How dare you use your religion for such a hideous thing. You should be ashamed.

To a local Franklin Business Owner.

I'm a firm believer in the 1st amendment and believe you have the right to say what you want.  But so do I.  And I believe when you use your laundromat sign to tell people to pray for the death of the current President you are over the line.  You are neither right to wish for a thing much less pray for it or tell others to tell for it.

You slyly use an innocuous verse of the Bible, knowing full well your true meaning is the next verse that says 'may his children be orphans, and his wife a widow'.  Yes, yes you will say that you don't mean that.  But why else pull that exact quote from the Bible not knowing the passages full meaning.  If you are the Christian you portray yourself to be, you probably read the whole passage.

And I don't care where you go to Church if your pastor tells you to pray for such a thing I openly question his Christianity and I would hope you would too.  Because he not preaching the Bible, he is preaching his personal politics.

I don't care what side of the fence you are on or if you are on the side of the current President or not.  It was not right for those on the left to do it when Bush was in office.  It is not right now.

 Praying for the death of another human being has NOTHING to do with Christianity.  If you were placed on a path of study by a minister that led you to believe that praying for the death of our nations leader then that minister has a special place in hell.  He is not only leading you astray, but is already so far down the path himself that I doubt he will dig himself out.

You even think you feel justified in being against the Islamic faith because you think "That faith is just too violent".  Yet you put this out there for all of Franklin to see you hold the same ideas toward your own government.  That if they do not agree with me, they should be killed and his children orphaned, and his wife widowed.  Do you not justify being against a religion for being too violent by promoting violence toward your own government.

You may be totally justified in not liking the current leader.  We have had both extremes in our government over the past 200+ years. And thinking people can have valid, passionate reasons not to like whatever current President is in office.

But you can not justify, especially now, at this time, justifing asking the nation to pray for the death of the President.

You are wrong.
You are shameful.
And you are NOT Christian.

This isn't new, but it is a bit comical....

On May 14, 1994 I had the extreme good sense and pleasure to marry Wifey.  Not to mention luck, and good fortune to have been doing the right things that she would even WANT to marry me.

My wife and I have known each other FOREVER.  We even dated while we were in school.  But I'll admit it. Sometimes I have a raging stupidity streak and I broke up with her then.

Also you need know my parents and her parents had known each other for years and were already good friends.  So there was NEVER any of the "why are you dating that girl" questions.  I know all of you out there have been asked that.

I knew I had a good thing going one hot day while on vacation.  My Mom, Dad, little Sis and I were in Florida for a week shortly after Wifey (then Girlfriend) had started dating.  So Mom and little Sis were shopping at one OF MANY stores that day and Dad and I were out just watching people and chatting.  Then  "The serious face"...

You have seen it by your parents.  You are talking, all is great, you are laughing, then suddenly.....

"Mitch, I was wanting to talk to you about this (Wifey's Name) thing..."

Uh-oh...  What could this be....

"You know, your Mother and I REALLY like her..."

ZOINK

"...you know, I think I can even say we would be VERY HAPPY if you some day got married."

Needless to say, the conversation quickly went from serious, to weird, to 'WHEW!'.  This had been my plan all along, and I hadn't yet discussed it with him.  But let's just say it was pretty awesome for your Father to approve a decision you had made before he knew of your decision.

Anyway, back to the story.  We were married at the church where we had once upon a time met and both our parents still went to.  It was a great day.  Fun had by all, it was a beautiful wedding.

Then came the day....

The building fund had paid off, the new auditorium was to be built!  Plans were made, contractors were contracted.  The new auditorium was built to the front of the old auditorium (where we held our nuptials) was built.  And what happened to the old auditorium? And the alter where we were wed?

It's now the kitchen of the fellowship hall they turned the old auditorium into.

Now let me be clear, I write this NOT as a complaint.  NOT a 'how dare you'.  I just find it a little bit comical.  I know this means nothing nothing to the 'status' of our marriage.  We can only screw that up.  But come on, you have to admit it's a little funny.

The place where we said our vows is now ...

wait for it....

the kitchen.  

And in the spot I stood and took my vows?  Yes, a stove.  

We have several dear friends that have ALSO been married in that same spot.  Do they also find it comical?  Who knows.  I'm sure if we were all in the same room we could have a good laugh over it.  Of course, not that it's the fellowship hall, we  COULD SIT IN THAT EXACT ROOM and have a laugh over it.


I guess in another religion if the wife ever got that mad at me, she could take a picture of me and put it on the stove, turn on the burner and give me the hot foot.  Not that she would. I hope.