mistergee1 - If the church/business paid taxes on everything LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I doubt anyone would have an issue. Im not against any religion, people can worship whatever they want. When you misuse religion and use it as an excuse to not pay taxes and flourish yourself with luxuries and amenities not pertaining to "religion"..... That is not fair to us tax payers at all.

Due to this church/business winning the town over by freebies...people look the other way. How good they are and what they do is not the issue. If they are going to deviate from using their "religious grounds" as a place of worship... they need to pay taxes on it.

vat......, is that god's response when you and the cross dressing blogger get on your knees and pointlessly pray for the thousands of babies and children who die each day? If it is, then maybe you two should just pray for more fireworks.

rifraf and vat, I wouldn't associate with the likes of either of you. I'll help those kids by telling you to leave them alone.

Now what are you going to do about the ones dying everyday?

Or perhaps it's just self delusion and denial.

stubby, try actually reading the relevant posts before you respond to them.

Hizoner, get in the shade and change your dew-rag NOW.

I find the critics here rather pathetic. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you cannot have fun - and that is what the Church is sponsoring - a free, fun event for everyone. Are they serving the poor? Absolutely! People who can't afford rides at the fair can come here and ride for free! If you can afford the rides, perhaps you should donate! They also coordinate free medical and dental checks. So they add some entertainment and fun to their service - and everyone benefits. Seriously - if you are so concerned about serving the poor, then stop out and volunteer, or send a big check to a ministry that does that work that you seem so concerned about. My guess is that nobody better hold their breath waiting for the mail....

This has been going on a lot longer than the current state of the economy. The people who put this on give a lot of personnel time and effort, and yes, a lot of their own money. Who are you, the naysayers, to judge and decide if it is something that should be done. In the end, you to shall be judged on your actions and you are still probably, ones who go to the city shows. Why pick on this one because it's christian orientated?
It discusts me to think that this country, founded on freedoms can be so against the freedoms churches have and personnel choices of religion. So unbelievable that I can't even spell. Good day.

Sandman - "With such money to buy buildings, electric time/temp/message signage, large parcels of "carnival-ready" land, and to waste on dumb-show and noise, it's clear to me that these info-tainment "churches" should be taxed on their real estate holdings and income."
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AMEN TO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"church business manager" - Really? business and church shouldnt be in the same sentence.
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And people... nothing is free. They just claim that to make themselves look better to sucker more people in so the people make more donations like gazettefan said... thinking they are going to help others in need when in reality they just take it and throw a big party with it....lol.

Boy, gazettefans reading comprehension gets weaker by the post.

Freedom Fest - freer and dumber than ever!

15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.

Yeah, I'm sure that Jesus would have loved carnival rides and fireworks, along with organized religion with money to throw away on self-aggrandizing proselyting. Oh, I forgot the "free health screenings"...I bet that's what really draws the people in.

With such money to buy buildings, electric time/temp/message signage, large parcels of "carnival-ready" land, and to waste on dumb-show and noise, it's clear to me that these info-tainment "churches" should be taxed on their real estate holdings and income. That's a real good way to "give back" to the community, and it doesn't involve nearly as much congestion, waste or resources (including taxpayer-funded city staff), trash, and pollution!

The city should have one main fireworks festival, on the 4th, at a city park. If A of G wanted to contribute to such an event, fine. But then that wouldn't promote its organizational "cause" sufficiently, now would it?

knox, I'll stop over for that Oreo, if you stop shooting out my porch light.

hizzoner, you believe in a sky god that prefers that you enjoy explosions over feeding dying children. There's your detachment from reality.

Eagle, any way you slice it, the church is complicit in spending money for pyrotechnics instead of saving the lives of dying children.

dkush, I guess your misjudgement of me made me misjudge you.

Anyway, to bad about how that money for fireworks is being spent by a group of people who claim to have the moral highground over atheists.

They have deep fried oreos??? Thats enough to bring me in right there. Yummy!!

Gazzettefan: You don't know me that well. If you did, you would know that I am far from selfish.

gazettefan has been slipping for a long time...(I think it started when people offered to start praying for him).

His comments on this story show that he is now
totally irrelevant in the realm of reality.

Gazettefan - stop out for a deep fried Oreo.

Somebody needs a hug. How do we know that the money to put this on was from the church donations? Looking at the list of private companies and people involved it looks like most of it is from outside the church. God forbid somebody puts something together that people can actually be entertained at, the city can't seem to pull anything off to keep fatal boredom from setting in around here. This is how real communities operate people I know this is new to the natives of Janesville but it's ok, no need to be scared.

dkush and gonfo, what I'm doing for kids at a minimum is pointing out that church donations are being used to set paper on fire instead of feeding those kids.

And neither of you said anything to support why you love fireworks over using that money to feed those kids.

Can't feel sorry for either of you. You're both too selfish.

I think Gazettefan is atheist. He is making cracks about God not helping the babies. I feel sorry for you gazettefan. You have such a negative attitude about everything. Your life must be hell. God bless you.

gazzettefan - Where in my post is the word god/religion even mentioned or referenced? So since you are on your mighty do-gooder horse speculating people who run this church are not helping the poor, children etc....., What exactly is it you are doing that is so much better than everone else? We are all eyes to read what GAZZETTEFAN is doing to save the starving/dying chldren/babies?

Speaking of Gazettefan, I'm watching a very good video right now about that very topic.

Dr. Richard Carrier
http://youtu.be/28PjVaW4kKI

someone, your comment shows that I'm making some progress with you. Don't lose it.

Gazettefan - Get a life, how about doing something more useful with your time than making personal attacks on people who post on here. All of the comments I've seen from you on here, on any story are all the same thing.

If you are so worried about saving the dying babies and children maybe you should spend some of your free time helping them out. But WAIT, you've already done more than any of us will ever do...

I agree with blood, very well put. I like the fireworks as well. I am not sure where they find the funds for this event and I really don't care as long as they keep doing it :)

gonfo..., what kind of misery is involved in worshiping a "god" that ignores the thousands of babies and children who die each day. How bad off are you that you would seek such approval from a creature guilty of the above?

billnewbie, your last post is a pathetic admission of defeat in the matter of defending your belief. What about the skills you were supposed acquire in college?

Macdaddy, the wrong assumption always is that I do nothing for them (and I've probably already done more than you will ever do). That assumption is very wrong. You are attempting to divert attention away from the fact that you believe your god holds you in special favor over the thousands of babies and children who die each day. How else can you justify the disparity?

Simple solution to ATTACKERS - Instead of attacking others that are doing what they feel is good for their community, start your own charitable organization and help all the people you feel need helping. Why attack people that are doing something for their community? If you are that unhappy in life then fix your wrongs and move on.

WARNING! Gazettefan doesn't care what you think, he's just trying to bait you into posting something he can pretend to be offended by. He plays a nasty game. It must bring him a lot of self-satisfaction since he does it so often. Poor soul!

Gazettefan: what are you doing to save these children???

You can't save them all right now, but you can start a systematic change but touching just 1 more person's life and that is what evangelical churchs try to do, just like this one.

gma....., would god hold special favor for me over the thousands of babies and children who die during the time of the service?

hizoner, is there a claim out there that people donated that money specifically for the purpose of fireworks over the needs of the babies and children who will die during the event?

Seriously gazettefan? Perhaps a visit on a Sunday morning would cure some of your angst.

One of the best fire works displays you will EVER see and that was from the very first year! This is one of the best examples of providing a positive setting for humans of any race, creed or religion to meet together to celebrate something we should all celebrate, the freedom of our nation. Make your negative comments, but they have no baring on the event or the motivation. I'm proud of their commitment, dedication and sacrifice; we should all be.

BYO bible

"It's not free. It's purchased with money that was probably meant to feed hungry kids or for charitable things other than fireworks."

More assumptions by gazettefan.....

Have you seen their budget and accounting sheets? Or are you privy to just what the church members expect of specific donations?

Didn't think so.

macdaddy- is this true? Haven't seen anything posted.
If they do this they better BAN the public from doing so as well.
But cannot fix stupid!

"dkush21
Jun 28, 2012 at 4:46 p.m.
Suggest removal

With all the taxes we pay here in Janesville, the city cannot even compete or afford what the church does for free."

Because the church has more moeny than the city duh.
The city spends 158 to fix a house and sell it for $73. We are in debt.
"It's not free. It's purchased with money probably donated to feed hungry kids or for charitable things other than fireworks."

Interesting comment. That would make me a bit sad.

Oooops.

It's not free. It's purchased with money probably donated to feed hungry kids or for charitable things other than fireworks.

It's not free. It's purchased with money that was probably meant to feed hungry kids or for charitable things other than fireworks.

With all the taxes we pay here in Janesville, the city cannot even compete or afford what the church does for free.

I have been to Freedom Fest since it started and they put on a great fireworks display. The carnival is awesome, too. They do not charge for the carnival, fireworks and music, but they do have donations you can give which I am more than happy to give. I do hope that everyone donates something to the church for doing this for us year after year.