So apparently, an effective way to show how noble one is in their superior views is to no longer pray for someone if you disagree with them. The church I attend is taking this very path and I, for one, appreciate the clarity. I mean, living in a military town, I could have made the mistake of thinking that even those who don't support military conflicts would endorse their humanitarian efforts since those actually consume the majority of their time and efforts. I was also dangerously close to thinking some might still feel supportive of the hard work put in by their friends and neighbors and their families. Boy, is my face red. But it's just because I didn't understand the culture and the dangerous implications of what was involved. For instance, when a Boy Scout troop was going to sell popcorn in our church building I was wondering if that would happen or not simply because some people are sensitive to such high-finance commerce taking place in a place of worship. However, when I learned the scouts were willing to send popcorn to service members stationed overseas on behalf of local purchasers it started to lift the veil of confusion. What ultimately drove the point home, though, was when I noticed the change in the prayer list in our weekly bulletin. It no longer includes church members and their families who are serving abroad in the military. Finally it dawned on me: withholding our righteous prayers is the best way to express our views and their authority. Of course, I still have to sort out the err of my ways from when I used to pray for my enemies, but rest assured I won't make that mistake again. I mean, I may be slow but I don't want to take the fast track to condemnation...mine or anyone else's.