I just returned from a vacation in Virginia that included visits to wineries, homes of two historical Presidents and Colonial Williamsburg. It is amazing what can be done when people and governments of different levels work together.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has passed a law that says partially consumed bottles of wine that were opened in a restaurant can be carried home without violation of the open container law.

George Washington was a very successful businessman. He had the largest whiskey distillery in the country. It was run as a major industry with five copper stills. Each year Mount Vernon celebrates the history of wine in Virginia with a wine festival on the grounds.
Check out this page of the Mount Vernon website related to George Washington’s religious connection.
http://www.mountvernon.org/knowledge/index.cfm/fuseaction/view/KnowledgeID/83/
You will see it is believed he was devout and believed in God. He promoted the concept of religious freedom that our neighbors in Fannin County enjoy today. He did not preach to others.

Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom. He had his own vineyard and made wine and beer for his home. Check out this page from the Monticello website related to “Vines and Wine”.
http://www.monticello.org/jefferson/dayinlife/dining/home.html
You will see that he was considered a wine connoisseur. He advised four other presidents on the best wines for executive dinners. He had separate storage cellars for wine and beer in the basement of Monticello. His wine collection consisted of bottles from six countries across the Atlantic. He also believed wine was good for his health and served it at every evening meal. He lived to the age of 83 which was quite old for the time.

During a visit to Colonial Williamsburg the theme that is repeated often is the role the taverns played in our political history. In particular, the Raleigh Tavern played a major role. Virginia was the first state to declare independence form Great Britain. The details of this were discussed in Raleigh Tavern. While Jefferson was governor of Virginia many political meetings took place there.

These were the founding fathers of our great country. I don’t think they would approve of how “The Church” is abusing the religious freedoms they were granted.