Dear Pastor Steve (Hammer),

To be honest with you, I don’t really care where you get your chicken sandwich. The thing that interests me the most about the whole Chick-fil-A, marriage equality discussion is wrapped up in the phrase, “the biblical model of marriage.” It interests me because there are assumptions being made about a “biblical model” that simply does not hold water. The Bible does not have that much to say about marriage, and a great deal of what is said does not fit the assumptions.

“Just when the overwhelming abundance of far-right Vents these past months were about to lull us into apathy and lose us as readers, the Trib publishes one, progressive opinion that gets the Rabid Right squealing like a bunch of little piggies! Don’t you folks understand that opposing viewpoints make the Vent entertaining and informative for everyone? Moreover, balancing out viewpoints gives a more accurate view of the kind of people (and readers) who live in Gilbert. It is what democracy, free speech, and freedom of the press are all about.”

Regarding Mr. Doug Patton’s guest commentary “Marriage, Free Speech and Chicken Sandwiches” in the East Valley Tribune, Aug. 3, Mr. Doug Patton and Mr. Dan Cathy (of Chick-fil-A) have every right to profess whatever they believe.

“Tired of the war between Flake and Cardon. They’re both RINOs anyway. I will not vote for either of them.”

“What grading scale gives you an ‘A’ for getting a 70 percent, a ‘B’ for a 60 percent, a ‘C’ for 50 percent and a ‘D’ for anything 0-50 percent? That’s the standard for the Arizona Department of Education’s new A-F system for rating schools. The only way for a school to get an ‘F’ is to get a ‘D’ three years in a row. What a joke.”

Reupload of Mr. Smith's "Reduce $'s to Chick-Fil-A's Hate Groups" Originally posted on www.reddit.com, front page of the internet. Thanks Redditors for finding this video FIRST! YouTube name is 'amsmith77amsmith' NEWSFLASH: Gay Extremists Vandalize Chick-fil-A Store http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/chick-fil-a-kiss-hate-graffiti-vandalized.html NEWSFLASH: Mr. Smith FIRED as of 8/2/12 http://www.theblaze.com/stories/college-lecturer-berates-local-chick-fil-a-employee-at-the-drive-thru-horrible-corporation/ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/02/idUS264370+02-Aug-2012+MW20120802 Where did it happen? Chick-Fil-A 3605 East Broadway Boulevard Tucson, AZ 85716 +1 520-321-4232 Reposted under the "Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing United States Entrepreneurship Act of 2007" Original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIVvOmnF0jc

TUCSON — An executive at a Tucson medical manufacturing firm has lost his job after directing verbal attacks at a Chick-fil-A employee.

ATLANTA (AP) — Gay rights activists and other gay marriage supporters are planning a "Kiss In" at Chick-fil-A restaurants to protest the fast-food chain owners' opposition to same-sex unions.

“Wow, I just heard that Mitt Romney got the endorsement from Lech Walesa, from Poland! Oh, and our beloved President Barack Obama got the endorsement from one of our finest allies, Venezuela’s own, Hugo Chavez! Boy, does that speak volumes!”

I have never eaten at a Chick-fil-A, mainly because, until recently, the restaurant chain did not have a location in my area. Now that they do, I intend to try it very soon. I would have done so today, Aug. 1 — dubbed "Chick-fil-A appreciation day" by former Gov. Mike Huckabee on his Fox TV show — but instead I am here slaving over a hot laptop, writing this column for you fine folks. Duty trumps chicken, at least for today.

“Is there any other nation in the World whose president has sued one of his states to force them to allow illegal alien immigration? Only in America and only with a Democrat president in office.”

“GE Capital is another company that outsources jobs to India. GE Capital needs to be boycotted by the USA until they bring these jobs back home. We have people here in the states that can speak English and do these jobs just fine!”

“Here’s a challenge to Obama and Romney: Tell us what YOU are going to do to help this country and not what the other guy isn’t going to do!”

The Gilbert Fire Department is hosting its annual Back to School supply drive, benefitting Gilbert children.

Last month, 15,000 people attended an outdoor Easter service to listen to New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow speak. Hundreds of thousands of people tune into CNN each day to listen to groundbreaking coverage by reporter Soledad O’Brien. And millions of lives have been touched by inspirational speakers and authors like Sheena Iyengar and John Maxwell.

The commercial real estate market has been going through some transition over the past few years, but experts at Zell Commercial Real Estate have a positive outlook for the future of Ahwatukee Foothills as more companies are moving in, creating more opportunity for local businesses.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The first real snag came around Day 120. For four straight months, the Levitch family had stuck to their 365-day pledge to "go local" — forgoing Starbucks venti iced teas for blends sold from a Scottsdale vendor, trading the sales rack at Anthropologie for second-hand shops, switching from a grocery chain to the farmer's market, even skipping a school event because it was at McDonald's and not an independent eatery.

A 12-foot by 18.8-foot cartoon map of Queen Creek will be unveiled at the first annual Queen Creek Business Expo on Thursday - and it might just set a record. Journey Maps, the Arizona company that produced the town map, has submitted paperwork about the creation to Guinness World Records.

With unemployment rates still above 9 percent, finding work can be tough for many Valley residents. Goodwill of Central Arizona is hoping to help hundreds of job seekers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 29 during a Job Fair at the City of Surprise Civic Center, 15950 W. Civic Center Plaza.

On Aug. 6, sworn and civilian members of the Gilbert Fire Department will team up with 65 children from Gilbert Unified School District for back-to-school shopping. Each child will receive a $100 gift card for clothes and shoes from the Gilbert Kohl's, 1121 E. Baseline Road. The fire department is also hosting its annual back-to-school supply drive through July 28.