I'm going to pull a Rick Warren and host political debates

I'd like to watch Mike Huether squirm while trying to explain his positions on the social issues. He's not on the same side of the issues as we are.

I think it's funny you would compare yourself to rick warren. yah, you both are pastors who have written books, but mr warren is quite respected in his community, while you doohickey, are a mockery of silliness.

Nob,
You are mistaken if you think I compare myself with Warren - I'm hardly a fan of his - and hello, he has far more enemies than I do in his community, state, and beyond - both in the church and outside. You don't know what you are talking about- anyone who stands for anything is mocked. What's silly is you calling me doohickey. Grow up.

Put me down for a round of questions.

Nob,

I doubt that Steve is worried if he is respected in your eyes or the community's eyes. The thing that matters is that he is respected in God's eyes. Your statement holds no concern.

"Noble?" Bystander

FYI - Pastor Steve was just elected by his peers (i.e. local pastors) to represent them and be their leader in the evangelical community. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

You sound so stupid now.

Steve,

I read your blog regularly and have commented a couple times, but for the most part I have not become as active in the SD blogosphere as I would like to.

I have however, been very active in the local political scene. I am a 2008 graduate of Lincoln High School and will major in political science and philosophy at Black Hills State University beginning next fall. Currently and over the past 5 months I have been coordinating a petition drive for the South Dakota Safe Access Act, an initiated measure that would create a controlled and regulated program for Cancer, MS, Glaucoma, and AIDS patients to safely get medical marijuana rather than off the streets when such therapy is recommended and advised by their physician. Patients would be required to register with the DOH and have to follow a long list of restrictions and limitations.

Similar measures have passed by huge margins in 14 other states, and 15 states other than South Dakota are also approaching the issue this year either through the initiative-petition process or through local legislators. Also, you probably heard about the new guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Justice last week to protect the exact same patients as outlined in the SDSAA.

Along with petitioning for the same measure that fell short by just a slim margin of 4% in 2006, myself and Patrick K. Lynch, the former chairman of the South Dakota MS Society have formed the South Dakota Coalition for Compassion. The coalition is comprised of severely ill patients and their families, local doctors, current and former law enforcement officials, drug and alcohol counselors, teachers, elected officials and many other people from all walks of life. Our common purpose is to educate the public about what has brought all of us together, and that is compassion.

Pastors and a wide variety of religious organizations have played instrumental roles in passing medical marijuana reform in many of the other states. Including our neighbors in Minnesota, who had over 50 religious leaders testify at the Capitol in St. Paul in support of a medical marijuana measure last year. This is not a surprise to many, and I have found on the streets petitioning, often times going door-to-door, that a large majority of Christian families support safer access to medical marijuana for those of who need it for their therapy.

I hope I can discuss these matters with you, perhaps at a debate at the Church at the Gate. All I can ask is that voters approach the issue with an open mind, and at the least, give the Coalition for Compassion a chance to explain to you, how and why, medical marijuana should be legally and safely available to those that need it, while working to decrease teenage drug use.

I look forward to hearing from you. For more information, please visit the Coalition’s website at http://www.SDCompassion.org or read my blog at http://sdcompassion.wordpress.com

I don't know how you feel about this issue yet, but either way, you are and I am sure will continue to be, an admiration to me for your willingness to speak up about topics not often found in the mainstream media.

Thank you,

Emmett Reistroffer

Emmett - nice note, thanks for writing it - I have a son who graduated from Lincoln the same year you did. I remember you and even your blog start up- unless memory fails me, you aren't much in terms of compassion for the unborn. With that being said, the word compassion in your coalition title is ironic.

Sorry Steve, it is virtually impossible for the unborn to smoke medical marijuna.