sept. 17 Colorado Voices column.
One sentence in particular caught my attention in Gretchen Bergen’s column about farmers markets. She was highlighting the Morales Farms in Granby and stated, “A wood vegetable stand sells fruit and veggies on the honor system.” How pleased I was to first experience this unusual business practice in Grand County a number of years ago, and to learn it was still an ongoing tradition today.
We were first directed to this farm by our son who lives in the area. You drove up a steep road from Main Street onto a gravel byway past fields. The fruit and vegetables were packaged, priced and on display in the small open-door shed. You personally selected what you wanted then deposited your money or made change from the container. It was such a unique experience in trust; I was tempted to leave a tip for the honor.
What a positive recognition for the Morales Farms owners and their honor-system produce stall.
Joyce K. Ward, Lakewood
The gospel of prosperity
Re: “The gospel of prosperity,” Oct. 8 news story.
Thank you for publishing the article on Heritage Christian Center. I moved to Denver in August 2005 and attended Heritage for about a year. I am a Christian and have gone to church my whole life. I really liked the multicultural and multiracial aspect of Heritage, as well as the worship music.
A few months ago, I decided something wasn’t right. I have always tithed to whatever church I was going to, but at Heritage the emphasis put on tithing and giving is extreme. It seems that’s all Pastor Dennis Leonard talks about. I don’t believe that God will bless you only if you give or because you give; that’s just not biblical.
Another thing that concerned me was that Pastor Leonard mentioned he went on vacation every month to Mexico. I have friends who are missionaries and can’t even buy shoes; I would rather send my money to them. Also, he sells his books right in the middle of service between the worship and preaching. The Bible says, “Do not make my house a den of thieves,” but Pastor Leonard has a bookstore that is open on Sunday. What makes it necessary to sell them in the middle of service?
Thanks for enlightening the public.
Neelia Miller, Denver
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Is Bishop Dennis Leonard running for president? The Post’s huge special report reads like a hurried research paper due in the morning when the libraries are closed and you need 500 more words. I’d be more inclined to believe the article if the reporter actually spent two months shadowing Bishop Dennis Leonard day and night. I missed where he mentioned how much money or time Bishop Leonard and his family have donated to the church and its members. I’m more inclined to believe in the man who has led me spiritually for the past 12 years.
Why now is Bishop Leonard a big deal? Because Heritage Christian Center is run like a profitable business and has brought Christ into the prisons, built churches globally, has a huge charitable presence in the community and has received permission to build the Legacy Center project? Just horrible!
Tithing? I never miss the money I give to my church or my children. I always have enough, and if my tithing pays for a nice dinner for my pastor, great! He deserves it. I’m worn out at the end of the day with my quiet, normal life. When I have done what the bishop has done, then I can have what he has.
Mary James, Aurora
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As a non-Pentecostal evangelical Christian, I find Heritage Christian Center’s success an anomaly. On the one hand, I wonder how its growth and stature can be fully understood in any context which doesn’t include God’s approval and blessing. On the other hand, I wonder why this church thrives when its primary message of health and wealth, along with the demonstrated desire for a lavish lifestyle by its leader (Dennis Leonard), are so contrary to the preponderance of Scripture. My best guess is that God, in His singular omniscience, sees fit to bless individuals through this ministry, despite its misplaced focus on the things of this world.
John Horning, Littleton
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America is built upon the freedom of the press and freedom of religion, among other freedoms. America was founded upon the principle of not entangling religion with the government. Now, both ends of the religious spectrum have gotten in bed with politics, diminishing both. Thanks for your article, which showed the danger of such. This work of helping and healing people is not for any reason other than to imitate God’s kindness. It is not for the goal of becoming rich. It is not for the reason of having the biggest house in town.Dennis Leonard is not to be judged by me, but he will be judged by our God who knows what is in all our hearts. Following Jesus doesn’t cause us to have a big house, but often causes us to lose our house.
Larry Wishard, Aurora
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I am a member of Heritage Christian Center, and I’d like you to know that your article on Bishop Dennis Leonard and Heritage was in very poor taste. Why attack Bishop Leonard and Heritage in such a manner? To attack this place of praise and worship and a man who has helped not only people but the community is ridiculous.
Why interview people who are no longer affiliated with the church? Those of us who are members – I have been for more than 15 years – have nothing but praise. I see this attack as straight from Satan himself, and it’s appalling. Look at people’s souls, and how many have been changed for the better by Bishop Leonard and Heritage, not at the material things he has. Before I became a member of Heritage, I was truly lost; thanks to Bishop Leonard and Heritage, I am a new person.
Lytha M. Rhodes, Aurora
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The only problem with Bishop Dennis Leonard’s gospel of prosperity is that it misses the whole point of Christianity – that absolutely central point where our vertical strivings are confounded by a higher power running at cross purposes to our conscious intentions. Instead of this core teaching about the significance of the cross, we get one more magical recipe for how to make a utopia out of life.
Joel Brence, Aspen
TO THE POINT
I love the signs of fall in Denver. Each year, the leaves fall from the trees, the temperature drops, the Broncos look promising, and the Denver Election Commission commits blunders on the November ballot.
Jeffrey Beall, Denver
The real tragedy of the North Korean nuclear test is having to listen to our hillbilly president, while addressing the entire world, pronounce the English word “nuclear” (“nuc-u-lar”) over and over again. January 2009 cannot come fast enough.
Paul Gross, Highlands Ranch
The Oct. 8 issue of The Post quoted Colorado Springs Republican voter Jack Hutchens as saying, “I’ve seen what illegal immigrants do to the country.” We in Telluride see what they do, too. They do all the work.
Philip S. Miller, Telluride
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