Wow what a night

So last night I was checking my email and found 2 very disappointing emails. The first one was from Gentex where I had an interview for a Marketing Associate... I thought it went well but apparently not well enough to get me the job or another interview. So that was a huge bummer because I was excited about the potential of that job.

the second was a crazy email about the Obama sign that was once in front of our house. The person address the email to Catie and I. And in it told us that they were "so deeply troubled I drove past your house and saw an Obama sign". Then they go on write that "Obama openly supports abortion and homosexuality". And then goes on to tell us that because we voted for Obama we voted against God's Law. They then explain that we will "continue to struggle" until we "publicly repent". The said I (Josh) lost the respect of a lot of people and "destroyed [my] Christian witness and any aspiration of pastor ministry". And lastly, they give us hope by stating that "God will not over look this".

On a high note they did say, "I love you both, but am deeply concerned about your spiritual condition and lack of discernment."

Wow... hey Matt maybe that is why you felt like you needed pray for me after practice yesterday.

Needless to say I was PISSED and sad and embarrassed. I sent back an email telling them to tell me who they were or else the email would just be considered SPAM. I also said don't sit back and fling hurl insults at my family without tell me face to face. I was embarrassed to call myself a Christian at that moment.

Catie did the more wise thing and sent them a long email. She is much better with words and kept her cool quite well.

here is what she said.

Hi,
This is Catie writing this email - since you addressed it to both of us, its only fair that I give you my response to your email. I have a couple of things to say.

1. I think you have acted like a coward by not signing your name to your email. You have asked for a public repentance of us, yet you will not even privately give us your identity.

2. If you thought we were making a poor voting decision, you could have talked to us in person last week before we voted. Sending us such a letter written in such a harsh tone does nothing for us this week. Josh and I welcome discussion on various topics and are always open to changing our point of view if a logical, well supported opinion is presented. Maybe you would have changed our minds...we'll never know, but today you lost our respect.

3. The way you wrote this email - including our names, details about our family and current situation and then not signing your name or giving us your contact information anywhere in the letter makes this seem, to me, a bit like a stalker. This is the very most hurtful part of the whole letter. I was stalked for 3 years and it took about 6-8 moves before that person finally lost me or quit pursuing me. So when I read this with no person attached, I immediately recalled being stalked...and so instead of reading this with an open, humble heart, I rebuked this email, in the name of Jesus because I will not have the enemy steal the healing God has done in my heart regarding the stalking issue and unfortunately, the enemy was working through you in the way that you presented your concern for our family. If you really knew us and loved us, as you say you do, you would have known that this is not the way to speak love and truth to Josh and I, especially in the hard times we're going through.

4. Just so you know, since it seems like you are assuming in the first line of your email, race has nothing to do with why I voted for Obama. And you make your self sound racist when you assume this is an issue of race. If you would like my views on why I voted for Obama, I'm more than happy to discuss them with you.

Finally, I just want to ask for an apology from you to me and my husband. Josh is an amazing man and many people like and respect him. He works hard for his family, he is an excellent father and a wonderful husband. God has and is using him in many ways to minister to the people he works with, even by physically praying with them on the job, so to say his Christian witness is damaged is untruthful and your own assumption. They way you went about this whole thing was so hurtful in the fact that you attacked us without even speaking to us. You don't know why I voted for Obama and you didn't seem to care to ask - you just attacked our family after a time that nothing could be done about it. I feel really sad for you, that you believe this is the way to call others to repentance and hope that you are not doing this to non-Christians. You have been nothing but mean and hurtful in your email. I also want you to know, regardless of what you think of me or how I voted, that I am pro-life. I believe, more than making policies and sending berating emails, it is our jobs as Christians to walk along side people we think are wayward. It is our jobs as Christians to volunteer places where they help women make decisions about whether or not they should keep their babies. It is our job to financially and emotionally support women who have chosen not to abort their babies, even if it means we go without. That's what will lead others to Christ - you're saving two lives instead of one (and most likely more since that baby will grow up as a Christian too). So I challenge you to put your energy into volunteering at the Lakeshore Pregnancy Center (and maybe you are and that is truly a blessing) or find a women who chose to carry and raise her baby and financially support her or provide for her needs (and you may already be doing this and I thank you for that) instead of sending emails to people who have a different view point from yours without asking them how they really feel and why they feel that way.

May God bless you and your family and may we do better to you than you have done to us.

Sincerely,

Catie Hauch


So after she sent that the person emailed back and apologized. They seemed like a different person the second time (their tone was totally different and they actually knew proper grammar... unlike in the first email).

Cati,

Thank you for your letter. It was well thought out and a very mature
response. You are right, I should have spoken to you in person. I am
deeply sorry I have hurt you. I do agree with your comments on Josh. I
do believe he is a good and hard working man. I was just very
concerned about your vote for Obama. I see liberals and destroying our
beautiful country. I don't question you as people only your
discernment. I will agree to disagree with you on that matter. I do
love you and Josh and I am NO stalker. I do attend LVC. I am way to
embarrassed to reveal myself to you so this will be my last email to
you. Please forgive me for causing you hurt. I do wish I would
written the email differently. Perhaps you can eat any meat in the
letter and spit out the bones. The letter from Dutch Sheets I included
in my last email has some sobering thoughts in it. I do hope the best
for you both and I will leave your political future in God's hands.
Please forgive me for that.


So Catie sent back a "we forgive you" and the person responded with one more apology.

So now I just think the whole thing was crazy. Wow, what a time.... Insane. I think it is a little funny now. But still frustrating because these type of email and little things said to other Christians and non-Christians are the things that make people hate Christianity (and Christians in general). It just made me sad. I do forgive the person. As they said in the last email "It was a good learning experience"..... I guess it was a learning experience... think before you blast someone and question their faith.

Anyways, I am actually like 1000x more bummed about not getting the job than getting that email. I know Dave deals with that kind of stuff sometimes so I take it as kind of an honor to be slammed. Because ultimately I do want to be in ministry so I guess I am involved enough to get a lashing. :) They still never told who they were but I think I actually like that better. I am fine with not knowing, in fact it is easier. I won't be "stand-offish" to anyone. They will have to deal with it.

So that was last night and early today. My prayer is just that that person learns more about people before they judge and I also need prayer that I find a job. I have never been turned down by so many jobs in my life.