Posted on 06/24/2013 7:17:53 AM PDT by Doc Savage
I frequently meet friends at Panera in the morning. For the past five years, almost every morning, a minister at a local church walks in. He always carries a large drink cup that he hides in his pant's pocket or down at his side. He grabs a USA Today from the stand near the door, moves to a table and sits down.
He reads the paper for a minute or two to establish he's in the building, then walks over to the iced tea dispenser and fills it up. Then he takes six or seven pieces of lemon and squeezes them in. He returns to the table, drinks and reads for a few more minutes, refills, and then walks out with the paper and his cup. Next day is a repeat.
I spoke the manager several years ago but she was totally disinterested. I guess they just accept the loss. My friends and I, however, pay every morning for our drinks and would never steal a newspaper.
What's happening to America when ministers are stealing? Have we sunk this low?
Ah, you’ve spotted a liberal minister. The same dork that’ll preach for open borders, gay priests, etc. etc.
Typical liberal slime.
You find bad people in every occupation in every walk of life.
There are Bad Accountants.
Bad Cops
Bad Bus Drivers
Bad Mechanics
Bad Talk Show Hosts
Bad Ministers
Heck, look at some of the absolute human rabble my own Catholic Church has had to contend with in the Priesthood.
Publicly confront him loud enough for everyone else in the joint to hear.
I would confront him with it
take video if you have it
Ask him if he teaches others to steal? Does he have a boss?
Tell the boss.
I saw a cop do this in Tucson- A huge black guy (race is not important, just the visual aid) He walked into the 7-11, without saying so much as a “HI” walked over to the squishy dispenser and helped himself to a large, and walked out the door.
I was disgusted, the clerk behind the counter looked too intimidated to say a word.
Bump for later
Ask him if “thou shalt not steal” is still a relevant commandment. If he says yes, then ask him why he steals tea and the newspapers? If he says no, then ask him why he is a minister. What DOES he stand for?
Invite the local TV station, or if they don’t want to show up, just get a friend with a video camera and a windbreaker to act like he’s “official”, then pop the “Thou Shall Not Steal” question on him. Post the video on Youtube and hand out flyers with the URL in front of his churck.
Better yet, if you really want to be nasty (?), send a note to his church saying there’s been an accident at the Panera and you need someone who can identify him ASAP. Then he’d be publicly humiliated in front of someone he probably respects.
Hah! ... And tell him if his "Boss" (the over-Shepherd) decides to fire him, he will be really 'fired' (or fried) ... for eternity...
Forget the manager. Tell other patrons and confront the schmuck.
Apparently you are pretty familiar with the minister. I’ve got to ask, what denomination is he from?
I know it might be intimidating to confront him, but its for his good. I see many good responses here, but if you are a Christian, I think you should do it in love. Go and tell him softly that you’ve seen him do this. Then if he doesn’t stop, involve another.
I know that this would be really irritating, but don’t shout him down at first, like the aliens in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
I was disgusted, the clerk behind the counter looked too intimidated to say a word.
I did an evening ride along with a cop in D.C. many years ago. The cop stopped into a 7-11 for a free cup of coffee. He told me they gave out free coffee to cops because they were happy to have some occasional police presence in the store. It was in a bad area of D.C.
I understand that, and applaud that- and I would do it myself too- but the way he just waltzed in and poured himself a drink looked just awful to the people there standing in line.
He should have said “Hello” to the clerk, at minumim
He most certainly has a Boss. And the Boss already knows.
Print a copy of this thread and put it in an envelope. Hand it to him on his way out the door.
Quietly approach him, look him in they eye and say that you feel moved to tell him that you’ve been watching him steal coffee and so has God.
Wish him peace and walk away. Let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
Whew, at least you didn’t mention lawyers!
There is one other possibility. The store management might have made an agreement with the local minister, and this is their little donation to his comfort. Please be sure of your facts before initiating a confrontation.
I have had a similar experience and was embarrassed to learn that it was none of my business.
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