I’ve followed with interest the discussion over at Guarino’s regarding Sen Kay Hagan’s ‘liberal church’ —- Greensboro’s First Presbyterian.

For starters, I also read the N&R article about Hagan’s in front of local clergy. I agree that it wasn’t much of an article, but I’ll also note that it was written by the education reporter, not a political reporter. My guess is Brian Ewing got stuck with the weekend shift and Hagan giving a speech in town was as good a space-filler as any.

I attend one of Greensboro’s prominent downtown churches, and I don’t know for sure, but I would not be surprised if my pastor was in attendance at Hagan’s speech. I also suspect that he leans left politically, since he once said he ‘hates it when he agrees with Cal Thomas.’ How ironic that a minister would disagree with a newspaper columnist who proudly proclaims his Christian faith.

But for the most part his message –and that of his associate pastors — is to maintain love, dignity and respect for one another, just as Jesus would. I take that message and use to navigate through the rigors of daily and weekly life. I also pray to grant me the strength to react with respect and an open mind to the total lack of common sense that’s devouring our country, our state and our city.

Sometimes that strength fails me.