Board should continue prayers

Christianity is “Christ in me, the hope of glory.” Jesus is part of the Christian that cannot be separated. He is our head, and we cannot leave off our head when we go to a meeting. Prayers before meetings are common in America, and I don’t care who prays for wisdom and guidance. If I don’t want to hear the prayer, I will stay out of the meeting until the prayer is over, then go in. People who don’t like a Christian prayer can do the same.
As far as the “court” saying we cannot pray in Jesus’ name; the courts can go jump! No man can tell us to leave Jesus on the outside. Is this wrong? No. Jesus didn’t think so, and neither did the disciples. When they were imprisoned by the “legal” authorities for preaching and praying in Jesus name, they were beaten and ordered to not preach and pray in Jesus’ name again. Instead, they praised God, and they were found worthy to bear persecution for Christ, then immediately went and preached and prayed in public in Jesus’ name again.
Also, praying a Christian prayer is not pushing your “religion” on anyone. The county commissioners were not preaching or teaching, only praying. I pray they will continue to do so. William Blackstone, one of history’s greatest legal minds, even stated that a law that is contrary to God’s moral law is not a valid law and should be disregarded. Let the righteous God and Supreme Court Judge of the Universe judge those who are wrong.
— Gary Frye

Concord

It’s getting scary
Not only do we have religious zealots running Rowan County, we now have state representatives who submit a resolution that is poorly written, has ambiguous language and lends itself to misinterpretation, to paraphrase Reps. Harry Warren and Carl Ford.
Considering that the resolution was signed by 14 members of the state House, you have to wonder what other bills have or will be submitted that lend themselves to misinterpretation. But then, why should our busy state representatives bother to thoroughly read a document? According to Representative Warren, the blame falls upon the news media for failing to investigate the situation more fully and printing the misconceptions of the representatives.
Things are getting really scary!
— Jack Errante

Salisbury

Read the Constitution
The resolution presented by N.C. Reps. Carl Ford and Harry Warren and written by Kings Mountain City Councilman Keith Miller is more than an embarrassment to the citizens of North Carolina. It’s a clear indication that some of our elected officials have little understanding of the U.S. Constitution or the important value that the First Amendment has to all our citizens, not just the Christians. The U.S. is such a religious nation precisely because of the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment, freedom not only to practice one’s religion, but also to be free from religion, if one so chooses.
But more broadly, the legislators signing on to that absurd resolution appear to be clueless about the relationship between the U.S. Constitution (which they are also sworn to uphold) and the state constitution. Regardless of how poorly written the resolution was, it’s clear from comments made by the legislators and their supporters that its intention was not misunderstood.
I hope that the citizens of this state and our elected officials will educate themselves about these issues and realize just how intelligent the separation of church and state really is. It protects all of our beliefs, regardless of what they are.
— Bill DiNome

Wilmington

Sensible decision
Regarding N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis’ decision on the Rowan County Defense of Religion Resolution:
Thank you for your common sense decision not to hold a vote on the joint resolution drafted by the fine gentlemen who represent the citizens of Rowan County. This whole matter is as waste of time and money not only for this area, but for the taxpayers and the state.
— Pat Sledge

Lexington

A special day …
My husband and I were eating at O’Charleys on Thursday, April 4, and celebrating his 87th birthday. Some nice stranger paid our check and left the message “God bless! Pay it forward.” We would like to express our sincere thanks and assurance that we will certainly do just that.
We so often hear of the bad in the world, but not as much about the good. Since we do not know who you are, please know that you made this an even better special day.
— Doris and Ralph Hensley

Salisbury

… And another one

Thank you to the person who anonymously paid for lunch for eight Patriot Guard Riders at Hendrick Barbecue Tuesday, April 2.
— Jennifer Hudson

Salisbury