Greetings. This is my first post here at this forum and appreciate the opportunity to speak some things that have been on my heart and mind in regards to this alcohol referendum issue. To preface my remarks, I am not currently a resident of Fannin - was for approx 7 years before moving to a neighboring county that recently went through the same deal. I would also consider myself a devoted follower of Christ. I do not align myself with any one denomination but simply seek to love God and love others.

Why am I writing? From a distance, I have loosely kept up with the ongoing debate through means such as this forum, newspaper ads/articles, Fannin residents, billboards, blogs, websites, etc., etc.- to pour or not to pour - that is the question. In my nearly 10 years of living here I have never seen such an issue raise such ire between the local church and the community at large. I hear the points from both sides and can at times see both sides of things. Me, personally, I really don't care how things turn out. I wish that there were some sort of win/win option for all sides but then reality sets in.

I know that through this debate that things probably have been heated at times and those of you who fall on the side of being for this referendum have walked away with a bad taste in your mouth towards either 'organized religion', 'Baptists', 'Christians', etc. ,etc. Some of you in my estimation have been mistreated and looked down upon or demeaned and for that and on behalf of the church I want to sincerely apologize to you. It concerns me in times like this to see the church get so riled up over what I think is a relatively minor issue. It doesn't make sense to me to be against such a referendum and then trot over to Gilmer or Towns county and dine at an establishment that pours alcohol. Oh well.

In all honesty, I would love to see local churches begin to exhibit what they are for rather than what they are against. What if the local church allocated these type resources towards eliminating cycles of poverty or feeding the hungry or clothing the naked of Fannin or even sought to reach out to a growing Hispanic community and offer classes on speaking English as a second language. These are the bigger fish to fry in my mind and according to what I see in the scriptures. The church in general and in my opinion is extremely stuck on itself and at times fails to see the larger picture or better yet that the world is a big, big place with many issues to consider, ie., genocide in Darfur, child sex slave trade, child soldiering, hunger, disease, poverty, lack of adequate drinking water, etc. Instead the church allocates a great deal of resources or comes out of the woodworks when what I feel is a minor issue is raised. I say to the church if you're going to be against this alcohol referendum you truly need to follow through and refrain from supporting any restaurant or grocery store or convenient store that allows it's sale. I don't think you can go halfway on this. I claim every right to be critical of the church because I am a part of it and at times I have been the problem and still continue to be and am seeking to be more and more a part of the greater solution and that is to show the grace and mercy and love of Jesus to all regardless of whether they believe as I do or not.

I would imagine if you took a poll from your average Joe and the question was, 'what does the local church stand for?' My guess is that you would hear the proverbial, well, they are against alcohol and homosexuality and smoking and dipping and rock music and movies and television, etc., etc. My hopes and dreams that this would change and we would begin to hear some of what I have referenced above that includes loving the unlovable and caring for widows and orphans and really sought to live as Christ did.

In closing, for those you have been demeaned, looked down upon, mistreated, etc - I ask for your forgiveness.

Many thanks for your time

Ben